VTCA Meets with DEQ Leadership

On June 13, VTCA met with DEQ Director, Mike Rolband, and Assistant Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, Corey Scott. The VTCA congregation consisted of VTCA's Gordon Dixon and Rob Lanham, Environmental Committee Chair, John Brooks from GES, and Mark Williams from Luck Stone.  

Below is the list of points we discussed with the Director and Assistant Secretary:  

General Items 

• VTCA’s Aggregate Producer Members Represent 91% of all the Nonmetallic Mineral Production in the Commonwealth. 
• Mineral Mining in Virginia is regulated by DEQ, Corp of Engineers, VA Energy, MSHA, and Localities 
• Mission of Aggregate Producers Environmental Committee:  
  • “…the relationships with the regulatory agencies, and the community’s perception of the mining industry, are improved through open communications and collaborative dialogue.” 
• The VTCA Aggregate Mining Community has an Excellent Working Relationship with VA Energy’s Mineral Mining Program.  
• Previous Positive Engagements with DEQ 
• VTCA Aggregate Producers Focus on Positive Initiatives with DEQ 

Specific Items 

• 22 SPGP – Exclusion of Mining 
• VWP-4 Renewal  
• Sand Branch TMDL  
• VA Energy - Mineral Mining Authority to Administer VPDES Programs for Nonmetallic Mineral Mining Operations. 
• VPDES for Nonmetallic Mineral Mining 
• Numeric Turbidity Standards 

Procedural Concerns  

• Environmental Justice and Mining 
• Consistency with DEQ Offices  
• Inspection Concerns 

For more specific details on this meeting and information on specific topics, please contact Rob Lanham.