A UTILITY MEMBER BENEFIT FROM VA AWWA
HB586 PFAS Study Report Released
As a result of HB586 (2020), a Virginia PFAS Workgroup was convened by the State Health Commissioner through the Office of Drinking Water.  This workgroup met over the last eighteen months focused on determining the occurrence of PFAS in drinking water throughout the Commonwealth, identifying possible sources of PFAS contamination, and evaluating exiting approaches to regulating PFAS.  Stakeholders from across the state in various areas served on this workgroup.  Virginia Section AWWA served as an advocacy group representing waterworks in Virginia.  There were four subgroups that addressed the following areas:  Health, Toxicology, and Regulatory; PFAS Occurrence and Monitoring; VA Policy and Regulatory Action; and Public Education and Community Outreach.  
 
The result of all this effort was recently published by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems (DLAS) this week.  The report entitled "RD877 - Study of the Occurrence of Per- and Poly fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Commonwealth's Public Drinking Water - December 1, 2021" is now available online.  (https://rga.lis.virginia.gov/Published/2021/RD877)
 
In addition, the third enactment clause of 2020 Acts of Assembly Chapter 1097 (HB1257) required the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to submit a final report to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions by October 1, 2021, detailing the maximum contaminant level (MCL) regulations established for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chromium (VI), and 1,4-dioxane.  The full report can be located here (https://rga.lis.virginia.gov/Published/2021/RD681
 
For more information regarding the PFAS Workgroup, the VDH-ODW has developed a PFAS webpage to include information and resources for waterworks.  (https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drinking-water/pfas/)  
 
Governor-Elect Youngkin Announces Selection of Natural Resources Secretary and Director of Environmental Quality
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2022 
Contact: Macaulay Porter 
 

RICHMOND, VA - Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin today announced he has chosen Andrew Wheeler as the next Secretary of Natural Resources and Michael Rolband as the next Director of Environmental Quality.

“Virginia needs a diverse energy portfolio in place to fuel our economic growth, continued preservation of our natural resources, and a comprehensive plan to tackle rising sea levels. Andrew and Michael share my vision in finding new ways to innovate and use our natural resources to provide Virginia with a stable, dependable, and growing power supply that will meet Virginia’s power demands without passing the costs on to the consumer,” said Governor-elect Youngkin. “Together, we will address Virginia’s ongoing environmental, energy, and natural resources challenges, including protecting the Chesapeake Bay, fully funding our best management practices, solving longstanding stormwater management issues, and establishing a Coastal Virginia Resiliency Authority. Finally, David Paylor should be commended for his decades of service to DEQ. He has been an invaluable public servant, and I wish him well in his next adventures. I’m sure he will continue to make significant contributions to the Commonwealth."

Read the full Press Release here. 

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