                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

CREATION OF DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY; STATEMENT OF POLICY (§
10.1-1183)

A. There is hereby created a Department of Environmental Quality by the
consolidation of the programs, functions, staff, facilities, assets and
obligations of the following agencies: the State Water Control Board, the
Department of Air Pollution Control, the Department of Waste Management, and the
Council on the Environment. Wherever in this title and in the Code of Virginia
reference is made to the Department of Air Pollution Control, the Department of
Waste Management or the Council on the Environment, or any division thereof, it
shall mean the Department of Environmental Quality.

B. It is the policy of the Department of Environmental Quality to protect and
enhance the environment of Virginia in order to promote the health and
well-being of the Commonwealth&#8217;s citizens, residents, and visitors in
accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The purposes of the Department
are:

   1. To assist in the effective implementation of the Constitution of Virginia
   by carrying out state policies aimed at conserving the Commonwealth&#8217;s
   natural resources and protecting its atmosphere, land, and waters from
   pollution.

   2. To address climate change by developing and implementing policy and
   regulatory approaches to reducing climate pollution and promoting climate
   resilience in the Commonwealth and by ensuring that climate impacts and
   climate resilience are taken into account across all programs and permitting
   processes.

   3. To coordinate permit review and issuance procedures to protect all aspects
   of Virginia&#8217;s environment.

   4. To further environmental justice and enhance public participation in the
   regulatory and permitting processes.

   5. To establish and effectively implement a pollution prevention program to
   reduce the impact of pollutants on Virginia&#8217;s natural resources.

   6. To establish procedures for, and undertake, long-range environmental
   program planning and policy analysis, including assessments of emerging
   environmental challenges.

   7. To conduct comprehensive evaluations of the Commonwealth&#8217;s
   environmental protection programs.

   8. To develop uniform administrative systems to ensure coherent environmental
   policies.

   9. To coordinate state reviews with federal agencies on environmental issues,
   such as environmental impact statements.

   10. To promote environmental quality through public hearings and expeditious
   and comprehensive permitting, inspection, monitoring, and enforcement
   programs, and provide effective service delivery to the regulated community.

   11. To advise the Governor and General Assembly, and, on request, assist other
   officers, employees, and public bodies of the Commonwealth, on matters
   relating to environmental quality and the effectiveness of actions and
   programs designed to enhance that quality.

   12. To ensure that there is consistency in the enforcement of the laws,
   regulations, and policies as they apply to holders of permits or certificates
   issued by the Department, whether the owners or operators of such regulated
   facilities are public sector or private sector entities, including the
   development of electronic recordkeeping and document transmittal systems that
   encourage the use of electronic methods in performing the Department&#8217;s
   business as a means of furthering both resource conservation and transaction
   efficiency.

   13. To ensure the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people
   regardless of race, color, national origin, faith, disability, or income with
   respect to the administration of environmental laws, regulations, and
   policies.

C. Wherever the term is used in this chapter or in other statutory or regulatory
provisions that the Department administers, (i) &#8220;certified mail&#8221;
means electronically certified or postal certified mail, except that this
provision shall apply only to the mailing of plan approvals, permits, or
certificates issued under the provisions of this chapter and those of the Air
Pollution Control Law (&#xA7; 10.1-1300 et seq.), the Virginia Waste Management
Act (&#xA7; 10.1-1400 et seq.), and the State Water Control Law (&#xA7;
62.1-44.2 et seq.), and only where the recipient has notified the Department of
his consent to receive plan approvals, permits, or certificates by electronic
mail, and (ii) &#8220;mail&#8221; means electronic or postal delivery. Any
statutory provisions requiring use of &#8220;certified mail&#8221; to transmit
special orders or administrative orders pursuant to enforcement proceedings
shall mean postal certified mail.

HISTORY: 1992, c. 887; 1999, c. 207; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2013, c. 348; 2020, cc.
454, 492.