PURPOSE OF NOTICE: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) seeks public comment on the development of a cleanup study, also known as a Total Maximum Daily Load report (TMDL), for Crooked Run, Stony Creek and Pughs Run in Shenandoah County. These streams are listed as impaired since monitoring data does not meet Virginia’s water quality standards for Aquatic Life (Benthic impairment). Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and §62.1-44.19:7.C of the State Water Control Law requires DEQ to develop cleanup studies to address pollutants responsible for causing waters to be on Virginia’s 303(d) list of impaired waters. A component of a cleanup study is the Waste Load Allocation (WLA); therefore, this notice is provided pursuant to §2.2-4006.A.14 of the Administrative Process Act for adoption of the WLA into the Water Quality Management Planning Regulation, 9VAC25-720 after completion of the study. The adoption of the WLA may require new or additional requirements for entities holding a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit in these watersheds. A study has been completed for Crooked Run, Stony Creek and Pughs Run to identify pollutant sources and recommend reductions needed from the sources to meet water quality standards. At the meeting, DEQ will present the results of the study and provide an overview of the draft report. Citizens are invited to provide comment on the study. CLEANUP STUDY LOCATION: The cleanup study addresses the following impaired stream segments: The Crooked Run stream segment, located in Shenandoah County, is 4.08 miles long and begins at the headwaters of Crooked Run and continues to its confluence with the Mill Creek. The Stony Creek stream segment, located in Shenandoah County, is 9.29 miles in length and begins at its confluence with Yellow Spring Run and continues to the confluence with the North Fork Shenandoah River. The Pughs Run stream segment, also located in Shenandoah County, is 7.00 miles long and begins at the headwaters extending to the confluence with the North Fork Shenandoah River. TMDL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS: TMDL Community Engagement meetings to assist in development of this cleanup study were convened on August 19, 2024, December 16, 2024, and February 4, 2025. PUBLIC MEETING: The final public meeting on the development of the cleanup study will be held at the Shenandoah County Office Building, 600 North Main St, Woodstock, VA 22664, on April 9, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held on April 14, 2025 at the same time and location stated above. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: April 9, 2025 to May 9, 2025. HOW TO COMMENT: DEQ accepts written comments by e-mail or postal mail. All comments must be received by DEQ during the comment period. Submittals must include the name, organization they represent (if any), mailing addresses and telephone numbers of the commenter/requester. CONTACT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, DOCUMENT REQUESTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Nesha McRae, Valley Regional Office, 4411 Early Road, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801; Phone: (540) 217-7173; E-mail: Nesha.mcrae@deq.virginia.gov. The public may review the cleanup study at the following website address: https://www.deq.virginia.gov/our-programs/water/water-quality/tmdl-development/tmdls-under-development.  

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