DEQ Virtual Public Town Hall Meeting

DEQ is preparing an updated draft of the Environmental Justice in the Permitting Process Guidance Memo, and is hosting a virtual town hall meeting on August 6 to discuss the development of the guidance document with the public. The first public town hall was held in Richmond on July 22, followed by second town hall meeting in Virginia Beach on July 29. Both of the July meetings were in-person. The July 29 meeting included a livestream option and was recorded.

The virtual town hall will be held on Thursday, August 6. The public can register using the link provided below. When registering, you can sign up to provide suggestions during the town hall meeting.
The town hall will focus on community feedback regarding two key topics to help inform DEQ’s development of the updated guidance:
How to assess the cumulative impacts of certain DEQ-issued permits; and
Recommended outreach strategies to engage communities impacted by such permits.
The presentation will begin at 6 p.m., followed by suggestions from the virtual meeting participants.
DEQ will post the draft guidance as soon as it becomes available. The August 6 town hall meeting details are provided below.

Town Hall Meeting Date/Time:
August 6, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Register for the virtual Town Hall Meeting 
View the notice for this town hall meeting on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall website.

Visit DEQ’s Environmental Justice Permitting Guidance webpage for updates, including the public town hall meeting presentation slides, and a fact sheet providing an overview of the Virginia Environmental Justice Act and 2026 House Bill 1266. A recording of the July 29 town hall livestream is available on YouTube.

For questions about the draft guidance, contact Danielle Simms / Office of Environmental Justice Program Manager. Danielle.Simms@deq.virginia.gov | 804-914-3508

For questions about the virtual town hall, contact Gwen McCrea / Public Participation Coordinator. Gwendolin.McCrea@deq.virginia.gov | 804-914-3509

For technical assistance during the virtual town hall, contact Kate Miller / Public Outreach Coordinator. Kathryn.Miller@deq.virginia.gov | 804-486-0492

Best,

Danielle Simms
Environmental Justice Program Manager
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
1111 East Main St., Suite 1400
Richmond, VA 23219
Cell Phone: (804) 914-3508