PURPOSE OF NOTICE: To seek public comment and announce public hearings on a draft Section 401 Certification for the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline project that would establish additional conditions for activities in upland areas that are located near state waters and that may indirectly affect state water along the route of the proposed pipeline. The conditions address, among other things, engineering and best management practices for steep slopes and slide prone areas; environmental monitoring and inspections; and development and implementation of plans and procedures for karst mitigation, spill prevention control, water quality monitoring, protection of riparian buffers, protection of water quality from acid forming materials, protection of public water supplies, horizontal directional drilling, hydrostatic testing, and dust control activities.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: July 3, 2017 to August 22, 2017.

PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1) James Madison University, Festival Conference & Student Center – Grand Ballroom, 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 on August 7, 2017 from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Park only in Lots C11, C12, and D3 directly across Carrier Drive to the east of Festival Conference & Student Center. 2) Longwood University, Jarman Auditorium, 201 High Street, Farmville, VA 23901 on August 10, 2017 from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Park in Wheeler Lot, Crafts Lot, High St Lot, Randolph Lot behind Farmville United Methodist Church, or other University-owned lots. 3) Dinwiddie High School Auditorium, 11501 Boisseau Road, Dinwiddie, VA 23841 on August 14, 2017 from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Park only in designated areas on school property.

PURPOSE OF HEARINGS: To obtain input from the public related to the draft Section 401 Certification conditions for activities in upland areas that are located near state waters and that may indirectly affect state waters along the route of the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline project.

PROJECT PROPONENT’S NAME: Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

For project information and location, please see

http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/ProtectionRequirementsforPipelines.aspx. Proposed interstate natural gas transmission pipeline, Atlantic Coast Pipeline, approximately 337 miles through the Virginia Counties of Highland, Bath, Augusta, Nelson, Buckingham, Cumberland, Prince Edward, Nottoway, Dinwiddie, Brunswick, Greensville, and Southampton, and the Virginia Cities of Suffolk and Chesapeake, including activities such as but not limited to installation of best management practices; survey and staking; clearing, mowing, grubbing, and grading; trenching and/or blasting; pipe assembly (including stringing, bending, welding, testing, coating, and lowering-in); backfilling; construction of new access roads; final grading; right-of-way cleanup and restoration; and compliance monitoring. DEQ’s preliminary decision is to recommend issuance of a Section 401 Certification with conditions. After close of the public comment period, DEQ will review comments received and present recommendations to the State Water Control Board for its consideration at a future meeting.

HOW TO COMMENT: The Board accepts written comments by hand-delivery, e-mail, or postal mail. All comments must be in writing and be received by DEQ during the comment period. The Board also accepts written and oral comments at public hearings. Instructions for making oral comments will be provided at the public hearings. An allotment of three minutes is typical for each oral comment, but the time allowed is set by the hearing officers at the hearings. To make a written comment, the person commenting must include: 1) The names, mailing addresses and telephone numbers of the person commenting and of all people represented by that person. 2) A brief, informal statement on how the proposal affects the person or people.

SUBMIT COMMENTS VIA: hand-delivery to DEQ, 629 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219; postal mailto DEQ, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218; e-mailto

comment-acp@deq.virginia.gov.

CONTACT ONLY FOR DOCUMENT REQUESTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Brenda Winn, Office of Wetlands & Stream Protection, brenda.winn@deq.virginia.gov, (804) 698-4516, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218.