West Virginia DEP Environmental Rulemaking Has Begun

In West Virginia, environmental regulations must be promulgated by the DEP, reviewed by the Legislative Rule Making Review Committee, approved by the full West Virginia Legislature and then filed with the Secretary of State. (Some, such as water quality standards, have to be approved by EPA before they become effective.) That process, not counting EPA review, can take about a year from the time the rules are filed, usually in June or July, until the time they are final filed.

The rules that the DEP has proposed for consideration by the West Virginia Legislature in 2009 can be accessed at the DEP website. Go to http://www.wvdep.org/Item.cfm?ssid=24&SS1ID=975 for a list of the rules that are being considered, as well as information about when public hearings will be held.