The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation - Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board is now accepting public comments (through 8/21/09) on proposed amendments to the Virginia Stormwater Management Program Permit Regulations. These proposed regulations offer to amend the technical criteria applicable to the control and treatment of stormwater runoff resulting from land development and construction activities. Proposed changes to the regulations would directly impact technical requirements, fees, and the administration of local programs for managing stormwater discharge. Many of the proposed changes would adversely impact the real estate development community, and consequently the commercial / industrial and residential construction industries. For instance, the proposed regulations seek to:
- Double the stormwater treatment requirements for redevelopment projects
- Increase the runoff standard for new development (based upon the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy) and expand this standard to apply statewide
- Revise criteria for water quantity requirements for channel protection and flood protection
- Establish minimum criteria and ordinance requirements for locally administered programs including but not limited to: administration, plan review, issuance of VSMP permits, inspection, enforcement, reporting requirements and recordkeeping
You may review the proposed regulations and submit public comments at: http://www.townhall.state.va.us/L/comments.cfm?stageid=5070. In addition, five public hearings have been scheduled throughout the state where you may submit comments in person: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/lr2b.shtml
U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) Revises Form I-9
On December 12, 2008, USCIS announced that employers must begin using a revised Form I-9 on or after February 2, 2009.
The current edition of Form I-9, dated 06/05/2007, will no longer be valid after February 2 (the new form is dated 06/30/2009). Employers who use outdated editions of Form I-9 are subject to fines and penalties.
Employers will be required to use the revised form for all new hires and to re-verify any employee with expiring employment authorization. The most significant revision is the requirement that all documents presented during the I-9 completion process be unexpired. Links to the updated form, a full list of the form revisions, and guidance from USCIS can be accessed through the links provided below.
Note: A Spanish version of Form I-9 is available, but may only be submitted by employers and employees in Puerto Rico. Spanish-speaking employers and employees in the 50 states and other U.S. territories may print the Spanish version for reference, but must submit the form to USCIS in English to remain in compliance.More information is available here.