Presentations
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Agenda
REGULATORY UPDATES
Kevin Thomas • DRG • Principal Consultant
Kevin provided an update on pertinent changes from the new Waters of the U.S. Rule and discuss where it stands today.
Justin Curtis • AquaLaw • Vice President
Justin provided a legal perspective regarding the WOTUS rule and how each state may be impacted differently, as well as a brief update on the Clean Water Act §401 Water Quality Certification Rule and recent Executive Orders pertaining to the development industry and regulated public for affordable housing, energy, data centers).
Kim Prisco-Baggett • USACE – Norfolk District • Chief, Special Projects Section and Deputy Chief, Regulatory Branch
Kim reviewed the 2026 Nationwide Permit (NWP) reissuances and proposed changes, highlighting their impact on project planning, timelines, and compliance. The discussion also covered the new Virginia State Programmatic General Permit (SPGP) and shifting thresholds, followed by an update on Norfolk District’s streamlining efforts, the Regulatory Request System (RRS), and internal reorganization.
Brenda Winn • Virginia DEQ • Manager, Office of Wetlands & Stream Protection
Brenda provided a summary of updates from the Virginia DEQ related to the Virginia Water Protection (VWP) Program covering the updated VWP General Permit as well as the SPGP issued on behalf of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
David Lach • Davey Mitigation • Director
Gain insights into the current state of the mitigation market and the proposed changes to the 2008 mitigation rule. This session explored recent policy and regulatory developments, trends in mitigation banking and in-lieu fee programs, and key factors influencing supply, demand, and pricing. Attendees will come away with a better understanding of how evolving requirements and market conditions may impact permitting strategies and project costs.
Sarah Woodford • Virginia DEQ • Mitigation Supervisor
Sarah presented a comprehensive overview of the Virginia DEQ’s latest mitigation initiatives. She focused on the Stream, Wetland, and Nutrient (SWaN) credit trading platform and the Wetland and Stream Replacement Fund (WSRF) as well as other related measures the State in coordination with USACE of implemented to improve mitigation availability. She also discussed how the OPA serves as a strategic resource and liaison for the development community.
Environmental Regulation Changes Regional Roundtable
Northeast Region: Sue Quackenbush • DRG • Principal Consultant and Haley Kelly • WSSI • Senior Environmental Scientist
Southern Region: Kevin Thomas • DRG • Principal Consultant
Midwest Region: Heather Bobich • DRG • Midwest Region Market Manager
Legal Perspective: Justin Curtis • AquaLaw • Vice President
Moderator: Christie Blevins • WSSI • Director – Regulatory & Permitting
Our panel of regional experts provided a roundtable discussion on critical Clean Water Act updates and other key environmental regulatory and policy changes impacting development projects. This session provided valuable insights into evolving requirements, emerging trends, and practical considerations that can influence permitting strategies, project timelines, and overall risk for developers operating in today’s shifting regulatory landscape.
Melanie Davenport • Virginia DEQ • Chief Strategy Officer
Viktoriia De Las Casas • Virginia DEQ • Director of Cross Media Programs
Melanie and Viktoriia addressed regulatory changes on the horizon resulting from the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session with a focus on Environmental Justice requirements.
