Environmental Division

MS4 Stormwater Program | 703-806-3406

Fort Belvoir has permit coverage for stormwater discharges that are not associated with industrial activities under the Virginia Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) General Permit. A copy of the General Permit can be found here. Part I.E. of the permit requires the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to meet the goals of six minimum control measures (MCMs).Fort Belvoir's MS4 Program Plan identifies BMPs that will be implemented to meet these goals. Additionally, an annual report is required to be submitted to the Commonwealth of Virginia that documents the progress that has been made during the permit year. Annual reports for the current permit cycle may be found below.

The MS4 Permit and coverage letter, the most current MS4 Program Plan, and annual reports are made available below to meet the permit requirements specified in Part I.E.2 for public involvement and participation.  Public comment on the MS4 Program Plan is accepted throughout the permit cycle.

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Action Plans require a public review and comment period of a minimum of 15 days as is specified in Part II.A.-B of the permit. TMDL Action Plans will be made available below for public review and comment when a plan has been drafted. Outside of the public review and comment period, TMDL Action Plans are available by contacting the MS4 Stormwater Program Administrator.

To report illicit discharges, improper disposal or spills to the MS4, complaints regarding land disturbing activities or other potential stormwater pollution concerns, OR to provide comments on any documents listed below, please contact the MS4 Stormwater Program Administrator via telephone at 703-806-3406, EMAIL or Facebook.

Permit Documents

Open for Public Review and Comment

Technical Bulletins

Industrial Stormwater Program | 703-806-0627

Fort Belvoir has permit coverage for stormwater discharge associated with industrial activities under the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Industrial Stormwater Major Permit #VA0092771. Industrial Stormwater is defined as any surface water runoff that originates from contact with industrial activities.  Examples of industrial activities are material handling and storage, equipment maintenance and cleaning, and industrial processing. Regulated facilities under this permit are determined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code as required by the State of Virginia. The permit provides for general requirements and sector specific requirements that must be met.

Fort Belvoir has a Master Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and each facility covered under the permit receives a Facility Specific SWPPP with Best Management Practices (BMPs) that the facility must implement.  Facilities must report to the Environmental Division as specified in the Facility Specific SWPPP.

Fort Belvoir has specific water quality sampling and monitoring requirements that must be met in order to meet water quality criteria as specified in VPDES Permit #VA0092771, the 9VAC25-260 Water Quality Standards, permit specific benchmark requirements, and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) requirements.

Fort Belvoir Master SWPPP

BMP Fact Sheets

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Program | 703-806-4008

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 requires every federal agency to include environmental considerations inplanning and action. Army policies in Title 32 CFR Part 651, Environmental Analysis of Army Actions, and supplement provide Army specific guidance forcompliance with NEPA.

Public and agency involvement is essential for collaboration and problem solving in Army planning. Such involvement demonstrates that the Army is committed to open decision-making and builds the necessary community trust that sustains the Army in the long term.

Below is a list of recently completed or in-progress NEPA documents for new and upcoming projects on Fort Belvoir.

Open for Public/Agency Review & Comment

Final NEPA Documents

Restoration Program | 703-806-0030

The Fort Belvoir Restoration Program operates in conjunction with the U.S. Army Environmental Command (USAEC), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to restore former military training areas, waste sites, and petroleum areas through regulatory closure.  Regulatory authority for the program is through the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ).

 

Environmental areas of concern on Fort Belvoir include inactive landfills, environmental releases of chlorinated solvents and petroleum products, inactive small-arms ranges, demolition training areas, former sewage treatment plants, coal storage areas, inactive artillery and munitions training areas, former waste disposal pits, former coal storage areas, and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) releases.  

 

The program initially consisted of 240 project sites, but has been reduced to 43 active Installation Restoration Program (IRP) sites and 19 Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP) sites, many of which date back to World War I and II.  Many of the IRP sites are regulated under a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Part B permit.  The petroleum program manages tank, underground pipeline, and petroleum release site areas. 

 

The focus of the Restoration Program is to achieve site closure or remedy in place.  Project information is made available to the public through an Information Repository/Administrative Record that is maintained for public viewing at local libraries and through public meetings.  Despite a long history of military activity, Fort Belvoir does not have any site areas listed on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) National Priorities List. 

Drinking & Waste Water Program | 703-806-0137

The Drinking Water Program works to ensure compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) for Fort Belvoir's Army owned and operated drinking water systems. This program works closely with DPW-Operations and Maintenance (O&M) which maintains Army owned and operated systems, as well as American Water which is responsible for operations, maintenance, and SDWA compliance for Fort Belvoir's privatized Community Water System. Drinking water is sampled regularly for bacteria, disinfection byproducts, lead and copper, Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rules, and more. See the documents below for annual water quality reports.

The Waste Water Program works to ensure compliance with Fairfax County code for discharges to Noman M. Cole Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTTP). The 1976 Sewer Service Agreement between Fairfax County and Fort Belvoir established that Fairfax County's Noman M. Cole WWTP will receive Fort Belvoir's domestic sewage waste. The Waste Water Program works with O&M and American Water to track sanitary sewer overflows, non-domestic discharge requests, and repairs/replacements of the sanitary sewer infrastructure.

Annual Water Quality Reports

Air Quality Program | 703-806-0047

The Air Quality Program works to improve air quality through the promotion and implementation of best management practices and permit requirements to reduce the amount of air pollution generated by Fort Belvoir's stationary sources. Examples of these stationary sources include back-up power emergency generators, boilers, document disintegrators, firefighting training equipment, and gasoline service stations. Fort Belvoir is covered under four different air quality permits issued by the State of Virginia which require continuous documentation of stationary source emissions and operation.

Wetlands Program | 703-806-4142

Healthy streams and wetlands improve environmental quality and resilience by protecting against erosion, alleviating flooding, improving water quality, and supporting the global cycling of nutrients.  The Wetlands Program works to maintain and improve on-post water resources by implementing a watershed-based approach to planning management and by meeting regulatory requirements to preserve, protect, and enhance its water resources.  Visit the links below to learn more about federal and state regulations protecting water resources.

Clean Water Act Section 404

Rivers and Harbors Action Section 10

Department of Environmental Quality, Section 401 Water Quality Certification

Cultural Resources Program | 703-806-0022

The Cultural Resource Program at Fort Belvoir advocates that "the preservation of irreplaceable heritage is in the public interest" as determined by the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).  Fort Belvoir's, "irreplaceable heritage" is represented by historic properties.  These properties can be historic buildings, archaeological sites, structures, and viewsheds.  The Cultural Resources Program ensures all historic properties are preserved in accordance with the NHPA and completes Section 106 consultations for all projects that have the potential to impact a cultural resource.  For more information on Cultural Resources Management on Fort Belvoir,  visit the links below.

 

Documents

Helpful Links

National Historic Preservation Act

Secretary of Interior Standards

Integrated Pest Management Program | 703-805-3969

The Integrated Pest Management Program uses a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.  This program  reduces reliance on pesticides, enhances environmental protection, and adheres to all applicable laws, regulations, and current IPM practices and principles.  For more information on pest management on Fort Belvoir, see the Integrated Pest Management Plan below.