The Fort Belvoir stormwater discharge permit hearing was a powerful demonstration of community engagement. Everyday residents, by drawing on personal experiences as well as expertise, can make a difference by voicing their concerns and demanding stronger environmental protections.
In response to a communal demand for a hearing, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) held a hearing on June 2, 2025, where residents, advocates, and experts commented on the draft Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit proposed for the U.S. Army base at Fort Belvoir.
Nearly all speakers expressed concern that the draft permit fails to include conditions addressing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Despite known sources of PFAS at Fort Belvoir, contaminated surface and groundwater, and evidence of past and likely future discharges, the draft permit lacks requirements for disclosure, monitoring, reporting, or controls on these “forever chemicals.” In addition to deeply personal detrimental impacts of PFAS contaminants and technical concerns, attendees emphasized the potential impacts on public health, wildlife, and the recreational and aesthetic value of local waterways like Accotink Creek, the Potomac River, and the Chesapeake Bay.
Testimony from a mother whose family’s water well was contaminated near Fort Bragg, a toxicologist explaining the extreme toxicity of PFAS even at low levels and their persistence in the body, a registered nurse detailing the health effects seen in her patients, and conservation advocates discussing the impact on wildlife and river ecosystems all underscored the real-world consequences of PFAS contamination. These powerful individual accounts, along with technical arguments rooted in the Clean Water Act and existing data, demonstrated the importance of public testimony in bringing these critical issues to the forefront.
The public hearing was one step in the permit issuance process. The public comment period remains open, and DEQ is accepting written comments until Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Following the close of the comment period, DEQ staff will prepare a summary of the comments and the department’s response. Further, the permit will go before the State Water Control Board at its next meeting in June or July.
There is still time to make your voice heard!
You can submit written comments by email or postal mail. Public participation is an important and essential part of the department’s decision process. We remain concerned because the draft permit, as currently written, does not require Fort Belvoir to monitor, report, or control PFAS discharges, despite clear evidence of contamination at the site and the significant risks these chemicals pose to public and environmental health. It is crucial DEQ continues to hear from the community – comments explaining these concerns, drawing on technical reports and legal requirements, make a difference.
Submit your written comments by 11:59 p.m. on June 18, 2025, to Susan Mackert at and , or by postal mail to DEQ-Northern Regional Office, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge, VA 22193. Be sure to include your name and contact information.
For some tips on what to write in your comments, check out this LINK.
