PURPOSE OF NOTICE: To seek public comment on a draft individual permit from the Department of
Environmental Quality that will allow the impact to multiple jurisdictional surface waters due to the I-81
Improvements in Roanoke County and City of Salem, Virginia.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: For 30 days, starting from the day after the notice is in the newspaper:
May 6, 2022 – June 5, 2022
PERMIT NAME: Virginia Water Protection Permit issued by DEQ, under the authority of the State
Water Control Board
APPLICANT NAME, ADDRESS AND PERMIT NUMBER: Archer Western Construction c/o David
Johnson; 13454 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 440, Herndon, VA 20171; VWPP No. 21-2609
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Archer Western Construction has applied for a new individual permit for
the proposed Interstate 81 Corridor Improvements. The project involves the reconstruction and widening
of the existing Interstate 81 between mile marker 136.6 and mile marker 141.8 in Roanoke County and
City of Salem, Virginia. The project proposes to add a third travel lane on Southbound and Northbound
I-81 from south of exit 137 to north of exit 141, spanning approximately 5.2 miles. In addition to adding
travel lanes, the project also proposes ramp improvements at exit 137, replacing two bridges over
Wildwood Road (Route 112), two bridges over Goodwin Avenue (Route 635), two bridges over
Wildwood Road (Route 619), and widening two bridges at Thompson Memorial Drive (Route 311); as
well as storm drains, stormwater management facilities and sound walls. The permit if approved will
allow the applicant to impact a total of 0.89 acre of jurisdictional surface waters, including multiple
wetland types and 2,949 linear feet of stream. The activity proposed in the permit will affect Mason Creek
in the Roanoke watershed. A watershed is the land area drained by a river and its incoming streams. To
compensate for the affected area, the applicant will purchase credits from an approved mitigation bank
within the same HUC code as the project. The purchase of 0.38 wetland credits and 966 stream credits is
proposed to compensate for the proposed impacts to the project. DEQ’s tentative decision is to issue the
permit as proposed.
HOW TO COMMENT AND/OR REQUEST A PUBLIC HEARING: DEQ accepts comments and
requests for public hearing by e-mail, fax or postal mail. All comments and requests must be in writing
and be received by DEQ during the comment period. Submittals must include the names, mailing
addresses and telephone numbers of the commenter/requester and of all persons represented by the
commenter/requester. A request for public hearing must also include: 1) The reason why a public hearing
is requested. 2) A brief, informal statement regarding the nature and extent of the interest of the requester
or of those represented by the requestor, including how and to what extent such interest would be directly
and adversely affected by the permit. 3) Specific references, where possible, to terms and conditions of
the permit with suggested revisions. A public hearing may be held, including another comment period, if
public response is significant, based on individual requests for a public hearing, and there are substantial,
disputed issues relevant to the permit.
CONTACT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, DOCUMENT REQUESTS AND ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION: Mackenzie Scott; Central Office, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, Richmond,
Virginia 23219; Phone: 804-659-2663; E-mail: vwppublicnotices@deq.virginia.gov; The public may
review the draft permit and application at the DEQ office named above by appointment or may request
copies of the documents from the contact person listed above