What this document is
This February 18, 2026 letter is DEQ's first additional-information request after receiving the application for Joint Permit Application 26-0171.
Why it matters
It is the clearest early signal that DEQ did not consider the initial submission complete as filed. The letter identifies missing items needed to continue the Virginia Water Protection permit review.
What the document says
DEQ asks for a completed property-access agreement, confirmation of the applicant's correct address, and a compensatory mitigation plan, among other items. In archive terms, the letter is not an evaluation of whether the project should be approved; it is a request for information needed to complete administrative and substantive review.
What it establishes
This letter establishes that DEQ had open questions soon after the application entered review. It also shows that compensatory mitigation was already a central issue in the permitting record by February 2026.