On April 18, the Virginia General Assembly passed the Nutrient Trading Act, which requires certification of best management practices (BMPs) to qualify as nutrient reduction credits in Virginia water quality trading schemes. The act requires that BMPs be registered with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, which is in charge of implementing and enforcing the act. Based on amendments offered by Gov. Bob McDonnell, the act does not apply to landowners ‘grandfathered’ into Virginia’s less rigorous nutrient program established in 2005.