Virginia Law

A. Upon notification of the review authority by an owner or operator of a change in owner or operator of the management unit with a signed RMP, in accordance with 4VAC50-70-50 C 2 e, where it involves the complete transfer of one or more RMPs and any Certificate or Certificates of RMP Implementation previously issued by the department for such RMPs:

1. The review authority shall contact the new owner or operator within 60 days of the new owner or operator assuming control of the management unit regarding implementation of the RMP and any necessary revisions.

2. Following consultation with the review authority, the new owner or operator may elect to:

a. Implement and maintain the provisions of the existing RMP. The new owner or operator must sign the RMP in accordance with 4VAC50-70-50 C. If a Certificate of RMP Implementation has been issued to the prior owner or operator, the certificate shall be transferred by the department to the new owner or operator upon notification by the review authority. The transferred certificate shall be valid for the balance of time remaining since it was originally issued by the department;

b. Contact the RMP developer when changes in the operation are planned by the new owner or operator or are otherwise required by this chapter. The new owner or operator may request the RMP developer to revise the RMP as necessary to fulfill BMP requirements pursuant to 4VAC50-70-50 and the administrative requirements of subsection F of this section; or

c. Choose not to continue implementing the RMP. If a Certificate of RMP Implementation for the management unit has been issued, it shall be revoked by the department.

B. Upon notification of the RMP developer by the owner or operator of the management unit with a signed RMP, in accordance with 4VAC50-70-50 C, that changes in the management unit or implementation of the RMP may create needs for revision, the RMP developer shall review the RMP within 30 days to determine if material changes to the management unit require a revision of the RMP in accordance with the following:

1. Material changes to the management unit that may require a revision of the RMP include:

a. A conversion from one type of agricultural operation to another;

b. A change in the schedule and type of BMPs implemented pursuant to 4VAC50-70-50;

c. An increase or decrease in production acreage that materially impacts the management unit's ability to meet the minimum standards set out in 4VAC50-70-40;

d. An increase or decrease in livestock population that materially impacts the management unit's ability to meet the minimum standards set out in 4VAC50-70-40; or

e. Any other change the RMP developer identifies that would materially impact the management unit's ability to meet the minimum standards set out in 4VAC50-70-40.

2. The RMP developer will determine if revision of the RMP is required. When the RMP developer determines that revision of the existing RMP is not necessary, the RMP developer shall provide such determination to the requesting owner or operator in writing. Such documentation shall be available upon inspection by the review authority. When the RMP developer determines that revision of the existing RMP is necessary, the owner or operator may elect to:

a. Request the RMP developer to revise the RMP as necessary to fulfill RMP requirements pursuant to 4VAC50-70-50 and the administrative requirements of subsection F of this section; or

b. Choose not to continue implementing an RMP whereupon the RMP for the management unit shall no longer be valid. The RMP developer shall notify the review authority and the department in writing of this decision by the owner or operator. If a Certificate of RMP Implementation for the management unit has been issued, it shall be revoked by the department.

C. When an owner or operator does not hold a Certificate of RMP Implementation for an RMP that has been approved by the review authority, revision of the RMP is required when a new or modified watershed implementation plan is issued for the Chesapeake Bay or a new or modified local approved TMDL is issued that assigns a load to agricultural uses. An RMP covering land with waters that drain to such TMDL shall be deemed sufficient when the RMP has been revised to address the new or modified TMDL and the owner or operator agrees to implement the revised RMP, except as provided in subsection D of this section.

D. When an owner or operator holds a Certificate of RMP Implementation that has not expired, revision of the RMP specified in subsection C of this section is not required. In this case the owner or operator may continue operation of the RMP without revision due to a new or modified watershed implementation plan for the Chesapeake Bay or a new or modified local approved TMDL for the lifespan of the Certificate of RMP Implementation so long as the owner or operator is deemed to be fully implementing the RMP.

E. When an owner or operator with a revised RMP fulfills all requirements pursuant to this section and 4VAC50-70-70, and the owner or operator holds a Certificate of RMP Implementation that has not expired for the management unit addressed by the revised RMP, the owner or operator may request that the department revoke the existing Certificate of RMP Implementation and issue a new Certificate of RMP Implementation. The department shall evaluate and respond to all requests. Upon verification that all requirements have been satisfied, the department shall issue a new Certificate of RMP Implementation in a timely manner and ensure that no owner or operator is found out of compliance with any requirements of this chapter due to any delays in the department's issuance of a new Certificate of RMP Implementation pursuant to this subsection even if the original certificate expires during this issuance time period.

F. Revision of an RMP by an RMP developer requires:

1. If a Certificate of RMP Implementation has not been issued, the revised RMP shall be provided to the review authority and shall be subject to all review requirements set out in 4VAC50-70-70 and shall be subject to the requirements for issuance of a Certificate of RMP Implementation pursuant to 4VAC50-70-80.

2. If a Certificate of RMP Implementation has been issued by the department and its duration has not expired, such existing Certificate of RMP Implementation shall remain valid for the balance of time remaining since it was originally issued by the department or a new Certificate of RMP Implementation may be issued where appropriate in accordance with subsection E of this section.

3. An existing or new owner or operator shall sign a revised RMP pursuant to 4VAC50-70-50 C.

4. When a valid Certificate of RMP Implementation has been issued by the department for the management unit, the RMP developer shall provide the review authority and the department with a copy of a revised RMP within 30 days of completion of the revised plan.