Virginia Law

A. Prior to issuance of a Certificate of RMP Implementation for a management unit, confirmation shall be made by the RMP developer that the plan meets the requirements of subsections B and C of 4VAC50-70-50 and that no revision of the RMP is required in accordance with 4VAC50-70-60 and as such is adequate, and verification of the full implementation of the RMP shall be completed. The owner or operator shall request the verification of RMP implementation by the review authority.

B. The request to the review authority for verification in a format provided by the department shall include the following:

1. A complete copy of the RMP including any referenced plans;

2. Authorization for review authority employees to conduct an onsite inspection of the management unit to ensure the RMP is fully implemented; and

3. Authorization upon the issuance of a Certificate of RMP Implementation for review authority employees and the department to conduct onsite inspections of the management unit to ensure the continued implementation of, maintenance of, and compliance with the current RMP in accordance with 4VAC50-70-90.

C. If based on onsite verification and a review of referenced plans by the local soil and water conservation district where the district is the review authority the RMP is determined to be adequate and fully implemented in accordance with subsection A of this section, the soil and water conservation district board shall affirm such adequacy and implementation and submit the required documentation to the department for action. Upon receiving such documentation supporting that the plan is adequate and has been fully implemented, the department shall issue a Certificate of RMP Implementation.

D. Where the department is the review authority, the department shall determine adequacy and full implementation of the RMP in accordance with subsection A of this section through onsite verification and a review of referenced plans. If based on the onsite verification and a review of referenced plans, the RMP is determined to be adequate and fully implemented, the department shall affirm such implementation by issuing a Certificate of RMP Implementation.

E. If the resource management plan is not adequate or has not been fully implemented, the review authority shall provide the owner or operator with written documentation that specifies the deficiencies of the RMP within 30 days following the field review of the RMP. The owner or operator may correct the named deficiencies and request verification of RMP adequacy or implementation at such time as the shortcomings have been addressed.

F. A Certificate of RMP Implementation shall be valid for a period of nine years.

G. An owner or operator who holds a Certificate of RMP Implementation that has not expired shall not be required to revise the RMP when the issuance of a new or modified watershed implementation plan for the Chesapeake Bay TMDL or a new or modified local approved TMDL impacts any portion of the management unit during the lifespan of the Certificate of RMP Implementation so long as the owner or operator is deemed to be fully implementing the RMP.

H. Upon the expiration of the Certificate of RMP Implementation, a new RMP may be prepared by a plan developer for the management unit upon request by the owner or operator. The RMP must conform with all existing TMDL implementation plans applicable to the management unit to include the Chesapeake Bay and any local approved TMDL, which assign a load to agricultural uses and impact any portion of the management unit. The plan developer shall ensure the new RMP complies with requirements set forth in 4VAC50-70-40.

I. The department shall maintain a public registry on the agency's website of all current Certificates of RMP Implementation in accordance with the provisions of subsection E of § 10.1-104.7 of the Code of Virginia.