Virginia Law

A. The provisions of this chapter shall apply in all nonattainment and maintenance areas for criteria pollutants for which the area is designated nonattainment or has a maintenance plan. Conformity requirements for newly designated nonattainment areas are not applicable until one year after the effective date of the final nonattainment designation for each national ambient air quality standard and pollutant in accordance with § 176(c)(6) of the federal Clean Air Act.

B. The provisions of this chapter apply with respect to emissions of the following criteria pollutants: ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers (PM₁₀), and particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometers (PM_2.5).

C. The provisions of this chapter apply with respect to emissions of the following precursor pollutants:

1. For ozone:

a. Nitrogen oxides, unless an area is exempted from nitrogen oxides requirements under § 182(f) of the federal Clean Air Act, and

b. Volatile organic compounds.

2. For PM₁₀, those pollutants described in the PM₁₀ nonattainment area applicable implementation plan as significant contributors to the PM₁₀ levels.

3. For PM_2.5, (i) sulfur dioxide in all PM_2.5 nonattainment and maintenance areas, (ii) nitrogen oxides in all PM_2.5 nonattainment and maintenance areas unless both the department and EPA determine that it is not a significant precursor, and (iii) volatile organic compounds and ammonia only in PM_2.5 nonattainment or maintenance areas where either the department or EPA determines that they are significant precursors.

D. Conformity determinations for federal actions related to transportation plans, programs, and projects developed, funded, or approved under Title 23 USC or the Federal Transit Act (49 USC § 5301 et seq.) shall meet the procedures and criteria of 9VAC5-151 (Regulation for Transportation Conformity), in lieu of the procedures set forth in this chapter.

E. For federal actions not covered by subsection D of this section, a conformity determination is required for each criteria pollutant or precursor where the total of direct and indirect emissions of the criteria pollutant or precursor in a nonattainment or maintenance area caused by a federal action would equal or exceed any of the rates in subdivision 1 or 2 of this subsection.

1. For the purposes of this subsection, the following rates apply in nonattainment areas:

2. For the purposes of this subsection, the following rates apply in maintenance areas:

F. The requirements of this section shall not apply to the following federal actions:

1. Actions where the total of direct and indirect emissions are below the emissions levels specified in subsection E of this section.

2. The following actions which would result in no emissions increase or an increase in emissions that is clearly de minimis:

a. Judicial and legislative proceedings.

b. Continuing and recurring activities such as permit renewals where activities conducted shall be similar in scope and operation to activities currently being conducted.

c. Rulemaking and policy development and issuance.

d. Routine maintenance and repair activities, including repair and maintenance of administrative sites, roads, trails, and facilities.

e. Civil and criminal enforcement activities, such as investigations, audits, inspections, examinations, prosecutions, and the training of law-enforcement personnel.

f. Administrative actions such as personnel actions, organizational changes, debt management, internal agency audits, program budget proposals, and matters relating to administration and collection of taxes, duties, and fees.

g. The routine, recurring transportation of materiel and personnel.

h. Routine movement of mobile assets, such as ships and aircraft, in home port reassignments and stations (when no new support facilities or personnel are required) to perform as operational groups and for repair or overhaul or both.

i. Maintenance dredging and debris disposal where no new depths are required, applicable permits are secured, and disposal shall be at an approved disposal site.

j. With respect to existing structures, properties, facilities, and lands where future activities conducted shall be similar in scope and operation to activities currently being conducted at the existing structures, properties, facilities, and lands, actions such as relocation of personnel, disposition of federally-owned existing structures, properties, facilities, and lands, rent subsidies, operation and maintenance cost subsidies, the exercise of receivership or conservatorship authority, assistance in purchasing structures, and the production of coins and currency.

k. The granting of leases, licenses such as for exports and trade, permits, and easements where activities conducted shall be similar in scope and operation to activities currently being conducted.

l. Planning, studies, and provision of technical assistance.

m. Routine operation of facilities, mobile assets, and equipment.

n. Transfers of ownership, interests, and titles in land, facilities, and real and personal properties, regardless of the form or method of the transfer.

o. The designation of empowerment zones, enterprise communities, or viticultural areas.

p. Actions by any of the federal banking agencies or the federal reserve banks, including actions regarding charters, applications, notices, licenses, the supervision or examination of depository institutions or depository institution holding companies, access to the discount window, or the provision of financial services to banking organizations or to any state, agency, or instrumentality of the United States.

q. Actions by the Board of Governors of the federal reserve system or any federal reserve bank to effect monetary or exchange rate policy.

r. Actions that implement a foreign affairs function of the United States.

s. Actions or portions thereof associated with transfers of land, facilities, title, and real properties through an enforceable contract or lease agreement where the delivery of the deed is required to occur promptly after a specific, reasonable condition is met, such as promptly after the land is certified as meeting the requirements of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), 42 USC § 9601 et seq., and where the federal agency does not retain continuing authority to control emissions associated with the lands, facilities, title, or real properties.

t. Transfers of real property, including land, facilities, and related personal property from a federal entity to another federal entity, and assignments of real property, including land, facilities, and related personal property from a federal entity to another federal entity, for subsequent deeding to eligible applicants.

u. Actions by the Department of the Treasury to effect fiscal policy and to exercise the borrowing authority of the United States.

v. Air traffic control activities and adopting approach, departure, and en route procedures for aircraft operations above the mixing height specified in the applicable implementation plan. Where the applicable implementation plan does not specify a mixing height, the federal agency may use the 3,000 feet above ground level as a default mixing height, unless the agency demonstrates that use of a different mixing height is appropriate because the change in emissions at and above that height caused by the federal action is de minimis.

3. Actions where the emissions are not reasonably foreseeable, such as the following:

a. Initial outer continental shelf lease sales that are made on a broad scale and are followed by exploration and development plans on a project level.

b. Electric power marketing activities that involve the acquisition, sale, and transmission of electric energy.

4. Individual actions that implement a decision to conduct or carry out a program that has been found to conform to the applicable implementation plan, such as prescribed burning actions which are consistent with a conforming land management plan, that has been found to conform to the applicable implementation plan. The land management plan shall have been found to conform within the past five years.

G. Notwithstanding the other requirements of this section, a conformity determination is not required for the following federal actions or portions thereof:

1. The portion of an action that includes major or minor new or modified stationary sources that require a permit under the new source review program.

2. Actions in response to emergencies that are typically commenced on the order of hours or days after the emergency and, if applicable, that meet the requirements of subsection H of this section.

3. Research, investigations, studies, demonstrations, or training (other than those exempted under subdivision F 2 of this section), where no environmental detriment is incurred, or the particular action furthers air quality research, as determined by the department.

4. Alteration and additions of existing structures as specifically required by new or existing applicable environmental legislation or environmental regulations (for example, hush houses for aircraft engines and scrubbers for air emissions).

5. Direct emissions from remedial and removal actions carried out under CERCLA and associated regulations to the extent the emissions either comply with the substantive requirements of the new source review program or are exempted from other environmental regulation under the provisions of CERCLA and applicable regulations issued under CERCLA.

H. Federal actions that are part of a continuing response to an emergency or disaster under subdivision G 2 of this section and that are to be taken more than six months after the commencement of the response to the emergency or disaster under subdivision G 2 of this section are exempt from the requirements of this subsection only if:

1. The federal agency taking the actions makes a written determination that, for a specified period not to exceed an additional six months, it is impractical to prepare the conformity analyses which would otherwise be required and the actions cannot be delayed due to overriding concerns for public health and welfare, national security interests, and foreign policy commitments; or

2. For actions that are to be taken after those actions covered by subdivision H 1 of this section, the federal agency makes a new determination as provided in subdivision H 1 of this section, and:

a. Provides a draft copy of the written determinations required to affected EPA regional offices, the affected states and air pollution control agencies, and any federally recognized Indian tribal government in the nonattainment or maintenance area. Those organizations shall be allowed 15 days from the beginning of the extension period to comment on the draft determination; and

b. Within 30 days after making the determination, publish a notice of the determination by placing a prominent advertisement in a daily newspaper of general circulation in the area affected by the action.

3. If additional actions are necessary in response to an emergency or disaster under subdivision G 2 of this section beyond the specified time period in subdivision 2 of this subsection, a federal agency may make a new written determination as described in subdivision 2 of this subsection for as many six-month periods as needed, but in no case shall this exemption extend beyond three six-month periods except where an agency provides information to EPA and the department stating that the conditions that gave rise to the emergency exemption continue to exist and how such conditions effectively prevent the agency from conducting a conformity evaluation.

I. Notwithstanding other requirements of this chapter, actions specified by individual federal agencies that have met the criteria set forth in subdivision J 1, J 2, or J 3 of this section and the procedures set forth in subsection K of this section are presumed to conform, except as provided in subsection M of this section. Actions specified by individual federal agencies as presumed to conform shall not be used in combination with one another when the total direct and indirect emissions from the combination of actions would equal or exceed any of the rates specified in subdivision E 1 or E 2 of this section.

J. The federal agency shall meet the criteria for establishing activities that are presumed to conform by fulfilling the requirements set forth in either subdivision 1, 2, or 3 of this subsection.

1. The federal agency shall clearly demonstrate, using methods consistent with this regulation, that the total of direct and indirect emissions from the type of activities which would be presumed to conform would not:

a. Cause or contribute to any new violation of any standard in any area;

b. Interfere with the provisions in the applicable implementation plan for maintenance of any standard;

c. Increase the frequency or severity of any existing violation of any standard in any area;

d. Delay timely attainment of any standard or any required interim emissions reductions or other milestones in any area including, where applicable, emission levels specified in the applicable implementation plan for purposes of:

(1) A demonstration of reasonable further progress;

(2) A demonstration of attainment; or

(3) A maintenance plan.

2. The federal agency shall provide documentation that the total of direct and indirect emissions from the future actions would be below the emission rates for a conformity determination that are established in subsection B of this section, based, for example, on similar actions taken over recent years.

3. The federal agency shall clearly demonstrate that the emissions from the type or category of actions and the amount of emissions from the action are included in the applicable implementation plan and the department provides written concurrence that the emissions from the actions along with all other expected emissions in the area will not exceed the emission budget in the applicable implementation plan.

K. In addition to meeting the criteria for establishing exemptions set forth in subdivision J 1, J 2, or J 3 of this section, the following procedures shall also be complied with to presume that activities shall conform:

1. The federal agency shall identify through publication in the Federal Register its list of proposed activities that are presumed to conform, and the basis for the presumptions. The notice shall clearly identify the type and size of the action that would be presumed to conform and provide criteria for determining if the type and size of action qualifies it for the presumption;

2. The federal agency shall notify the appropriate EPA regional offices, department, and local air quality agencies and, where applicable, the lead planning organization, and the metropolitan planning organization and provide at least 30 days for the public to comment on the list of proposed activities presumed to conform. If the presumed to conform action has regional or national application (e.g., the action will cause emission increases in excess of the de minimis levels identified in subsection E of this section in more than one EPA region), the federal agency, as an alternative to sending it to EPA regional offices, may send the draft conformity determination to EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards;

3. The federal agency shall document its response to all the comments received and make the comments, response, and final list of activities available to the public upon request; and

4. The federal agency shall publish the final list of such activities in the Federal Register.

L. Emissions from the following actions are presumed to conform:

1. Actions at installations with facility-wide emission budgets meeting the requirements in 9VAC5-160-181 provided that the department has included the emission budget in the EPA-approved applicable implementation plan and the emissions from the action along with all other emissions from the installation will not exceed the facility-wide emission budget.

2. Prescribed fires conducted in accordance with a smoke management program that meets the requirements of EPA's Interim Air Quality Policy on Wildland and Prescribed Fires (April 1998) or an equivalent replacement EPA policy.

3. Emissions for actions that the department identifies in the EPA-approved applicable implementation plan as presumed to conform.

M. Even though an action would otherwise be presumed to conform under subsection I or L of this section, an action shall not be presumed to conform and the requirements of 9VAC5-160-110 through 9VAC5-160-180, 9VAC5-160-182 through 9VAC5-160-184, and 9VAC5-160-190 shall apply to the action if EPA or a third party shows that the action would:

1. Cause or contribute to any new violation of any standard in any area;

2. Interfere with provisions in the applicable implementation plan for maintenance of any standard;

3. Increase the frequency or severity of any existing violation of any standard in any area; or

4. Delay timely attainment of any standard or any required interim emissions reductions or other milestones in any area including, where applicable, emission levels specified in the applicable implementation plan for purposes of (i) a demonstration of reasonable further progress, (ii) a demonstration of attainment, or (iii) a maintenance plan.

N. Any measures used to affect or determine applicability of this chapter, as determined under this section, shall result in projects that are in fact de minimis, shall result in the de minimis levels prior to the time the applicability determination is made, and shall be state or federally enforceable. Any measures that are intended to reduce air quality impacts for this purpose shall be identified (including the identification and quantification of all emission reductions claimed) and the process for implementation (including any necessary funding of the measures and tracking of the emission reductions) and enforcement of the measures shall be described, including an implementation schedule containing explicit timelines for implementation. Prior to a determination of applicability, the federal agency making the determination shall obtain written commitments from the appropriate persons or agencies to implement any measures which are identified as conditions for making the determinations. The written commitment shall describe the mitigation measures and the nature of the commitment, in a manner consistent with the previous sentence. After this regulation is approved by EPA, enforceability through the applicable implementation plan of any measures necessary for a determination of applicability shall apply to all persons who agree to reduce direct and indirect emissions associated with a federal action for a conformity applicability determination.