Virginia Law

A. Pursuant to § 10.1-1307 C of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law, the department may grant local variances to a provision of the regulations of the board after an investigation and public hearing; except that no local variances shall be granted from regulations adopted by the board pursuant to § 10.1-1308 of the Code of Virginia related to the requirements of § 10.1-1308 E of the Code of Virginia or Article 4 (§ 10.1-1329 et seq.) of Chapter 13 of Title 10.1 of the Code of Virginia. If a local variance is appropriate, the department shall issue an order to this effect. The order shall be subject to amendment or revocation at any time.

B. The department shall adopt variances and amend or revoke variances if warranted only after conducting a public hearing pursuant to public advertisement in at least one major newspaper of general circulation in the affected area of the subject, date, time, and place of the public hearing at least 30 days prior to the scheduled hearing.

C. The public participation procedures of § 10.1-1307.01 of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law shall be followed in the consideration of variances.

D. Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection B of this section, if the department finds that there is a locality particularly affected by a variance involving (i) a new fossil fuel-fired generating facility with a capacity of 500 megawatts or more, (ii) a major modification to an existing source that is a fossil fuel-fired generating facility with a capacity of 500 megawatts or more, (iii) a new fossil fuel-fired compressor station facility used to transport natural gas, or (iv) a major modification to an existing source that is a fossil fuel-fired compressor station facility used to transport natural gas:

1. The applicant shall perform the following:

a. Publish a notice in at least one local paper of general circulation in any locality particularly affected at least 60 days prior to the close of any public comment period. Such notice shall (i) contain a statement of the estimated local impact of the proposed action; (ii) provide information regarding specific pollutants and the total quantity of each that may be emitted; (iii) list the type, quantity, and source of any fuel to be used; (iv) advise the public as to the date and location of a public hearing; and (v) advise the public where to obtain information regarding the proposed action. The department shall post such notice on the department website and on a department social media account; and

b. Mail the notice to (i) the chief elected official of, chief administrative officer of, and planning district commission for each locality particularly affected; (ii) every public library and public school located within five miles of such facility; and (iii) the owner of each parcel of real property that is depicted as adjacent to the facility on the current real estate tax assessment maps of the locality.

2. The department shall post the notice required in subdivision 1 a of this subsection on the department website and on a department social media account.

3. Written comments shall be accepted by the department for at least 30 days after any hearing on such variance or permit, unless the director chooses to shorten the period.