Virginia Law

A. General petitioning requirements. The petition shall be submitted to the director by certified mail and shall include:

1. The petitioner's name and address;

2. A statement of petitioner's interest in the proposed action;

3. A description of desired action and a citation of the regulation from which a variance is requested;

4. A description of need and justification for the proposed action;

5. The duration of the variance, if applicable;

6. The potential impact of the variance on public health or the environment;

7. Other information believed by the applicant to be pertinent; and

8. The following statement signed by the petitioner or authorized representative:

"I certify that I have personally examined and am familiar with the information submitted in this petition and all attached documents, and that, based on my inquiry of those individuals immediately responsible for obtaining the information, I believe that the submitted information is true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fine and imprisonment."

B. Petition processing.

1. After receiving a petition that includes the information required in subsection A of this section, the director will determine whether the information received is sufficient to render the decision. If the information is deemed insufficient, the director will specify additional information needed and request that it be furnished.

2. The petitioner may submit the additional information requested, or may attempt to show that no reasonable basis exists for additional information. If the director agrees that no reasonable basis exists for the request for additional information, he will act in accordance with subdivision 3 of this subsection. If the director continues to believe that a reasonable basis exists to require the submission of such information, he will proceed with the denial action in accordance with the Administrative Process Act.

3. Decisions to grant or deny a petition are subject to the provisions of Article 3 of the Virginia Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).

C. Petition resolution. If the director grants a variance request, the notice to the petitioner shall provide that the variance may be terminated upon a finding by the director that the petitioner has failed to comply with any requirements of the variance.