Virginia Law

A. Change of ownership. A permit by rule may be transferred to a new owner or operator if:

1. The department receives notification of the change of ownership within 30 days of the transfer; and

2. The notice includes written agreement by the new owner or operator to comply with all requirements of the existing permit by rule and the date on which permit responsibility is transferred to the new owner or operator.

B. Project modifications. Projects subject to Part II of this chapter may be modified as follows:

1. Project modifications that do not increase the project's disturbance zone by more than an additional 10 acres, cause the tallest point of the built structures to exceed 200 feet, or newly involve utilizing or demolishing a building over 50 years of age may occur without notice to the department. No fee will be levied for these modifications.

2. If, however, the project modification involves increasing the disturbance zone by more than 10 additional acres, increasing the height of the tallest point of the built structures so that it now exceeds 200 feet, or newly utilizing or demolishing a building over 50 years of age, the owner or operator shall furnish to the department new certificates prepared by a professional engineer, new documentation required under 9VAC15-70-30, and the appropriate fee in accordance with 9VAC15-70-110. The department shall review the received modification submittal pursuant to this subsection in accordance with the provisions of subsection B of 9VAC15-70-30.

C. Permit by rule termination. The department may terminate the permit by rule whenever the department finds that:

1. The applicant has knowingly or willfully misrepresented or failed to disclose a material fact in any report or certification required under this chapter; or

2. After the department has taken enforcement actions pursuant to 9VAC15-70-140, the owner or operator persistently operates the project in significant violation of the project's mitigation plan.

Prior to terminating a permit by rule pursuant to subdivision 1 or 2 of this subsection, the department shall hold an informal fact-finding proceeding pursuant to § 2.2-4019 of the Virginia Administrative Process Act in order to assess whether to continue with termination of the permit by rule or to issue any other appropriate order. If the department determines that it should continue with the termination of the permit by rule, the department shall hold a formal hearing pursuant to § 2.2-4020 of the Virginia Administrative Process Act. Notice of the formal hearing shall be delivered to the owner or operator. Any owner or operator whose permit by rule is terminated by the department shall cease operating his combustion energy project.