Virginia Law

A. This subsection contains the requirements for permits-by-rule. The owner or operator of a facility described in subdivision A 1 of this section shall be deemed to have a regulated medical waste management facility permit if (i) the owner or operator submits the completed DEQ Form RMW PBR, Regulated Medical Waste Management Facility Permit-by-Rule Form, and all required information and attachments as detailed in subdivision A 2 of this section, and (ii) the department acknowledges completeness of the submittal per subdivision A 4 of this section.

1. Except for exempt facilities described in 9VAC20-121-300 E, the owner or operator of the following regulated medical waste management facilities shall apply for a permit-by-rule:

a. Regulated medical waste transfer stations as defined by this chapter, including when a vehicle transporting regulated medical waste will be parked for 24 hours or more during transport;

b. Facilities treating regulated medical waste employing a treatment method described in 9VAC20-121-240; and

c. Facilities treating regulated medical waste employing an alternate treatment method as described in 9VAC20-121-250.

2. The owner or operator of a regulated medical waste management facility shall submit the following information and documentation to the department:

a. To initiate the permit-by-rule application process, any person who proposes to establish a new regulated medical waste management facility, or modify an existing regulated medical waste management facility shall file a notice of intent with the director stating the type of facility for which the permit-by-rule application is made, the precise location of the proposed facility, and the intended use of the facility. The notice shall be in letter form and be accompanied by the following documents:

(1) A disclosure statement (DEQ Forms DISC-01 and DISC-02) identifying all key personnel as required by § 10.1-1408.1 of the Code of Virginia.

(2) A copy of the certification for at least one operator licensed by the Board for Waste Management Facility Operators as required by § 10.1-1408.2 of the Code of Virginia.

(3) A certification (DEQ Form CERT-01) from the governing body of the county, city, or town in which the facility is to be located stating, without qualifications, conditions, or reservations, that the location and operation of the facility are consistent with all applicable ordinances. No certification shall be required for the application for a modification to an existing permit-by-rule.

(4) The results of the public participation effort conducted in accordance with the requirements contained in subdivision A 3 of this section;

b. A certification that the facility meets the siting standards, as applicable, of 9VAC20-121-210;

c. A certificate signed by a professional engineer that the facility has been designed and constructed in accordance with the design and construction standards, as applicable, of 9VAC20-121-220;

d. Design plans certified by a professional engineer consisting of at least the following:

(1) A title sheet indicating the facility name, who prepared the plans, the person for whom the plans were prepared, a table of contents, and a location map showing the location of the site and area to be served.

(2) An exterior site plan identifying building dimensions of the transfer or treatment facility and the location of property boundaries and building setbacks, fencing, loading or unloading areas, vehicle staging and queuing locations, and parking areas.

(3) An interior site plan identifying location and size of all receiving, storage, temporary storage, including storage areas to be used to segregate unauthorized waste, radioactive waste, hazardous waste, and other untreated waste from treated waste, and processing areas, and location of treatment units, reusable container washing stations, and floor drains.

(4) A process flow diagram for all treatment units showing, piping and instrumentation, vents, and liquid discharge locations;

e. Documentation of the authorization to discharge into an approved sanitary sewer system or publicly or privately owned treatment works;

f. A certification that the facility meets the standards of Part III (9VAC20-121-100 et seq.) and Part IV (9VAC20-121-200 et seq.), as applicable, and a copy of the regulated medical waste management plan to be maintained in the operating record in accordance with 9VAC20-121-330. The certification shall also include a statement that the emergency contingency plan has been provided to the local police and fire departments, local emergency manager, and local emergency health coordinator;

g. Alternate treatment technologies shall provide a copy of the treatment technology approval;

h. A treatment plan for each treatment unit in accordance with 9VAC20-121-330 E;

i. For treatment facilities, a treated waste disposal plan in accordance with 9VAC20-121-280 D ;

j. A closure plan in accordance with 9VAC20-121-330 G;

k. Demonstration of legal control over the site for the permit life;

l. A certification from the State Corporation Commission that the business entity pursing the permit-by-rule status is a valid entity, authorized to transact its business in Virginia. This requirement does not apply to those facilities owned solely by governmental units;

m. Closure cost estimates and proof of financial responsibility as required by the Financial Assurance Regulations for Solid Waste Disposal, Transfer, and Treatment Facilities (9VAC20-70). Proof of financial responsibility must be for the entity identified in subdivision A 2 l of this section. For treatment facilities, proof of financial responsibility is required prior to department approval to begin operation in accordance with 9VAC20-121-320; and

n. The applicable permit fees under the provisions of 9VAC20-90.

3. Public participation.

a. The applicant for a new regulated medical waste transfer station or treatment facility shall publish a notice once a week for two consecutive weeks in a major local newspaper of general circulation of the intent to construct and operate a facility eligible for a permit-by-rule. The notice shall include:

(1) A statement of the applicant's intent to apply for a permit-by-rule to operate a regulated medical waste transfer station or treatment facility;

(2) A brief description of the proposed facility and its location;

(3) A statement that the purpose of the public participation is to identify issues of concern, to facilitate communication and to establish a dialogue between the applicant and persons who may be affected by the facility;

(4) Announcement of a 30-day comment period, in accordance with subdivision A 3 d of this section;

(5) Announcement of the date, time, and location for a public meeting to be held in accordance with subdivision A 3 c of this section;

(6) The name, address, and telephone number of the owner's or operator's representative who can be contacted by interested persons to answer questions or receive comments on the siting and operation of the proposed regulated medical waste facility; and

(7) Location where copies of the documentation to be submitted to the department in support of the permit-by-rule notification can be viewed and copied in accordance with subdivision A 3 b of this section.

b. The owner or operator shall place a copy of the documentation and support documents in a location accessible to the public in the vicinity of the proposed facility.

c. The owner or operator shall hold a public meeting not earlier than 14 days after the publication of the notice required in subdivision A 3 a of this section and no later than seven days before the close of the 30-day comment period. The meeting shall be held to the extent practicable in the vicinity of the proposed facility at a time convenient for the public.

d. The public shall be provided 30 days to comment on the technical and the regulatory aspects of the proposal. The comment period will begin on the date the owner or operator publishes the first notice in the local newspaper.

e. The requirements of this section do not apply to the owners or operators of a regulated medical waste treatment unit that has received a permit from the department based on the regulations promulgated by the State Air Pollution Control Board or State Water Control Board that required facility-specific public participation procedures.

4. Upon receiving the certifications and other required documents, including the results of the public meeting and the applicant's response to the comments received, the department shall conduct a completeness review and respond within 30 days.

a. If the applicant's submission for a regulated medical waste transfer station is administratively complete, the applicant shall be deemed to operate under permit-by-rule status.

b. If the applicant's submission for a treatment unit is administratively complete, the applicant shall be deemed to operate under permit-by-rule status and granted authorization to initiate validation testing in accordance with an approved validation protocol and 9VAC20-121-320. The facility shall not accept regulated medical waste for treatment until the results of validation testing and operating parameters are submitted and approved by the department.

c. If the applicant's submission is administratively incomplete, the department will respond with a letter stating that the facility will not be considered to have a permit-by-rule or initiate the validation protocol until the missing certifications or other required documentation is submitted. At the time of the initial receipt or at a later date, the director may require changes in the documents designed to assure compliance with this chapter. Should such changes not be accomplished by the facility owner or operator, the facility will not be deemed to have a regulated medical waste management facility permit.

5. A permit-by-rule shall not be transferred by the permittee to a new owner or operator. However, when the property transfer takes place without proper closure, the new owner shall notify the department of the sale and fulfill all the requirements contained in subdivision A 2 of this section. Upon presentation of the financial assurance proof required by Financial Assurance Regulations for Solid Waste Disposal, Transfer, and Treatment Facilities (9VAC20-70) by the new owner, the department will release the former owner from the closure and financial responsibilities and acknowledge existence of the new permit-by-rule in the name of the new owner.

6. The owner or operator of a facility operating under a permit-by-rule may modify its design and operation by furnishing the department a new certificate and applicable permit fees under the provisions of 9VAC20-90. For modifications of design, the new certificate shall be prepared by a professional engineer and shall include new documentation required under subdivision A 2 of this section, as applicable, and subdivision A 3 of this section. For modifications to the operations, the owner or operator shall submit to the department a new certificate and documentation required under subdivision A 2 of this section, as applicable. For treatment units, a new treatment plan and revalidation with department approval to begin operation will be required for design and operation changes that include changing the treatment unit type, changing the treatment unit operating parameters, changes in waste stream, and adding a new treatment unit. Whenever modifications in the design or operation of the facility affect the provisions of the closure plan, the owner or operator shall revise the closure plan and submit to the department a new certificate and documentation required under subdivision A 2 of this section, as applicable. Should there be an increase in the closure costs, the owner or operator shall submit a new proof of financial responsibility as required by 9VAC20-70.

7. The director may terminate a regulated medical waste management facility's coverage under a permit-by-rule and require closure of the facility when the director finds that:

a. As a result of changes in key personnel, the requirements necessary for a permit-by-rule are no longer satisfied;

b. The applicant has knowingly or willfully misrepresented or failed to disclose a material fact in the disclosure statement or any other report or certification required under this chapter or has knowingly or willfully failed to notify the director of any material change to the information in the disclosure statement;

c. Any key personnel have been convicted of any of the crimes listed in § 10.1-1409 of the Code of Virginia, punishable as felonies under the laws of the Commonwealth or the equivalent under the laws of any other jurisdiction or has been adjudged by an administrative agency or a court of competent jurisdiction to have violated the environmental protection laws of the United States, the Commonwealth, or any other state, and the director determines that such conviction or adjudication is sufficiently probative of the permittee's inability or unwillingness to operate the facility in a lawful manner; or

d. The operation of the facility is inconsistent with the facility's regulated medical waste management plan or the requirements of Part IV (9VAC20-121-200 et seq.) of this chapter.

B. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, in the event the director finds an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health or the environment, the director may issue a temporary emergency permit to a facility to allow transfer, treatment, or storage of regulated medical waste. Such permits:

1. May be issued to allow:

a. Transfer, treatment, or storage of regulated medical waste at a nonpermitted facility;

b. Transfer, treatment, or storage of types of regulated medical waste not covered by the permit for a facility with an effective permit;

c. Treatment of regulated medical waste by a new or temporary treatment unit or treatment unit or method not covered by the permit for a facility with an effective permit; or

d. Temporary transfer, treatment, or storage activities not covered by the permit for a facility with an effective permit.

2. If oral, the emergency permit shall be followed within five calendar days by a written emergency permit.

3. Shall not exceed 90 days in duration.

4. Shall clearly specify:

a. The regulated medical wastes to be received;

b. The manner and location of their transfer, treatment, storage, or disposal; and

c. For emergency treatment units, the treatment plan in accordance with 9VAC20-121-330 E.

5. Shall be accompanied by a public notice including:

a. Name and address of the office granting the emergency authorization;

b. Name and location of the facility so permitted;

c. A brief description of the wastes involved;

d. A brief description of the action authorized and reasons for authorizing it; and

e. Duration of the emergency permit.

6. Shall incorporate, to the extent possible and not inconsistent with the emergency situation, all applicable requirements of this chapter, and shall include the applicable permit fees under the provisions of 9VAC20-90.

7. For emergency treatment units, the facility shall not accept regulated medical waste for treatment until the results of validation testing and operating parameters are submitted and approved by the department.

8. Any permit issued under this subsection may be renewed not more than three times if necessary and with appropriate justification. Each such renewal shall be for a period of not more than 90 days.