Virginia Law

A. The owner or operator of a receiving facility shall submit the permit certification fee in accordance with 9VAC20-170-190 and a certification package including the following documents:

1. A notice of intent which notifies the department of his intent to operate such a facility and a statement certifying that the siting standards have been met by the facility in accordance with 9VAC20-170-80;

2. Plans and specifications of the receiving facility and a certificate signed by a registered professional engineer that the facility has been designed and constructed in accordance with 9VAC20-170-90;

3. An Operation and Maintenance Manual and a statement certifying that the Operation and Maintenance Manual will be implemented prior to the commencement of operation in accordance with 9VAC20-170-110;

4. A certification from the governing body of the county, city or town in which the facility is or is to be located that the location and operation of the facility is consistent with all applicable ordinances. If the applicant proposes to locate the facility on property not governed by any county, city or town zoning ordinance, a certification from the governing body that it has held a public hearing to receive public comment on the proposed facility;

5. A disclosure statement for all key personnel;

6. Results of the public participation effort conducted in accordance with the requirements contained in subsection B of this section, including a summary of and the applicant's response to the comments received; and

7. A closure plan and a statement certifying that a closure plan has been prepared in accordance with 9VAC20-170-120.

B. Public participation.

1. Before the initiation of any construction of a new receiving facility or operation of an existing facility, the owner or operator shall publish a notice as a display ad in a major local newspaper of general circulation informing the public that he intends to construct and/or operate a facility eligible for a permit by rule. The notice shall include:

a. A brief description of the new or existing facility;

b. A statement that the purpose of the public participation is to acquaint the public with the technical aspects of the facility and how the standards and the requirements of this chapter will be met;

c. Announcement of a 30-day comment period in accordance with subdivision 4 of this subsection, and the name and address of the owner's or operator's representative where comments shall be sent;

d. Announcement of the date, time, and place for a public meeting in accordance with subdivision 3 of this subsection; and

e. Location where copies of the documentation to be submitted to the department in support of the permit by rule notification and any supporting documents can be viewed and copied.

2. 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.

3. The owner or operator shall hold a public meeting not earlier than 15 days after the publication of the notice required in subdivision 1 of this subsection 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 new or existing facility.

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

C. Upon receiving the certifications and other required documents, the director will review and make determination of the technical and administrative completeness of the certification package within 60 days. If the applicant's submission is incomplete, the applicant will be notified that the facility will not be considered to have a permit by rule until the missing certifications or other documents are submitted and approved.

D. Change of ownership. A permit by rule shall not be transferred by the permittee to a new owner or operator without proper notification to and approval by the department. In the event that the property transfer takes place without proper closure, at least 30 days in advance of the property transfer, the new owner shall notify, in writing, the department of the sale, agree to abide by the provisions of this chapter, and submit a disclosure statement and an updated Operation and Maintenance Manual in accordance with subsection A of this section. Upon receipt and approval of such notification, the director will release the old owner from his closure obligation and issue a new permit by rule in the name of the new owner.

E. Facility modifications. The owner or operator of a facility operating under a permit by rule may modify its permit by rule by furnishing the department the permit fee in accordance with 9VAC20-170-190 and a new documentation required under subsection A of this section, as applicable. Whenever modifications in the permit by rule affect the provisions of the approved closure plan, the owner or operator shall also submit an amended closure plan in accordance with 9VAC20-170-130 and subdivision A 7 of this section.

F. Loss of permit by rule status. In the event that a facility operating under a permit by rule violates any applicable siting, design, construction, or closure provisions of this chapter, or the owner or operator fails to submit the inspection fee in accordance with 9VAC20-170-190, the owner or operator of the facility will be considered to be operating an unpermitted facility and shall be required to either obtain a new permit by rule in accordance with subsection A of this section or close the facility in accordance with this chapter.

G. Revocation or amendment of permits. Any permit issued by the director pursuant to this chapter may be revoked, amended or suspended in accordance with the provisions of § 10.1-1409 and Chapter 40 (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) of Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia.