Virginia Law

A. Procedures for variances to be classified as a boiler. The director will use the following procedures in evaluating applications for variances to classify particular enclosed controlled flame combustion devices as boilers:

1. The applicant must apply to the department for the variance. The application must address the relevant criteria contained in 9VAC20-60-1400.

2. The director will evaluate the application and issue a draft notice tentatively granting or denying the application. Notification of this tentative decision will be provided by newspaper advertisement or radio broadcast in the locality where the applicant is located. The director will accept comment on the tentative decision for 30 days, and may also hold a public hearing upon request or at his discretion. The director will issue a final decision after receipt of comments and after the hearing (if any).

B. Variances. The director will use the following procedures in evaluating applications for variances submitted under 9VAC20-60-1380 B, 9VAC20-60-1390, and 9VAC20-60-1400.

1. The applicant shall apply to the department. The application shall address the relevant criteria contained in 9VAC20-60-1380 B, 9VAC20-60-1390, and 9VAC20-60-1400.

2. The director will evaluate the application and issue a draft notice tentatively granting or denying the application. Notification of this tentative decision will be provided by newspaper advertisement and radio broadcast in the locality where the applicant is located. The director will accept comment on the tentative decision for 30 days, and may also hold a public hearing upon request or at his discretion. The director will issue a final decision after receipt of comments and after the hearing (if any), and will publish it in the newspaper in the locality where the applicant is located.

3. In the event of a change in circumstances that affect how a hazardous secondary material meets the relevant criteria contained in 9VAC20-60-1390 upon which a variance or nonwaste determination has been based, the applicant must send a description of the change in circumstances to the director. The director may issue a determination that the hazardous secondary material continues to meet the relevant criteria of the variance or nonwaste determination or may require the facility to reapply for the variance or nonwaste determination.

4. Variances and nonwaste determinations shall be effective for a fixed term not to exceed 10 years. No later than six months prior to the end of this term, facilities must reapply for a variance or nonwaste determination. If a facility reapplies for a variance or nonwaste determination within six months, the facility may continue to operate under an expired variance or nonwaste determination until receiving a decision on their reapplication from the director.

5. Facilities receiving a variance or nonwaste determination must provide notification as required by 40 CFR 260.42 as incorporated by reference.

C. Changes in management procedures.

1. Recycling activities. In determining whether to regulate recycling activities in a manner differing from procedures described in 40 CFR 261.6(a)(2)(iii), the director will fulfill all the requirements of Article 3 (§ 2.2-4018 et seq.) of the Administrative Process Act. In addition to the process required by the APA, the director will:

a. If a generator is accumulating the waste, issue a notice setting forth the factual basis for the decision and stating that the person shall comply with applicable requirements of 9VAC20-60-262. The notice will become final within 30 days, unless the person served requests a public hearing to challenge the decision. Upon receiving such a request, the director will hold a public hearing. The director will provide notice of the hearing to the public and allow public participation at the hearing. The director will issue a final order after the hearing stating whether or not compliance with 9VAC20-60-262 is required. The order becomes effective in 30 days, unless the director specifies a later date or unless review under Article 5 (§ 2.2-4025 et seq.) of the Administrative Process Act is requested.

b. If the person is accumulating the recyclable material at a storage facility, issue a notice stating that the person shall obtain a permit in accordance with all applicable provisions of Part III (9VAC20-60-124 et seq.), 9VAC20-60-270, and Part XII (9VAC20-60-1260 et seq.) of this chapter. The owner or operator of the facility shall apply for a permit within no less than 60 days and no more than six months of notice, as specified in the notice. If the owner or operator of the facility wishes to challenge the director's decision, he may do so in his permit application, in a public hearing held on the draft permit, or in comments filed on the draft permit or on the notice of intent to deny the permit. The fact sheet accompanying the permit will specify the reasons for the director's determination. The questions of whether the director's decision was proper will remain open for consideration during the public comment period discussed under 40 CFR 124.11 and in any subsequent hearing.

2. Variance from secondary containment. The following procedures shall be followed in order to request a variance from secondary containment:

a. The department shall be notified in writing by the owner or operator that he intends to conduct and submit a demonstration for a variance from secondary containment as allowed in 40 CFR 265.193(g), (or 40 CFR 264.195(g)), and 9VAC20-60-1410 B according to the following schedule:

(1) For existing tank systems, at least 24 months prior to the date that secondary containment shall be provided in accordance with 40 CFR 265.193(a) or 40 CFR 264.193(a); and

(2) For new tank systems, at least 30 days prior to entering into a contract for installation of the tank system.

b. As part of the notification, the owner or operator shall also submit to the department a description of the steps necessary to conduct the demonstration and a timetable for completing each of the steps. The demonstration shall address each of the factors listed in 9VAC20-60-1410 B 4 or 9VAC20-60-1410 B 5.

c. The demonstration for a variance shall be completed and submitted to the department within 180 days after notifying the department of intent to conduct the demonstration.

d. In case of facilities regulated under 9VAC20-60-265:

(1) The director will inform the public, through a newspaper notice, of the availability of the demonstration for a variance. The notice shall be placed in a daily or weekly major local newspaper of general circulation and shall provide at least 30 days from the date of the notice for the public to review and comment on the demonstration for a variance. The director also will hold a public hearing, in response to a request or at his own discretion, whenever such a hearing might clarify one or more issues concerning the demonstration for a variance. Public notice of the hearing will be given at least 30 days prior to the date of the hearing and may be given at the same time as notice of the opportunity for the public to review and comment on the demonstration. These two notices may be combined.

(2) The director will approve or disapprove the request for a variance within 90 days of receipt of the demonstration from the owner or operator and will notify in writing the owner or operator and each person who submitted written comments or requested notice of the variance decision. If the demonstration for a variance is incomplete or does not include sufficient information, the 90-day time period will begin when the department receives a complete demonstration, including all information necessary to make a final determination. If the public comment period in subdivision 2 d (1) of this subsection is extended, the 90-day time period will be similarly extended.

e. In case of facilities regulated under 9VAC20-60-264, if a variance is granted to the permittee, the director will require the permittee to construct and operate the tank system in the manner that was demonstrated to meet the requirements for the variance.