Virginia Law

A. Owner of an animal feeding operation. An owner of an animal feeding operation that is subject to this general permit is hereby authorized to manage pollutants at the animal feeding operations, provided that the owner files a registration statement in accordance with 9VAC25-192-60, complies with the requirements of 9VAC25-192-70, and provided that:

1. The owner has not been required to obtain a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit or an individual Virginia Pollution Abatement (VPA) permit according to subdivision 2 of 9VAC25-32-260.

2. The operation of the animal feeding operation shall not contravene the Water Quality Standards (9VAC25-260) or any provision of the State Water Control Law. There shall be no point source discharge of wastewater to surface waters of the state except in the case of a storm event greater than the 25-year, 24-hour storm. Agricultural stormwater discharges are permitted. Domestic sewage shall not be managed under this general permit. Industrial wastes shall not be managed under this general permit, except for wastes that have been approved by the department and are managed in accordance with 9VAC25-192-70.

3. The owner of any proposed pollutant management activities or those that have not previously been issued a valid general permit or an individual VPA permit or VPDES permit must attach a Local Government Ordinance Form to the registration statement.

4. The owner shall obtain Department of Conservation and Recreation approval of a nutrient management plan for the animal feeding operation prior to the submittal of the registration statement. The owner shall attach to the registration statement a copy of the approved nutrient management plan and a copy of the letter from the Department of Conservation and Recreation certifying approval of the nutrient management plan that was developed by a certified nutrient management planner in accordance with § 10.1-104.2 of the Code of Virginia. The owner shall implement the approved nutrient management plan.

5. The owner shall give notice of the registration statement to all owners or residents of property that adjoins the property on which the animal feeding operation will be located.

a. Such notice shall include (i) the types and maximum number of animals that will be maintained at the animal feeding operation and (ii) the address and phone number of the appropriate department regional office to which comments relevant to the registration statement may be submitted. This notice requirement is waived whenever registration is for the purpose of renewing coverage under this general permit and no expansion is proposed and the department has not issued any special order or consent order relating to violations under this existing general permit.

b. Any person may submit written comments on the proposed operation to the department within 30 days of the date of the filing of the registration statement. If, based on such written comments or the director's review, the director determines that the proposed operation will not be capable of complying with the provisions of this general permit, then the director shall require the owner to obtain an individual VPA permit for the operation. Any such determination by the director shall be made in writing and mailed to the owner not more than 45 days after the filing of the registration statement, or if in the director's sole discretion additional time is necessary to evaluate comments received from the public, then not more than 60 days after the filing of the registration statement.

6. Each owner of an animal feeding operation covered by this general permit shall have completed the training program offered or approved by the department in the two years prior to submitting the registration statement for general permit coverage or shall complete such training within one year after the registration statement has been submitted for general permit coverage. All permitted owners shall complete the training program at least once every three years.

B. Animal waste end-user. An animal waste end-user shall comply with the requirements outlined in 9VAC25-192-80 and 9VAC25-192-90.

1. When an animal waste end-user does not comply with the requirements of 9VAC25-192-80 and 9VAC25-192-90, the department may choose to do the following:

a. Initiate enforcement action based upon the violation of the regulation;

b. Require the animal waste end-user to register for coverage under this general permit or apply for an individual VPA permit; and

c. Take other actions set forth in the VPA Permit Regulation (9VAC25-32).

2. When an animal waste end-user is required to register for coverage under this general permit, the end-user is hereby authorized to manage and store animal waste provided that the animal waste end-user files the registration statement of 9VAC25-192-60, complies with the requirements of 9VAC25-192-70, and:

a. The animal waste end-user has not been required to obtain an individual VPA permit according to subdivision 2 of 9VAC25-32-260;

b. The activities of the animal waste end-user shall not contravene the Water Quality Standards (9VAC25-20-260) or any provision of the State Water Control Law. There shall be no point source discharge of wastewater to surface waters of the state except in the case of a storm event greater than the 25-year, 24-hour storm. Agricultural stormwater discharges are permitted. Domestic sewage shall not be managed under this general permit. Industrial wastes shall not be managed under this general permit, except for wastes that have been approved by the department and are managed in accordance with 9VAC25-192-70;

c. The animal waste end-user shall obtain Department of Conservation and Recreation approval of a nutrient management plan for land application sites where animal waste will be utilized or stored and managed prior to the submittal of the registration statement. The animal waste end-user shall attach to the registration statement a copy of the approved nutrient management plan and a copy of the letter from the Department of Conservation and Recreation certifying approval of the nutrient management plan that was developed by a certified nutrient management planner in accordance with § 10.1-104.2 of the Code of Virginia. The animal waste end-user shall implement the approved nutrient management plan; and

d. Each permitted animal waste end-user shall complete a training program offered or approved by the department within one year of filing the registration statement for general permit coverage. All permitted animal waste end-users shall complete a training program at least once every three years.

C. Continuation of general permit coverage.

1. In any case where the board, through no fault of the owner or permittee, does not issue the next consecutive general permit with an effective date on or before the expiration date of the expiring general permit, any owner that was authorized to manage pollutants under this general permit and that submits a complete registration statement in accordance with 9VAC25-192-60 on or before the expiration date of the expiring general permit coverage is authorized to continue to manage pollutants under the terms of the previously issued general permit. The conditions of the expiring general permit and any requirements of coverage granted under it shall continue in force until the effective date of the next consecutive general permit and until such time as the department either:

a. Issues coverage to the owner or permittee under the next consecutive general permit; or

b. Notifies the owner or permittee that coverage under the next consecutive general permit is denied.

2. When the permittee that was covered under the expiring or expired general permit has violated or is violating the conditions of that general permit, the department may choose to do the following:

a. Initiate enforcement action based upon the expiring or expired general permit;

b. Issue a notice of intent to deny coverage under the reissued general permit. If the general permit coverage is denied, then the owner will be required to cease the activities authorized by the expiring or expired general permit or be subject to enforcement action for operating without a general permit;

c. Issue an individual VPA permit with appropriate conditions; and

d. Take other actions set forth in the VPA Permit Regulation (9VAC25-32).

D. Receipt of this general permit does not relieve any permittee of the responsibility to comply with any other applicable federal, state, or local statute, ordinance, or regulation.