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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 9. Environment
Agency 25. State Water Control Board
Chapter 875. Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Regulation
12/28/2024

9VAC25-875-170. Variances and exceptions.

A. A VESMP authority may grant variances to waive or modify any of the erosion and sediment control requirements of Article 2 (9VAC25-875-540 et seq.) of Part V (9VAC25-875-470 et seq.) of this chapter that are deemed inappropriate or too restrictive for site conditions may be requested from the VESMP authority under these conditions:

1. At the time of plan submission, an applicant may request a variance to become part of the approved erosion and sediment control plan. The applicant shall explain the reasons for requesting variances in writing. Specific variances which are allowed by the authority shall be documented in the plan.

2. During construction, the person responsible for implementing the approved plan may request a variance in writing from the authority. The authority shall respond in writing either approving or disapproving such a request. If the authority does not approve a variance within 10 days of receipt of the request, the request shall be considered to be disapproved. Following disapproval, the applicant may resubmit a variance request with additional documentation.

B. A VESMP authority may grant exceptions to the provisions of Article 3 (9VAC25-875-570 et seq.) of Part V of this chapter. An exception may be granted provided that (i) the exception is the minimum necessary to afford relief, (ii) reasonable and appropriate conditions shall be imposed as necessary upon any exception granted so that the intent of the VESMA and this chapter are preserved, (iii) granting the exception will not confer any special privileges that are denied in other similar circumstances, and (iv) exception requests are not based upon conditions or circumstances that are self-imposed or self-created.

C. Economic hardship alone is not a sufficient reason to grant an exception from the requirements of this chapter.

D. Under no circumstance shall the authority (i) grant an exception to the requirement that the land-disturbing activity obtain required permits, or (ii) approve the use of a BMP not found through the Virginia Stormwater BMP Clearinghouse, except where allowed under Article 4 (9VAC25-875-670 et seq.) of Part V of this chapter.

E. Exceptions to requirements for phosphorus reductions shall not be allowed unless offsite options available through 9VAC25-875-610 have been considered and found not available.

F. A record of all exceptions granted shall be maintained by the authority in accordance with 9VAC25-875-180.

Statutory Authority

§ 62.1-44.15:28 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 40, Issue 8, eff. July 1, 2024.

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