Virginia Law

A. An owner of a nutrient credit-generating project that utilizes structural BMPs for the generation of perpetual credits shall submit and maintain financial assurance in accordance with this part. The financial assurance mechanism shall be submitted to and approved by the department prior to the release of credits.

B. An owner of a nutrient credit-generating project that utilizes structural BMPs for the generation of term credits with terms that exceed one year shall submit and maintain financial assurance in accordance with this part. However, an owner of a nutrient credit-generating project that utilizes structural BMPs for the generation of term credits with terms that exceed one year shall not be required to submit and maintain financial assurance in accordance with this part, provided that the department annually approves the generation of the term nutrient credits prior to release of the credits. In accordance with 9VAC25-900-90 B, the financial assurance mechanism shall be submitted to and approved by the department prior to the release of credits. For the purposes of this part, term credit shall refer to credit with a term greater than one year but not perpetual.

C. An owner of a nutrient credit-generating project using proposed new wetland or stream restoration practices not subject to 33 CFR 332.8 and § 62.1-44.15:23 of the Code of Virginia for the generation of perpetual credits shall be required to submit and maintain financial assurance in accordance with this chapter. In accordance with 9VAC25-900-90 B, the financial assurance mechanism shall be submitted to and approved by the department prior to the release of credits. The following financial assurances shall be provided for these new wetland or stream restoration projects:

1. A monitoring plan financial assurance mechanism shall be established to ensure implementation of the monitoring plan pursuant to 9VAC25-900-120 for any nutrient credits generated from wetland or stream restoration. When the owner conducts the required monitoring and submits a complete monitoring report as specified in the monitoring plan and report requirements, then the owner may request a reduction of the required financial assurance amount equivalent to the cost of one year of monitoring, subject to department approval. If any funds remain in the financial assurance mechanism after the monitoring period, the mechanism shall be maintained until the final monitoring report is submitted and approved, at which point the mechanism shall be released by the department;

2. A long-term management fund financial assurance mechanism shall be established in support of required long-term management plan tasks pursuant to 9VAC25-900-120 for any nutrient credits generated from wetland or stream restoration. Long-term management funds shall be placed in a separate interest bearing trust account in an appropriate financial institution and may be funded from a sufficient percentage of all credit sale proceeds, a single lump sum payment, or an approved schedule of payments, subject to department approval. No long-term management funds shall be used to finance any expense or activity other than those specified in the long-term management plan unless approved by the department. Responsibility for and access to the long-term management fund is given to the owner or long-term steward and may be transferred to any new long-term steward that is designated by the owner and approved by the department; and

3. In lieu of the long-term management fund trust account for stream restoration projects established in subdivision 2 of this subsection, a third-party long-term steward approved by the department, such as a public agency, nongovernmental organization, or private land manager, may hold long-term management funds in a separate interest-bearing account to be used only for the long-term management of the stream restoration project.

D. When the nutrient credits are generated or used by a locality, authority, utility, sanitation district, or owner operating an MS4 or a point source permitted under 9VAC25-875, the existence of tax or rate authority may be used by such entity at its option in satisfaction of the financial assurance required pursuant to this part.