Virginia Law

A. No later than 15 days after receiving the initial determination notification required under 9VAC5-80-1160 B, the applicant for a minor NSR permit for a new major stationary source shall notify the public of the proposed major stationary source in accordance with subsection B of this section.

B. The public notice required by subsection A of this section shall be placed by the applicant in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the affected air quality control region. The notice shall be approved by the department and shall include the following:

1. The source name, location, and type;

2. The pollutants and the total quantity of each that the applicant estimates will be emitted and a brief statement of the air quality impact of such pollutants;

3. The control technology proposed to be used at the time of the publication of the notice; and

4. The name and telephone number of a contact person employed by the applicant who can answer questions about the proposed source.

C. Upon a determination by the department that an alternative plan will achieve the desired results in an equally effective manner, an applicant for a minor NSR permit may implement an alternative plan for notifying the public to that required in subsections A and B of this section.

D. Prior to the decision of the department, minor NSR permit applications as specified below shall be subject to a public comment period of at least 30 days. At the end of the public comment period, a public hearing shall be held in accordance with subsection E of this section.

1. Applications for stationary sources of hazardous air pollutants requiring a case-by-case maximum achievable control technology determination under Article 3 (9VAC5-60-120 et seq.) of Part II of 9VAC5-60 (Hazardous Air Pollutant Sources).

2. Applications for new major stationary sources and major modifications.

3. Applications for projects that would result in an increase in the potential to emit of any regulated air pollutant that would equal or exceed 100 tons per year, considering any state and federally enforceable permit conditions that will be placed on the source by a minor NSR permit.

4. Applications for new stationary sources or projects that have the potential for public interest concerning air quality issues, as determined by the department. The identification of such sources shall be made using the following nonexclusive criteria:

a. Whether the new stationary source or project is opposed by any person;

b. Whether the new stationary source or project has resulted in adverse media;

c. Whether the new stationary source or project has generated adverse comment through any public participation or governmental review process initiated by any other governmental agency; and

d. Whether the new stationary source or project has generated adverse comment by a local official, governing body, or advisory board.

5. Applications for stationary sources for which any provision of the minor NSR permit is to be based upon a good engineering practice (GEP) stack height that exceeds the height allowed by subdivisions 1 and 2 of the GEP definition. The demonstration specified in subdivision 3 of the GEP definition and required by 9VAC5-50-20 H 3 shall be included in the application.

E. When a public comment period and public hearing are required, the department shall notify the public by advertisement in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the affected air quality control region of the opportunity for the public comment and the public hearing on the information available for public inspection under the provisions of subdivision 1 of this subsection. The notification shall be published at least 30 days prior to the day of the public hearing. For permits subject to § 10.1-1307.01 A of the Code of Virginia, written comments will be accepted by the department for at least 15 days after any hearing.

1. Information on the minor NSR permit application, exclusive of confidential information under 9VAC5-170-60, as well as the preliminary review and analysis and preliminary determination of the department shall be available for public inspection during the entire public comment period in at least one location in the affected air quality control region. Any demonstration included in an application specified in subdivision D 5 of this section shall be available for public inspection during the public comment period.

2. A copy of the notice shall be sent to all local air pollution control agencies having jurisdiction in the affected air quality control region, all states sharing the affected air quality control region, and to the regional EPA administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

3. Notices of public comment periods and public hearings for major stationary sources and major modifications published under this section shall meet the requirements of § 10.1-1307.01 of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law.

F. (Reserved.)

G. For permits under 9VAC5-80-1170 D 2 and I, the department will review any request made under subsection F of this section and will take final action on the request as provided in 9VAC5-80-1160 D.

H. In order to facilitate the efficient issuance of permits under Articles 1 (9VAC5-80-50 et seq.) and 3 (9VAC5-80-360 et seq.) of this part, upon request of the applicant the department shall process the minor NSR permit application using public participation procedures meeting the requirements of this section and 9VAC5-80-270 or 9VAC5-80-670, as applicable.

I. If the department finds that there is a locality particularly affected by (i) a new fossil fuel-fired generating facility with a capacity of 500 megawatts or more, (ii) a major modification to an existing source that is a fossil fuel-fired generating facility with a capacity of 500 megawatts or more, (iii) a new fossil fuel-fired compressor station facility used to transport natural gas, or (iv) a major modification to an existing source that is a fossil fuel-fired compressor station facility used to transport natural gas:

1. The applicant shall perform the following:

a. Publish a notice in at least one local paper of general circulation in any locality particularly affected at least 60 days prior to the close of any public comment period. Such notice shall (i) contain a statement of the estimated local impact of the proposed action; (ii) provide information regarding specific pollutants and the total quantity of each that may be emitted; (iii) list the type, quantity, and source of any fuel to be used; (iv) advise the public as to the date and location of a public hearing; and (v) advise the public where to obtain information regarding the proposed action. The department shall post such notice on the department website and on a department social media account; and

b. Mail the notice to (i) the chief elected official of, chief administrative officer of, and planning district commission for each locality particularly affected; (ii) every public library and public school located within five miles of such facility; and (iii) the owner of each parcel of real property that is depicted as adjacent to the facility on the current real estate tax assessment maps of the locality.

2. The department shall post the notice required in subdivision 1 a of this subsection on the department website and on a department social media account.

3. Written comments shall be accepted by the department for at least 30 days after any hearing on such variance or permit unless the director chooses to shorten the period.