Virginia Law

A. No later than 30 days after receiving the initial determination notification required under 9VAC5-80-1773 A, the applicant shall notify the public about the proposed source as required in subsection B of this section. The applicant shall also provide an informational briefing about the proposed source for the public as required in subsection C of this section.

B. The public notice required under 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 (i) the name, location, and type of the source and (ii) the time and place of the informational briefing.

C. The informational briefing shall be held in the locality where the source is or will be located and at least 30 days, but no later than 60 days, following the day of the publication of the public notice in the newspaper. The applicant shall inform the public about the operation and potential air quality impact of the source and answer any questions concerning air quality about the proposed source from those in attendance at the briefing. At a minimum, the applicant shall provide information on and answer questions about (i) specific pollutants and the total quantity of each which the applicant estimates will be emitted and (ii) the control technology proposed to be used at the time of the informational briefing. Representatives from the department will attend and provide information and answer questions on the permit application review process.

D. Upon a determination by the department that an alternative plan will achieve the desired results in an equally effective manner, an applicant for a permit may implement an alternative plan for notifying the public as required in subsection B of this section and for providing the informational briefing as required in subsection C of this section.

E. The department will provide opportunity for a public hearing for interested persons to appear and submit written or oral comments on the air quality impact of the source or modification, alternatives to the source or modification, the control technology required, and other appropriate considerations.

F. The department will notify the public by advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in each region in which the proposed source or modification would be constructed of the application, the preliminary determination, the degree of increment consumption that is expected from the source or modification, and the opportunity for comment at a public hearing as well as written public comment. The notification will contain a statement of the estimated local impact of the proposed source or modification, which at a minimum will provide information regarding specific pollutants and the total quantity of each that may be emitted, and will list the type and quantity of any fuels to be used. The notification will be published at least 30 days prior to the day of the public hearing. Written comments will be accepted by the board for at least 15 days after any hearing.

1. All materials the applicant submitted, exclusive of confidential information under 9VAC5-170-60; a copy of the preliminary determination; and a copy or summary of other materials, if any, considered in making the preliminary determination will be available for public inspection during the entire public comment period in at least one location in the affected air quality control region.

2. A copy of the notice will be sent to the applicant, the administrator, and to officials and agencies having cognizance over the location where the proposed construction would occur as follows: (i) local air pollution control agencies, (ii) the chief elected official and chief administrative officer of the city and county where the source or modification would be located and of any other locality particularly affected, (iii) the planning district commission, and (iv) any state, federal land manager, or Indian governing body whose lands may be affected by emissions from the source or modification.

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.

G. Reserved.

H. The department will take final action on the application as provided in 9VAC5-80-1773 D.

I. 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 will process the permit application under this article using public participation procedures meeting the requirements of this section and 9VAC5-80-270 or 9VAC5-80-670, as applicable.

J. If appropriate, the department may hold a public briefing on the preliminary determination prior to the public comment period but no later than the day before the beginning of the public comment period. The department will notify the public of the time and place of the briefing by advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the air quality control region in which the proposed source or modification would be constructed. The notification will be published at least 30 days prior to the day of the briefing.

K. 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.