Virginia Law

A. No permit will be granted pursuant to this article unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the department that the following standards and conditions have been met:

1. The source shall be designed, built and equipped to comply with standards of performance prescribed under 9VAC5 Chapter 50 (9VAC5-50).

2. The source shall be designed, built and equipped to operate without causing a violation of the applicable provisions of regulations of the board or the applicable control strategy portion of the implementation plan.

3. The department determines that the following occurs:

a. By the time the source is to commence operation, sufficient offsetting emissions reductions shall have been obtained in accordance with 9VAC5-80-2120 such that total allowable emissions of qualifying nonattainment pollutants from existing sources in the region, from new or modified sources which are not major emitting facilities, and from the proposed source will be sufficiently less than total emissions from existing sources, as determined in accordance with the requirements of this article, prior to the application for such permit to construct or modify so as to represent (when considered together with any applicable control measures in the implementation plan) reasonable further progress; or

b. In the case of a new or modified major stationary source which is located in a zone, within the nonattainment area, identified by the administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, as a zone to which economic development should be targeted, that emissions of such pollutant resulting from the proposed new or modified major stationary source shall not cause or contribute to emissions levels which exceed the allowance permitted for such pollutant for such area from new or modified major stationary sources in the implementation plan; and

c. Any emission reductions required as a precondition of the issuance of a permit under subdivision a or b of this subdivision shall be state and federally enforceable before such permit may be issued.

4. The applicant shall demonstrate that all major stationary sources owned or operated by such applicant (or by any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such applicant) in the Commonwealth are subject to emission limitations and are in compliance, or on a schedule for compliance, with all applicable emission limitations and standards under these regulations.

5. The administrator has not determined that the applicable implementation plan is not being adequately implemented for the nonattainment area in which the proposed source is to be constructed or modified in accordance with the requirements of this article.

6. The applicant shall demonstrate, through an analysis of alternative sites, sizes, production processes, and environmental control techniques for such proposed source, that benefits of the proposed source significantly outweigh the environmental and social costs imposed as a result of its location, construction, or modification.

B. Permits granted pursuant to this article may contain emissions standards as necessary to implement the provisions of this article and 9VAC5-50-270. The following criteria shall be met in establishing emission standards to the extent necessary to assure that emissions levels are enforceable as a practical matter:

1. Standards may include the level, quantity, rate, or concentration or any combination of them for each affected pollutant.

2. In no case shall a standard result in emissions that would exceed the emissions rate based on the potential to emit of the emissions unit.

3. The standard may prescribe, as an alternative to or a supplement to an emission limitation, an equipment, work practice, fuels specification, process materials, maintenance, or operational standard, or any combination of them.

C. Permits issued under this article shall contain, but not be limited to, any of the following elements as necessary to ensure that the permits are enforceable as a practical matter:

1. Emission standards.

2. Conditions necessary to enforce emission standards. Conditions may include, but not be limited to, any of the following:

a. Limit on fuel sulfur content.

b. Limit on production rates with time frames as appropriate to support the emission standards.

c. Limit on raw material usage rate.

d. Limits on the minimum required capture, removal and overall control efficiency for any air pollution control equipment.

3. Specifications for permitted equipment, identified as thoroughly as possible. The identification shall include, but not be limited to, type, rated capacity, and size.

4. Specifications for air pollution control equipment installed or to be installed.

5. Specifications for air pollution control equipment operating parameters and the circumstances under which such equipment shall be operated, where necessary to ensure that the required overall control efficiency is achieved. The operating parameters may include, but not be limited to, any of the following:

a. Pressure indicators and required pressure drop.

b. Temperature indicators and required temperature.

c. pH indicators and required pH.

d. Flow indicators and required flow.

6. Requirements for proper operation and maintenance of any pollution control equipment, and appropriate spare parts inventory.

7. Stack test requirements.

8. Reporting or recordkeeping requirements, or both.

9. Continuous emission or air quality monitoring requirements, or both.

10. Other requirements as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the applicable regulations.