Virginia Law

A. General provisions shall be as follows:

1. Pursuant to § 10.1-1322 of the Code of Virginia, failure to comply with any condition of a permit shall be considered a violation of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law.

2. A permit may be revoked or terminated prior to its expiration date if the owner does any of the following:

a. Knowingly makes material misstatements in the permit application or any amendments of it.

b. Violates, fails, neglects or refuses to comply with (i) the terms or conditions of the permit, (ii) any applicable requirements, or (iii) the applicable provisions of this article.

3. The department may suspend, under such conditions and for such period of time as the department may prescribe, any permit for any of the grounds for revocation or termination contained in subdivision 2 of this subsection or for any other violations of the Regulations for the Control and Abatement of Air Pollution.

B. Penalties shall be as follows:

1. An owner who violates, fails, neglects or refuses to obey any provision of this article or the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law, any applicable requirement, or any permit condition shall be subject to the provisions of § 10.1-1316 of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law.

2. Any owner who knowingly violates, fails, neglects or refuses to obey any provision of this article or the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law, any applicable requirement, or any permit condition shall be subject to the provisions of § 10.1-1320 of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law.

3. Any owner who knowingly makes any false statement, representation or certification in any form, in any notice or report required by a permit, or who knowingly renders inaccurate any required monitoring device or method shall be subject to the provisions of § 10.1-1320 of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law.

C. Provisions for appeals shall be as follows:

1. The department shall notify the applicant in writing of its decision, with its reasons, to suspend, revoke or terminate a permit.

2. Appeal from any decision of the department under subdivision 1 of this subsection may be taken pursuant to Part VIII (9VAC5-170-190 et seq.) of 9VAC5 Chapter 170, § 10.1-1318 of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law, and the Administrative Process Act.

D. The existence of a permit under this article shall constitute a defense to a violation of any applicable requirement if the permit contains a condition providing the permit shield as specified in 9VAC5-80-140 and if the requirements of 9VAC5-80-140 have been met. The existence of a permit shield condition shall not relieve any owner of the responsibility to comply with any applicable regulations, laws, ordinances and orders of other governmental entities having jurisdiction. Otherwise, the existence of a permit under this article shall not constitute a defense of a violation of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law or the Regulations for the Control and Abatement of Air Pollution and shall not relieve any owner of the responsibility to comply with any applicable regulations, laws, ordinances and orders of the governmental entities having jurisdiction.

E. Provisions for inspections and right of entry shall be as follows:

1. The director, as authorized under § 10.1-1307.3 of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law and 9VAC5-20-150, has the authority to require that air pollution records and reports be made available upon request and to require owners to develop, maintain, and make available such other records and information as are deemed necessary for the proper enforcement of the permits issued under this article.

2. The director, as authorized under § 10.1-1307.3 of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law, has the authority, upon presenting appropriate credentials to the owner, to do the following:

a. Enter without delay and at reasonable times any business establishment, construction site, or other area, workplace, or environment in the Commonwealth; and

b. Inspect and investigate during regular working hours and at other reasonable times, and within reasonable limits and in a reasonable manner, without prior notice, unless such notice is authorized by the department or its representative, any such business establishment or place of employment and all pertinent conditions, structures, machines, apparatus, devices, equipment, and materials therein, and question privately any such employer, officer, owner, operator, agent, or employee. If such entry or inspection is refused, prohibited, or otherwise interfered with, the department shall have the power to seek from a court having equity jurisdiction an order compelling such entry or inspection.

F. The department may enforce permits issued under this article through the use of other enforcement mechanisms such as consent orders and special orders. The procedures for using these mechanisms are contained in 9VAC5-20-20 and 9VAC5-20-30 and in §§ 10.1-1307 D, 10.1-1309, and 10.1-1309.1 of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law.