Part II. Permit Application and Issuance
9VAC25-32-60. Application for a VPA permit.
A. Duty to apply. Any owner of a pollutant management activity who does not have an effective VPA permit, except persons covered by general VPA permits or excluded under 9VAC25-32-40, shall submit a complete application to the department in accordance with this section.
B. Time to apply.
1. Any owner proposing a new pollutant management activity shall submit an application for a VPA permit 180 days prior to the date planned for commencing erection, construction or expansion or employment of new processes at any site. There shall be no operation of said facilities prior to the issuance of a VPA permit.
2. Any owner with an existing pollutant management activity that has not been permitted shall submit an application within 60 days upon being requested to by the department. The department, after determining there is pollution occurring, may allow the construction of treatment works prior to permit issuance. There shall be no operation of said treatment works prior to permit issuance.
3. Owners currently managing pollutants who have effective VPA permits shall submit a new application 180 days prior to proposed facility expansions, production increases, or process modification which will:
a. Result in significantly new or substantially increased amounts of pollutants being managed or a significant change in the nature of the pollutant management activity that was not anticipated and accounted for on the application for the effective VPA permit; or
b. Violate or lead to violation of the terms and conditions of the effective VPA permit.
C. Duty to reapply. Any permittee with an effective VPA permit shall submit a new application at least 180 days before the expiration date of the effective VPA permit unless permission for a later date has been granted by the department. Permission shall not be granted to submit an application later than the expiration date of the existing VPA permit.
D. Completeness.
1. A complete VPA permit application shall be submitted by the owner of the pollutant management activity before a VPA permit can be issued. The permit application may be submitted as a hard copy or electronically with a hard copy signature page. This item does not apply where general VPA permits are applicable.
2. The department may require the submission of additional information after an application has been filed, and may suspend processing of any application until such time as the owner has supplied missing or deficient information and the department considers the application complete. Further, when the owner becomes aware that he omitted one or more relevant facts from a VPA permit application, or submitted incorrect information in a VPA permit application or in any report to the department, he shall promptly submit such facts or the correct information.
3. In accordance with § 62.1-44.19:3 A of the Code of Virginia, no application for a permit or variance to authorize the storage of biosolids shall be complete unless it contains certification from the governing body of the locality in which the biosolids is to be stored that the storage site is consistent with all applicable ordinances. The governing body shall confirm or deny consistency within 30 days of receiving a request for certification. If the governing body does not so respond, the site shall be deemed consistent.
4. No application for a permit to land apply biosolids in accordance with Part IX (9VAC25-32-303 et seq.) of this chapter shall be complete unless it includes the written consent of the landowner to apply biosolids on his property.
5. Pursuant to § 62.1-44.15:3 of the Code of Virginia, no application for a VPA permit from a privately owned treatment works serving, or designed to serve, 50 or more residences shall be considered complete unless the applicant has provided the department with notification from the State Corporation Commission that the applicant is incorporated in the Commonwealth and is in compliance with all regulations and relevant orders of the State Corporation Commission.
E. Information requirements. All applicants for VPA permits shall provide information to the department using the most current application forms provided by the department.
F. Application for the authorization to land apply biosolids. All persons applying to land apply biosolids must provide the information in this subsection to the department using an application form approved by the department. New applicants must submit all information available at the time of permit application. The information may be provided by referencing information previously submitted to the department. The department may waive any requirement of this subsection if it has access to substantially identical information. The department may also waive any requirement of this subsection that is not of material concern for a specific permit.
1. General information.
a. Legal name and address.
b. Owner contact information including:
(1) Name;
(2) Mailing address;
(3) Telephone number; and
(4) Email address.
c. A general description of the proposed activity including:
(1) Name and location of generators involved and their owners;
(2) Biosolids quality and the generator's biosolids treatment and handling processes;
(3) Generator's odor control plan, that contains at minimum:
(a) Methods used to minimize odor in producing biosolids;
(b) Methods used to identify malodorous biosolids before land application (at the generating facility);
(c) Methods used to identify and abate malodorous biosolids if delivered to the field, prior to land application; and
(d) Methods used to abate malodor from biosolids if land applied;
(4) Means of biosolids transport or conveyance;
(5) Location and volume of storage proposed;
(6) A description of field staging methods;
(7) General location of sites proposed for application, and
(8) Methods of biosolids application proposed.
d. Written permission of landowners on the most current form approved by the department and pertinent lease agreements as may be necessary for operation of the treatment works.
e. Methods for notification of local government and obtaining compliance with local government zoning and applicable ordinances.
f. A copy of a letter of approval of the nutrient management plan for the operation from the Department of Conservation and Recreation if required in subdivision 3 b of this subsection.
2. Design information.
a. Biosolids characterization. For each source of biosolids that the applicant proposes to land apply, the applicant must submit biosolids monitoring data for the pollutants for which limits in biosolids have been established in Part IX (9VAC25-32-303 et seq.) of this chapter, for the applicant's use or disposal practices on the date of permit application with the following conditions:
(1) When applying for authorization to land apply a biosolids source not previously included in a VPDES or VPA permit, the biosolids shall be sampled and analyzed for PCBs. The sample results shall be submitted with the permit application or request to add the source;
(2) The department may require sampling for additional pollutants, as appropriate, on a case-by-case basis;
(3) Applicants must provide:
(a) Biosolids analytical data from a minimum of three samples taken within four and one-half years prior to the date of the permit application. Samples must be representative of the biosolids and should be taken at least one month apart. Existing data may be used in lieu of sampling done solely for the purpose of this application. The department may reduce the number of samples collected based on site specific conditions;
(b) The total dry tons per 365-day period of biosolids subject to this subsection that is applied to the land; and
(c) A statement that the biosolids is nonhazardous; a documentation statement for treatment and quality; and a description of how treated biosolids meets other standards in accordance with this regulation;
(4) Samples shall be collected and analyzed in accordance with analytical methods specified in 40 CFR Part 503 and 40 CFR Part 136; and
(5) The monitoring data provided must include at least the following information for each parameter:
(a) Average monthly concentration for all samples (mg/kg dry weight), based upon actual sample values;
(b) Analytical method used; and
(c) Method detection level.
b. Storage facilities. Plans and specifications for storage facilities of all biosolids to be handled, including routine and on-site storage, shall be submitted for the issuance of a certificate to construct and a certificate to operate in accordance with the Sewage Collection and Treatment Regulations (9VAC25-790) and shall depict the following information:
(1) Site layout on a recent 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle or other appropriate scaled map;
(2) Location of any required soil, geologic, and hydrologic test holes or borings;
(3) Location of the following field features within 0.25 miles of the site boundary (indicate on map) with the approximate distance from the site boundary:
(a) Water wells (operating or abandoned);
(b) Surface waters;
(c) Springs;
(d) Public water supplies;
(e) Sinkholes;
(f) Underground and surface mines;
(g) Mine pool (or other) surface water discharge points;
(h) Mining spoil piles and mine dumps;
(i) Quarries;
(j) Sand and gravel pits;
(k) Gas and oil wells;
(l) Diversion ditches;
(m) Occupied dwellings, including industrial and commercial establishments;
(n) Landfills and dumps;
(o) Other unlined impoundments;
(p) Septic tanks and drainfields; and
(q) Injection wells;
(4) Topographic map (10-foot contour preferred) of sufficient detail to clearly show the following information:
(a) Maximum and minimum percent slopes;
(b) Depressions on the site that may collect water;
(c) Drainage ways that may attribute to rainfall run-on to or runoff from the site; and
(d) Portions of the site (if any) that are located within the 100-year floodplain;
(5) Data and specifications for the liner proposed for seepage control;
(6) Scaled plan view and cross-sectional view of the facilities showing inside and outside slopes of all embankments and details of all appurtenances;
(7) Calculations justifying impoundment capacity; and
(8) Groundwater monitoring plans for facilities if required by the department. The groundwater monitoring plan shall include pertinent geohydrological data to justify upgradient and downgradient well location and depth.
c. Staging. Generic plans for staging of biosolids.
d. Land application sites:
(1) DEQ control number, if previously assigned, identifying each land application field. If a DEQ control number has not been assigned, provide the site identification code used by the permit applicant to report activities and the site's location;
(2) The site's latitude and longitude in decimal degrees to three decimal places and the method of determination;
(3) A legible topographic map and aerial photograph, including legend, of proposed application areas to scale as needed to depict the following features:
(a) Property boundaries;
(b) Surface water courses;
(c) Water supply wells and springs;
(d) Roadways;
(e) Rock outcrops;
(f) Slopes;
(g) Frequently flooded areas (National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) designation);
(h) Occupied dwellings within 400 feet of the property boundaries and all existing dwelling and property line setback distances;
(i) Publicly accessible properties and occupied buildings within 400 feet of the property boundaries and the associated extended setback distances; and
(j) The gross acreage of the fields where biosolids will be applied;
(4) County map or other map of sufficient detail to show general location of the site and proposed transport vehicle haul routes to be utilized from the treatment plant;
(5) County tax maps labeled with Tax Parcel ID or IDs for each farm to be included in the permit, which may include multiple fields to depict properties within 400 feet of the field boundaries;
(6) A USDA soil survey map, if available, of proposed sites for land application of biosolids;
(7) The name, mailing address, and telephone number of each site owner, if different from the applicant;
(8) The name, mailing address, and telephone number of the person who applies biosolids to the site, if different from the applicant;
(9) Whether the site is agricultural land, forest, a public contact site, or a reclamation site, as such site types are defined in 9VAC25-32-10;
(10) Description of agricultural practices including a list of proposed crops to be grown;
(11) The following information for each land application site that has been identified at the time of permit application, if the applicant intends to apply bulk biosolids subject to the cumulative pollutant loading rates in 9VAC25-32-356 Table 3 to the site:
(a) Whether the applicant has contacted the permitting authority in the state where the bulk biosolids subject to 9VAC25-32-356 Table 3 will be applied, to ascertain whether bulk biosolids subject to 9VAC25-32-356 Table 3 has been applied to the site on or since July 20, 1993, and if so, the name of the permitting authority and the name and phone number of a contact person at the permitting authority; and
(b) Identification of facilities other than the applicant's facility that have sent, or are sending, biosolids subject to the cumulative pollutant loading rates in 9VAC25-32-356 Table 3 to the site since July 20, 1993, if, based on the inquiry in subdivision 2 d (11) (a) of this subsection, bulk biosolids subject to cumulative pollutant loading rates in 9VAC25-32-356 Table 3 has been applied to the site since July 20, 1993.
3. A biosolids management plan shall be provided that includes the following minimum site specific information at the time of permit application.
a. Description of operation: A comprehensive, general description of the operation as required by this section.
b. A nutrient management plan approved by the Department of Conservation and Recreation as required for application sites prior to department authorization under the following conditions:
(1) Sites operated by an owner or lessee of a confined animal feeding operation, as defined in subsection A of § 62.1-44.17:1 of the Code of Virginia, or confined poultry feeding operation, as defined in subsection A of § 62.1-44.17:1.1 of the Code of Virginia;
(2) Sites where land application more frequently than once every three years at greater than 50% of the annual agronomic rate is proposed;
(3) Mined or disturbed land sites where land application is proposed at greater than agronomic rates; or
(4) Other sites based on site-specific conditions that increase the risk that land application may adversely impact state waters.
4. Biosolids transport.
a. General description of transport vehicles to be used.
b. Procedures for biosolids offloading at the biosolids facilities and the land application site together with spill prevention, cleanup (including vehicle cleaning); field reclamation and emergency spill notification and cleanup measures.
c. Voucher system used for documentation and recordkeeping.
5. Field operations.
a. Storage.
(1) Routine storage - supernatant handling and disposal, biosolids handling and loading of transport vehicles, equipment cleaning, freeboard maintenance, and inspections for structural integrity.
(2) On-site storage - procedures for department approval and implementation.
(3) Staging - procedures to be followed including either designated site locations provided in the "Design Information" or the specific site criteria for such locations including the liner or cover requirements and the time limit assigned for such use.
(4) Reestablishment of offloading and staging areas.
b. Application methodology.
(1) Description and specifications on spreader vehicles.
(2) Procedures for calibrating equipment for various biosolids contents to ensure uniform distribution and appropriate loading rates on a day-to-day basis.
(3) Procedures used to ensure that operations address the following constraints: application of biosolids to frozen ground, pasture or hay fields, crops for direct human consumption and saturated or ice-covered or snow-covered ground; establishment of setback distances; slopes; prohibited access for beef and dairy animals, and soil pH requirements; and proper site specific biosolids loading rates on a field-by-field basis.
c. Odor control plan for land applier. Include at a minimum:
(1) Methods used to identify and abate malodorous biosolids in the field prior to land application, and
(2) Methods used to abate malodorous biosolids if land applied.
6. An applicant for a permit authorizing the land application of biosolids shall provide to the department, and to each locality in which the applicant proposes to land apply biosolids, written evidence of financial responsibility. Evidence of financial responsibility shall be provided in accordance with the requirements specified under Article 6 (9VAC25-32-770 et seq.) of Part IX of this chapter.
Statutory Authority
§ 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 20, eff. July 24, 1996; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2008; Volume 29, Issue 24, eff. September 1, 2013; Volume 34, Issue 19, eff. June 13, 2018; Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. November 23, 2022.
9VAC25-32-70. Signatory requirements.
Any application, report, including monitoring reports, or certifications shall be signed as follows:
1. Application.
a. For a corporation: by a responsible corporate official. For purposes of this section, a responsible corporate official means (i) a president, secretary, treasurer, or vice-president of the corporation in charge of a principal business function, or any other person who performs similar policy or decision-making functions for the corporation, or (ii) the manager of one or more manufacturing, production, or operating facilities employing more than 250 persons or having gross annual sales or expenditures exceeding $25,000,000 (in second quarter 1980 dollars), if authority to sign documents has been assigned or delegated to the manager in accordance with corporate procedures.
b. For a municipality, state, federal or other public agency by either a principal executive officer or ranking elected official. (A principal executive officer of a federal, municipal, or state agency includes the chief executive officer of the agency or head executive officer having responsibility for the overall operation of a principal geographic unit of the agency.)
c. For a partnership or sole proprietorship, by a general partner or proprietor, respectively.
2. Reports. All reports required by VPA permits and other information requested by the department shall be signed by:
a. One of the persons described in subdivision 1 of this section; or
b. A duly authorized representative of that person. A person is a duly authorized representative only if:
(1) The authorization is made in writing by a person described in subdivision 1 of this section; and
(2) The authorization specifies either an individual or a position having responsibility for the overall operation of the regulated facility or activity, such as the position of plant manager, operator of a well or a well field, superintendent, or position of equivalent responsibility. (A duly authorized representative may thus be either a named individual or any individual occupying a named position.)
(3) If an authorization is no longer accurate because a different individual or position has responsibility for the overall operation of the facility, a new authorization must be submitted to the department prior to or together with any separate information, or applications to be signed by an authorized representative.
3. Certification. Any person signing a document under subdivision 1 or 2 of this section shall make the following certification: "I certify under penalty of law that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is to the best of my knowledge and belief true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations."
Statutory Authority
§ 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 20, eff. July 24, 1996; amended, Virginia Register Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. November 23, 2022.
9VAC25-32-80. Conditions applicable to all VPA permits.
A. Duty to comply. The permittee shall comply with all conditions of the VPA permit. Any permit noncompliance is a violation of the law, and is grounds for enforcement action, permit termination, revocation, modification, or denial of a permit renewal application.
B. Duty to halt or reduce activity. It shall not be a defense for a permittee in an enforcement action that it would have been necessary to halt or reduce the permitted activity in order to maintain compliance with the conditions of the VPA permit.
C. Duty to mitigate. The permittee shall take all reasonable steps to minimize, correct, or prevent any pollutant management activity in violation of the VPA permit which has a reasonable likelihood of adversely affecting human health or the environment.
D. Proper operation and maintenance. The permittee shall be responsible for the proper operation and maintenance of all treatment works, systems, and controls which are installed or used to achieve compliance with permit conditions. Proper operation and maintenance includes effective plant performance, adequate funding, adequate licensed operator staffing, and adequate laboratory and process controls, including appropriate quality assurance procedures.
E. Permit action.
1. A VPA permit may be modified, revoked and reissued, or terminated as set forth in this chapter.
2. If a permittee files a request for a permit modification, revocation, or termination, or files a notification of planned changes, or anticipated noncompliance, the permit terms and conditions shall remain effective until the request is acted upon by the department. This provision shall not be used to extend the expiration date of the effective VPA permit.
3. VPA permits may be modified, revoked and reissued or terminated upon the request of the permittee or interested persons, or upon the department's initiative, to reflect the requirements of any changes in the statutes or regulations.
4. VPA permits continued under 9VAC25-32-130 remain effective and enforceable.
F. Inspection and entry. Upon presentation of credentials, any duly authorized agent of the department may, at reasonable times and under reasonable circumstances:
1. Enter upon any permittee's property, public or private, and have access to records required by the VPA permit;
2. Have access to, inspect, and copy any records that must be kept as part of VPA permit conditions;
3. Inspect any facility's equipment (including monitoring and control equipment) practices or operations regulated or required under the VPA permit; and
4. Sample or monitor any substances or parameters at any locations for the purpose of assuring VPA permit compliance or as otherwise authorized by law.
G. Duty to provide information.
1. The permittee shall furnish to the department, within a reasonable time, any information which the department may request to determine whether cause exists for modifying, revoking and reissuing, terminating the VPA permit, or to determine compliance with the VPA permit. The permittee shall also furnish to the department, upon request, copies of records required to be kept by the permittee.
2. Plans, specifications, maps, conceptual reports and other relevant information shall be submitted as requested by the department prior to commencing construction.
H. Monitoring and records.
1. Samples and measurements taken for the purpose of monitoring shall be representative of the monitored activity.
2. The permittee shall retain records of all monitoring information, including all calibration and maintenance records and all original strip chart recordings for continuous monitoring instrumentation, copies of all reports required by the VPA permit, and records of all data used to complete the application for the VPA permit, for a period of at least three years or in the case of activities regulated under Part IX (9VAC25-32-303 et seq.) of this chapter, at least five years from the date of the sample, measurement, report, or application. This period may be extended by request of the department at any time.
3. Records of monitoring information shall include:
a. The date, exact place and time of sampling or measurements;
b. The name of the individuals who performed the sampling or measurements;
c. The date or dates analyses were performed;
d. The name of the individuals who performed the analyses;
e. The analytical techniques or methods supporting the information such as observations, readings, calculations and bench data used; and
f. The results of such analyses.
4. Monitoring shall be conducted according to analytical methods promulgated pursuant to § 304(h) of the Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1251 et seq.) and listed in the Code of Federal Regulations at 40 CFR Part 136. Any other acceptable test procedure not listed in 40 CFR Part 136 shall be specified in the VPA permit.
5. Records related to biosolids data and information specified in agreements between generator, owner, agents, landowners, and farmers shall be described and maintained for a minimum period of five years or the duration of the permit or subsequent revisions if longer than five years.
I. Reporting requirements.
1. The permittee shall give prompt notice to the department of any planned changes to the design or operation of the pollutant management activity.
2. If any unusual or extraordinary discharge including a bypass or upset should occur from a treatment works and the discharge enters or could be expected to enter state waters, the owner shall promptly notify, in no case later than 24 hours, the department by telephone after the discovery of the discharge. This notification shall provide all available details of the incident, including any adverse effects on aquatic life and the known number of fish killed. The permittee shall reduce the report to writing and shall submit it to the department within five days of discovery of the discharge in accordance with subdivision 6 of this subsection. Unusual and extraordinary discharges include any discharge resulting from:
a. Unusual spillage of materials resulting directly or indirectly from processing operations;
b. Breakdown of processing or accessory equipment;
c. Failure or taking out of service of some or all of the treatment works; and
d. Flooding or other acts of nature.
3. The permittee shall give at least 10 days advance notice to the department of any planned changes to the facility or activity which may result in noncompliance.
4. Monitoring results shall be reported at the intervals specified in the applicable VPA permit.
a. Monitoring results shall be reported in a format acceptable to the department.
b. If a permittee monitors the pollutant management activity, at a sampling location specified in the VPA permit, for any pollutant more frequently than required by the VPA permit using approved analytical methods, the permittee shall report the results of this monitoring on the monitoring report.
c. If the permittee monitors the pollutant management activity, at a sampling location specified in the VPA permit, for any pollutant that is not required to be monitored by the VPA permit, and uses approved analytical methods the permittee shall report the results with the monitoring report.
d. Calculations for all limitations which require averaging of measurements shall utilize an arithmetic mean unless otherwise specified in the VPA permit.
5. Reports of compliance or noncompliance with or any progress report on interim and final requirements contained in any compliance schedule in the VPA permit shall be submitted no later than 14 days following each scheduled date.
6. 24-hour reporting.
a. The permittee shall report any noncompliance that may adversely affect state waters or may endanger public health. An oral report must be provided to the department as soon as possible, but in no case later than 24 hours from the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances. A written report shall be submitted within five days and shall contain a description of the noncompliance and its cause; the period of noncompliance including exact dates and times, and, if the noncompliance has not been corrected, how long it is expected to continue, steps planned or taken to reduce, eliminate, and prevent a recurrence of the noncompliance. The department may waive the written report requirements on a case-by-case basis if the oral report has been received within 24 hours and no adverse impact on state waters has been reported. All other noncompliance reports which may not adversely affect state waters shall be submitted with the monitoring report. Reports shall include overflows.
b. The following shall be included as information which must be reported within 24 hours under this subdivision:
(1) Any unanticipated bypass; and
(2) Any upset which causes a discharge to surface waters.
J. Bypass.
1. A bypass of the treatment works is prohibited except as provided herein.
2. If the permittee knows in advance of the need for a bypass, he shall notify the department promptly at least 10 days prior to the bypass. After considering its adverse effects, the department may approve an anticipated bypass if:
a. The bypass will be unavoidable to prevent loss of human life, personal injury, or severe property damage ("severe property damage" means substantial physical damage to property, damage to the treatment facilities which causes them to become inoperable, or substantial and permanent loss of natural resources which can reasonably be expected to occur in the absence of a bypass. Severe property damage does not mean economic loss caused by delays in production); and
b. There are no feasible alternatives to bypass such as the use of auxiliary treatment facilities, retention of untreated waste, or maintenance during normal periods of equipment downtime. However, if bypass occurs during normal periods of equipment downtime or preventive maintenance and in the exercise of reasonable engineering judgment the permittee could have installed adequate backup equipment to prevent such bypass, this exclusion shall not apply as a defense.
3. If an unplanned bypass occurs, the permittee shall notify the department as soon as possible, but in no case later than 24 hours, and shall take steps to halt the bypass as early as possible. This notification will be a condition for defense to an enforcement action that an unplanned bypass met the conditions in subdivision 2 of this subsection and in light of the information reasonably available to the owner at the time of the bypass.
K. Upset. A permittee may claim an upset as an affirmative defense to an action brought for noncompliance. In any enforcement proceedings a permittee shall have the burden of proof to establish the occurrence of any upset. In order to establish an affirmative defense of upset, the permittee shall present properly signed, contemporaneous operating logs or other relevant evidence that shows:
1. That an upset occurred and that the cause can be identified;
2. That the permitted facility was at the time being operated efficiently and in compliance with proper operation and maintenance procedures;
3. That the 24-hour reporting requirements to the department were met; and
4. That the permittee took all reasonable steps to minimize or correct any adverse impact on state waters resulting from noncompliance with the VPA permit.
L. Signature requirements. All applications, reports, or information submitted to the department shall be signed and certified as required in 9VAC25-32-70.
M. Transfers. A VPA permit is not transferable to any person except after notice to the department according to 9VAC25-32-230. The department may require modification or revocation and reissuance of the VPA permit to change the name of the permittee and incorporate such other requirements as may be necessary.
Statutory Authority
§ 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 20, eff. July 24, 1996; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2008; Volume 29, Issue 24, eff. September 1, 2013; Volume 34, Issue 19, eff. June 13, 2018; Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. November 23, 2022.
9VAC25-32-90. Conditions applicable to publicly or privately owned sewage treatment works.
A. Publicly or privately owned sewage treatment works shall provide adequate notice to the department of any substantial change in quantity or quality of pollutants being introduced into the privately or publicly owned sewage treatment works and any anticipated impact the change may have on such treatment works.
B. When the monthly average flow influent to a POTW or PVOTW reaches 95% of the design capacity authorized by the VPA permit for each month of any consecutive three-month period, the owner shall within 30 days notify the department in writing and within 90 days submit a plan of action for ensuring continued compliance with the terms of the VPA permit.
1. The plan shall include the necessary steps and a prompt schedule of implementation for controlling any current problem, or any problem which could reasonably be anticipated, resulting from high influent flows.
2. Upon receipt of the owner's plan of action, the department shall notify the owner whether the plan is approved or disapproved. If the plan is disapproved, such notification shall state the reasons and specify the actions necessary to obtain approval of the plan.
3. Failure to submit an adequate plan in a timely manner shall be deemed a violation of the VPA permit.
C. Nothing herein shall in any way impair the authority of the department to take enforcement action under § 62.1-44.15, § 62.1-44.23, or § 62.1-44.32 of the Code of Virginia.
Statutory Authority
§ 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 20, eff. July 24, 1996; amended, Virginia Register Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. November 23, 2022.
9VAC25-32-100. Establishing limitations and other VPA permit conditions.
A. In addition to the conditions established in 9VAC25-32-80 and 9VAC25-32-90, each VPA permit shall include conditions meeting the following requirements where applicable.
1. Determination of limitations. VPA permit limitations and conditions shall be established based on the nature of the pollutant management activity in order to ensure compliance with technology-based limitations, water quality standards, the law and all regulations promulgated thereunder. These limitations and conditions may include, but are not limited to, duration of VPA permits, monitoring requirements, limitations to control toxic pollutants, best management practices and schedules of compliance.
2. Duration of VPA permits. VPA permits issued under this regulation shall have an effective date and an expiration date which will determine the life of the VPA permit. VPA permits shall be effective for a fixed term not to exceed 10 years as specified in the VPA permit. The term of the VPA permits shall not be extended by modification beyond the maximum duration. The VPA permit shall expire at the end of the term unless an application for a new VPA permit has been timely filed as required by this chapter and the department is unable, through no fault of the permittee, to issue a new VPA permit before the expiration date of the previous VPA permit.
B. Monitoring requirements.
1. All VPA permits may specify:
a. Requirements concerning the proper use, maintenance and installation, when appropriate, of monitoring equipment or methods;
b. Required monitoring including type, intervals, and frequency sufficient to yield data which are representative of the monitored activity and including, when appropriate, continuous monitoring; and
c. Applicable reporting requirements based upon the impact of the regulated activity on water quality.
2. VPA permits may include requirements to report monitoring results with a frequency dependent on the nature and effect of the pollutant management activity.
3. In addition, the following monitoring requirements may be included in the VPA permits:
a. Mass or other measurements specified in the VPA permit for each pollutant of concern;
b. The volume of waste, wastewater, biosolids, or sludge managed by the activity; and
c. Other measurements as appropriate.
C. Best Management Practices (BMPs). The VPA permit shall require the use of BMPs to control or abate pollutants where numeric limits are infeasible, and the VPA permit may include BMPs in addition to numeric limits where BMPs are necessary to achieve limitations and standards or to carry out the purpose and intent of the law.
D. Sludge disposal. The VPA permit shall include, where appropriate, specific requirements for disposal of all sludge.
E. Biosolids land application. Where, because of site-specific conditions, including soil type, identified during the permit application review process, the department determines that special requirements are necessary to protect the environment or the health, safety or welfare of persons residing in the vicinity of a proposed land application site, the department may incorporate in the permit at the time it is issued reasonable special conditions regarding setback distances, transportation routes, slope, material source, methods of handling and application, and time of day restrictions exceeding those required by this regulation. The permit applicant shall have at least 14 days in which to review and respond to the proposed conditions.
F. Schedules of compliance. The VPA permit may specify a schedule, when appropriate, leading to compliance with the VPA permit as soon as possible. When schedules of compliance are applicable the following shall be incorporated:
1. Schedule or schedules of compliance shall require the permittee to take specific steps where necessary to achieve expeditious compliance with the VPA permit;
2. The schedule of compliance shall set forth interim time periods not more than one year apart for the submission of reports of progress toward completion of each requirement; and
3. Schedule or schedules of compliance may be modified by modification of the VPA permit for good cause beyond the control of the permittee (e.g., act of God, strike, flood, material shortage).
Statutory Authority
§ 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 20, eff. July 24, 1996; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2008; Volume 29, Issue 24, eff. September 1, 2013; Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. November 23, 2022.
9VAC25-32-110. Draft VPA permit formulation.
A. Upon receipt of a complete application, the department shall make a decision to tentatively issue the VPA permit or deny the application. If a tentative decision is to issue the VPA permit then a draft VPA permit shall be prepared in advance of public notice. The following tentative determinations shall be incorporated into a draft VPA permit:
1. Conditions, limitations, standards and other requirements applicable to the VPA permit;
2. Compliance schedules where applicable; and
3. Monitoring requirements.
B. If the tentative decision is to deny the application, the department shall advise the owner of that decision and of the requirements necessary to obtain approval. The owner may withdraw the application prior to department action. If the application is not withdrawn or modified to contain conditions necessary for tentative approval to issue, the department shall provide public notice and opportunity for a public hearing prior to department action on a recommendation to deny the application.
C. This section does not apply to requests for coverage under a general VPA permit.
Statutory Authority
§ 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 20, eff. July 24, 1996; amended, Virginia Register Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. November 23, 2022.
9VAC25-32-120. Fact sheet.
A. A fact sheet shall be prepared to accompany all draft VPA permits. These fact sheets shall be made available to the public upon request.
B. The fact sheet shall include:
1. A brief description of the pollutant management activity to be permitted;
2. An explanation of the statutory or regulatory provisions on which the VPA permit requirements are based;
3. Calculations or other necessary explanations of the derivation of the VPA permit conditions or limitations;
4. The location of each pollutant management activity;
5. The reasons for any requested modifications;
6. A description of the procedures and sequence of events for reaching the final decision; and
7. The name and telephone number of a person to contact for additional information.
Statutory Authority
§§ 62.1-44.15, 62.1-44.16, 62.1-44.17, 62.1-44.18, and 62.1-44.19 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 20, eff. July 24, 1996.
9VAC25-32-130. Continuation of expiring VPA permits.
A. Expiring VPA permits are automatically continued pending issuance of a new VPA permit if:
1. The permittee has submitted a timely and complete application as required by this chapter, unless the department has given permission for a later submittal, which shall not extend beyond the expiration date of the original VPA permit; and
2. The department is unable, through no fault of the permittee, to issue a new VPA permit before the expiration date of the previous VPA permit.
B. Continued VPA permits remain effective and enforceable against the permittee.
Statutory Authority
§ 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 20, eff. July 24, 1996; amended, Virginia Register Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. November 23, 2022.