Part II. General Information
9VAC25-900-20. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 36, Issue 23, eff. September 1, 2020; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 26, eff. September 14, 2022.
9VAC25-900-30. Purpose and applicability.
A. The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards and procedures pertaining to the certification of nutrient credits that will be placed on the registry for exchange.
B. This chapter applies to all persons who submit an application for and to all persons that receive a certification of nutrient credits from the department in accordance with the Act and this chapter.
C. Nutrient credits from stormwater nonpoint nutrient credit-generating projects in receipt of a Nonpoint Nutrient Offset Authorization for Transfer letter from the department prior to September 1, 2020, shall be considered certified nutrient credits and shall not be subject to further nutrient credit certification requirements or to the credit retirement requirements of this chapter. However, such projects shall be subject to all other provisions of this chapter, including registration of nutrient credits under 9VAC25-900-90 and the requirements of Part IV (9VAC25-900-140 et seq.) of this chapter including inspection, reporting, and enforcement.
D. This chapter does not apply to the certification of point source nutrient credits that may be generated from effective nutrient controls or removal practices associated with the types of facilities or practices historically regulated by the board or department, such as water withdrawal and treatment and wastewater collection, treatment, and beneficial reuse.
E. This chapter does not apply to stream or wetland restoration projects constructed prior to July 1, 2005, as no usable nutrient reductions are deemed to be generated from these projects and, therefore, no nutrient credits can be certified.
Statutory Authority
§ 62.1-44.19:20 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 36, Issue 23, eff. September 1, 2020; Errata, 36:25 VA.R. 2379 August 3, 2020; amended, Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 26, eff. September 14, 2022.
9VAC25-900-40. Relationship to other laws and regulations.
A. Specific requirements regarding the use of nutrient credits are found in the following regulations and statutes:
1. Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Regulation ( 9VAC25-875).
a. Individual VPDES Permits for Discharges from Construction Activities. As specified in § 62.1-44.19:21 B of the Act, those applicants required to comply with water quality requirements for land-disturbing activities operating under a construction individual permit issued pursuant to 9VAC25-875 may acquire and use perpetual nutrient credits placed on the registry for exchange.
b. Individual Permits for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems. As specified in § 62.1-44.19:21 A of the Act, an MS4 permittee may acquire, use, and transfer nutrient credits for purposes of compliance with any wasteload allocations established as effluent limitations in an MS4 individual permit issued pursuant to 9VAC25-875. Such method of compliance may be approved by the department following review of a compliance plan submitted by the permittee that includes the use of nutrient credits and is in accordance with the provisions of § 62.1-44.19:21 A.
2. General VPDES Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities (9VAC25-880). As specified in § 62.1-44.19:21 B of the Act, those applicants required to comply with water quality requirements for land-disturbing activities operating under a general VPDES permit for discharges of stormwater from construction activities issued pursuant to 9VAC50-880 may acquire and use perpetual nutrient credits placed on the registry for exchange.
3. General VPDES Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (9VAC25-890). As specified in § 62.1-44.19:21 A of the Act, an MS4 permittee may acquire, use, and transfer nutrient credits for purposes of compliance with any wasteload allocations established as effluent limitations in an MS4 general permit issued pursuant to 9VAC25-890. Such method of compliance may be approved by the department following review of a compliance plan submitted by the permittee that includes the use of nutrient credits and is in accordance with the provisions of § 62.1-44.19:21 A.
4. Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit Regulation (9VAC25-31). As specified in § 62.1-44.19:21 C of the Act, owners of confined or concentrated animal feeding operations issued individual permits pursuant to 9VAC25-31 may acquire, use, and transfer credits for compliance with any wasteload allocations contained in the provisions of a VPDES permit. Such method of compliance may be approved by the department following review of a compliance plan submitted by the permittee that includes the use of nutrient credits.
5. Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permits for Discharges of Storm Water Associated with Industrial Activity. As specified in § 62.1-44.19:21 D of the Act, owners of facilities registered for coverage under 9VAC25-151 for the general VPDES permit or issued a VPDES permit regulating stormwater discharges that requires nitrogen and phosphorus monitoring at the facility may acquire, use, and transfer credits for compliance with any wasteload allocations established as effluent limitations in a VPDES permit. Such method of compliance may be approved by the department following review of a compliance plan submitted by the permittee that includes the use of nutrient credits.
6. General Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Watershed Permit Regulation for Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus Discharges and Nutrient Trading in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in Virginia (9VAC25-820). Nutrient credits certified pursuant to this chapter may be acquired to offset mass loads of total nitrogen or total phosphorus discharged by new or expanded facilities regulated by 9VAC25-820.
B. This chapter shall not be construed to limit or otherwise affect the authority of the department to establish and the department to enforce more stringent water quality-based effluent limitations for total nitrogen or total phosphorus in permits where those limitations are necessary to protect local water quality. The exchange or acquisition of credits pursuant to this chapter shall not affect any requirement to comply with such local water quality-based limitations.
Statutory Authority
§ 62.1-44.19:20 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 36, Issue 23, eff. September 1, 2020; amended, Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 1, eff. September 29, 2021; Volume 38, Issue 26, eff. September 14, 2022; Errata, 39:2 VA.R. 53 September 12, 2022.
9VAC25-900-50. Appeal process.
Any person applying to establish a nutrient credit-generating entity or an owner of a nutrient credit-generating entity aggrieved by any action of the department taken in accordance with this chapter, or by inaction of the department, shall have the right to review in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).
Statutory Authority
§ 62.1-44.19:20 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 36, Issue 23, eff. September 1, 2020.
9VAC25-900-60. Limitations, liability, and prohibitions.
A. Except to the extent it may be an owner as defined by this chapter, none of the following shall have responsibility or liability for the performance of practices at a nutrient credit-generating project evaluated using the procedures established in this chapter: (i) the department, (ii) a VESMP authority, or (iii) any political subdivision of the Commonwealth.
B. Those persons with whom the department contracts, including those serving as technical evaluators on an advisory committee, are advisors to the department, and the department remains solely responsible for decisions made regarding implementation of this chapter.
C. For the purposes of this chapter, the certification of nutrient credits that are generated from practices funded in part or in whole by federal or state water quality grant funds is prohibited other than controls and practices under § 62.1-44.19:20 B 1 a of the Act; however, establishing baseline as specified in 9VAC25-900-100 may be achieved through the use of such grants.
D. The option to acquire nutrient credits for compliance purposes shall not eliminate any requirement to comply with local water quality requirements, including such requirements lawfully imposed by a locality or local MS4.
E. The issuance of a nutrient credit certification under this chapter does not convey any property rights of any sort or any exclusive privilege.
F. The issuance of a nutrient credit certification under this chapter does not authorize any injury to persons or property or invasion of other private rights, or any infringement of state or local law or regulations.
G. Nutrient credit certifications are not transferable except in accordance with 9VAC25-900-180. The department may require modification or revocation and reissuance of nutrient credit certifications to change the name of the owner of the nutrient credit-generating project and incorporate such other requirements as may be necessary under the State Water Control Law or the Clean Water Act.
H. No person shall offer for exchange nutrient credits except in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
I. No nutrient credit shall be generated by practices previously implemented to comply with: (i) the requirements for a VPDES (9VAC25-31), VPA (9VAC25-32), VWP (9VAC25-210), or VPDES construction general permit (9VAC25-880); (ii) erosion and sedimentation control requirements pursuant to 9VAC25-875; or (iii) the requirements of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act pursuant to § 62.1-44.15:67-79 of the Code of Virginia.
J. Nutrient credit generation and use shall be contemporaneous with the applicable permit's compliance period.
Statutory Authority
§ 62.1-44.19:20 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 36, Issue 23, eff. September 1, 2020.
9VAC25-900-70. [Reserved].
Statutory Authority
§ 62.1-44.19:20 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Reserved, Virginia Register Volume 36, Issue 23, eff. September 1, 2020.