Part II. General Provisions
9VAC5-170-30. Applicability.
A. The provisions of this chapter, unless specified otherwise, shall apply throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
B. The provisions of this chapter, unless specified otherwise, shall apply in the administration of all regulations of the board to the extent not covered in a specific regulation of the board. In cases where the provisions of this chapter conflict with another regulation of the board, the provisions of the other regulation shall apply.
C. No provision of this chapter shall limit the power of the department to take appropriate action as necessary to control and abate air pollution in emergency situations.
Statutory Authority
§ 10.1-1308 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 3, eff. January 1, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 6, eff. December 31, 2008; Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. November 23, 2022.
9VAC5-170-40. Hearings and proceedings.
A. Four types of proceedings are used in the administration of the following programs.
1. A public hearing is held in each of two situations, as explained below.
a. A public hearing is required before considering regulations in accordance with § 10.1-1308 of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law. The procedure for a public hearing shall conform to § 2.2-4007.01 B of the Administrative Process Act, except as modified by §§ 10.1-1307 F and 10.1-1308 of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law, and to 9VAC5-5 (Public Participation Guidelines).
b. A public hearing is required before considering variances and amendments to and revocation of variances in accordance with § 10.1-1307 C of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law. The procedure for a public hearing shall conform to § 10.1-1307 C of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law and to the provisions of 9VAC5-170-140.
2. An informal fact finding is used to negotiate and to make case decisions. The procedure for an informal fact finding shall conform to § 2.2-4019 of the Administrative Process Act.
3. A formal hearing is held in each of two situations.
a. A formal hearing is held for the enforcement or review of orders and permits and for the enforcement of regulations in accordance with § 10.1-1307 D and § 10.1-1322 A of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law. The procedures for this type of hearing shall conform to § 2.2-4020 of the Administrative Process Act, except as modified by § 10.1-1307 D and F of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law.
b. A formal hearing is held for special orders or emergency special orders for the enforcement or review of orders and permits and for the enforcement of regulations in accordance with § 10.1-1309 of the Virginia Pollution Control Law. The procedures for this type of hearing shall conform to § 2.2-4020 of the Administrative Process Act, except as modified by §§ 10.1-1307 F and 10.1-1309 of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law.
4. An evidentiary hearing may be held for the making of regulations. The procedure for this type of hearing shall conform to § 2.2-4009 of the Administrative Process Act.
B. The department may adopt policies and procedures to supplement the statutory procedural requirements for the various hearings and proceedings cited in subdivisions A 1, A 2, and A 3 of this section.
C. Records of hearings and proceedings may be kept in one of the following forms:
1. Oral statements or testimony at a public hearing will be stenographically or electronically recorded, and may be transcribed to written form.
2. Oral statements or testimony at an informal fact finding will be stenographically or electronically recorded, and may be transcribed to written form.
3. Formal hearings and evidentiary hearings will be recorded by a court reporter or electronically recorded for transcription to written form.
D. Availability of records of hearings and proceedings shall be as follows:
1. A copy of the electronic recording or the transcript of a public hearing, if transcribed, will be provided within a reasonable time to anyone upon receipt of a written request and payment of the cost; if not transcribed, the additional cost of preparation will be paid by the person making the request.
2. A copy of the electronic recording or the transcript of an informal fact finding, if transcribed, will be provided within a reasonable time to anyone upon receipt of a written request and payment of cost; if not transcribed, the additional cost of preparation will be paid by the person making the request.
3. Anyone desiring a copy of the transcript of a formal hearing or evidentiary hearing recorded by a court reporter may purchase the copy directly from the court reporter; if not transcribed, the additional cost of preparation will be paid by the person making the request.
Statutory Authority
§ 10.1-1308 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 3, eff. January 1, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 2009; Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. November 23, 2022.
9VAC5-170-50. Policy and procedural information and guidance.
A. The director may adopt detailed policies and procedures which:
1. Request data and information in addition to and in amplification of the provisions of the regulations of the board;
2. Specify the methods and means that may be used to determine compliance with applicable provisions of the regulations of the board;
3. Set forth the format by which all data and information should be submitted; and
4. Set forth how the regulatory programs should be implemented.
B. In cases where the regulations of the board specify that procedures or methods shall be approved by, acceptable to, or determined by the board or other similar phrasing, such phrasing shall be interpreted such as consistent with the Air Pollution Control Law of Virginia (§ 10.1-1300 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) The owner may request information and guidance concerning the proper procedures and methods, and the director shall furnish in writing such information on a case-by-case basis.
Statutory Authority
§ 10.1-1308 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 3, eff. January 1, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. November 23, 2022.
9VAC5-170-60. Availability of information.
A. Emission data in the possession of the department shall be available to the public without exception.
B. Other records, reports, or information in the possession of the department shall be available to the public with the following exception. The department shall consider records, reports, or information confidential in accordance with §§ 10.1-1314 and 10.1-1314.1 of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law upon a showing satisfactory to the department by an owner that records, reports, or information meet the criteria in subsection C of this section and the owner provides a certification to that effect signed by a responsible representative of the owner. Records, reports or information may be disclosed, however, to other officers, employees or authorized representatives of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concerned with carrying out the provisions of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law and the federal Clean Air Act.
C. In order to be exempt from disclosure to the public under subsection B of this section, the record, report or information must satisfy the following criteria:
1. Information for which the owner has been taking and will continue to take measures to protect confidentiality;
2. Information that has not been and is not presently reasonably obtainable without the owner's consent by private citizens or other firms through legitimate means other than discovery based on a showing of special need in a judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding;
3. Information which is not publicly available from sources other than the owner; and
4. Information the disclosure of which would cause substantial harm to the owner.
D. The department shall have the right to substitute information which is not confidential for information claimed as confidential and to inquire as to the basis of the confidentiality claim. Upon approval of the department, an owner may substitute information which is not confidential for information claimed as confidential. Information substituted shall be limited to that which would have the same substantive effect in analyses conducted by the department as the information for which the inquiry is made.
E. The responsible representative of the owner who certifies information as confidential which does not meet the criteria in subsection C of this section shall be in violation of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law.
Statutory Authority
§ 10.1-1308 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 3, eff. January 1, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. November 23, 2022.
9VAC5-170-70. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 3, eff. January 1, 1998; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. November 23, 2022.