Title of Regulation: 1VAC30-40. Regulations for the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water (amending 1VAC30-40-10, 1VAC30-40-20, 1VAC30-40-30, 1VAC30-40-40, 1VAC30-40-100, 1VAC30-40-110, 1VAC30-40-130, 1VAC30-40-150, 1VAC30-40-240, 1VAC30-40-250, 1VAC30-40-280, 1VAC30-40-320, 1VAC30-40-330, 1VAC30-40-340, 1VAC30-40-360, 1VAC30-40-370; adding 1VAC30-40-85).

Statutory Authority: §§ 2.2-1102 and 2.2-1105 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: February 3, 2010.

Agency Contact: Rhonda Bishton, Regulatory Coordinator, Department of General Services, 1100 Bank Street, Suite 420, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 786-3311, FAX (804) 371-8305, or email rhonda.bishton@dgs.virginia.gov.

Summary:

Laboratories analyzing drinking water samples under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) must use current federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved test methods and adhere to other laboratory-specific requirements, as set out in 40 CFR Parts 141 and 143. The lists of test methods are revised regularly to include newly approved methods and delete out-of-date methods. These lists are also revised when new SDWA program requirements are promulgated in the Federal Register.

The changes to the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water Regulations conform them to current federal requirements for test methods, sampling, and laboratory certification. 1VAC30-40-85 is added to incorporate by reference the most current federal requirements. Out-of-date citations and out-of-date tables listing test methods and sample container, preservation, and holding time requirements are deleted. Provisions in the regulations that were taken verbatim from now out-of-date test methods and federal requirements are deleted and replaced by incorporating by reference current requirements. Finally, technical changes are made to replace the Division of Water Supply Engineering with the Office of Drinking Water to reflect the correct name of the Virginia Department of Health division responsible for these regulations.

Part I
General Provisions

1VAC30-40-10. Introduction.

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of December 16, 1974, mandated the establishment of drinking water regulations. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) was authorized to set the national drinking water regulations and oversee the implementation of the SDWA. State governments through their health departments or environmental agencies were to accept the responsibility for the implementation and enforcement of the SDWA'S provisions.

The Virginia Department of Health, Division of Water Supply Engineering (VDH-DWSE) Office of Drinking Water (VDH-ODW) has accepted and maintains the primary enforcement responsibility (primacy) under the SDWA and the requirements of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) 40 CFR 141, 142 and 143 (2009). The regulation at 40 CFR 141.28 requires that all testing for compliance purposes except turbidity, free chlorine residual, temperature and pH be performed by laboratories certified by the state.

The Department of General Services, Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DGS-DCLS) has been designated by VDH- DWSE VDH-ODW as the principal state laboratory. Pursuant to regulation 40 CFR 142.10(b)(3)(i) (2009), DGS-DCLS has established and maintains the state program for the certification of laboratories conducting analytical measurements of drinking water contaminants.

This chapter provides the mechanism to assure that laboratories are capable of providing valid data for compliance under the SDWA.

1VAC30-40-20. Definitions.

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context already indicates otherwise:

"Analyst" means a chemist, microbiologist, physicist, or technician who actually performs a test. The analyst may carry out the complete test or participate jointly with other analysts. The qualifications an analyst needs depend greatly on functions being performed.

"Certifying team" means experienced DGS-DCLS professionals to perform laboratory on-site evaluations under the SDWA.

"CFR" means Code of Federal Regulations.

"Compliance sample" means any sample required by the Virginia Department of Health to determine that the water quality does not exceed the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for each specified parameter.

"DGS-DCLS" means the Department of General Services-Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services.

"EMSL-LV" means the Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"Maximum contaminant level (MCL)" means the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water which is delivered to the free flowing outlet of the ultimate user of a waterworks.

"Minimum requirements" means criteria which are critical to the generation of valid data. These criteria describe the lowest level of capability at which the analyses can be successfully performed.

"NPDWR" means the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR 141 et seq.) (2009).

"Performance evaluation sample" means annual sample to be analyzed by a laboratory on certain parameters for which certification has been requested or granted. This annual sample is a form of documentation of a laboratory's capabilities in conjunction with on-site inspection evaluations of the laboratory by the certifying team.

"Primary enforcement responsibility (Primacy)" means the primary responsibility for administration and enforcement of primary drinking water regulations and related requirements applicable to public water systems within a state.

"Quality Assurance (QA) Plan" means a written description of a laboratory's quality assurance activities.

"SDWA" means the Safe Drinking Water Act (21 USCS § 349; 42 USCS §§ 201, 300f to 300j-9) (42 USC § 300 f et seq.).

"TTHM" means Total Trihalomethanes.

"USEPA" means the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

"VDH-DWSE" "VDH-ODW" means the Virginia Department of Health-Division of Water Supply Engineering Virginia Department of Health - Office of Drinking Water.

"Virginia laboratory officer" means the DGS-DCLS coordinator of drinking water laboratory certification activities.

1VAC30-40-30. Public notification for exceeded MCL.

The public notification regulations require that a laboratory analyzing compliance samples immediately notify the VDH-DWSE VDH-ODW of all results which exceed an MCL in accordance with Virginia Waterworks Regulations, 12VAC5-590-530 and 12VAC5-590-540, June 23, 1993; the Public Notification Final Rule, Federal Register Vol. 52, No. 208, October 28, 1987; and the Public Notification Technical Amendment, Federal Register Vol. 54, No. 72, April 17, 1989.

1VAC30-40-40. Compliance data report.

A. A waterworks with an on-site certified laboratory shall follow the reporting requirements outlined in Virginia Waterworks Regulations, VR 355-18-005.09, 2.20 Reporting, June 23, 1993 12VAC5-590-530.

B. A contract laboratory analyzing compliance samples shall complete the appropriate VDH-DWSE VDH-ODW Sample Input Form in accordance with the instructions for compliance under the SDWA. The contract laboratory shall report the analysis result to the VDH-DWSE VDH-ODW within three days of completion date of sample analysis.

1VAC30-40-85. Incorporation by reference.

A. The sampling, analytical methodology, and laboratory certification requirements of 40 CFR 141 and 143 (2009) are incorporated by reference into this chapter.

B. The specific sampling, analytical methodology, and laboratory certification requirements incorporated by reference are listed below by category:

1. Inorganic chemistry: 40 CFR 141.23, 40 CFR 141.89, and 40 CFR 141.131.

2. Organic chemistry: 40 CFR 141.24 and 40 CFR 141.131.

3. Microbiology: 40 CFR 141.21, 40 CFR 141.74, 40 CFR 141.174, 40 CFR 141.704, and 40 CFR 141.705. 40 CFR 136.3 (a) for e. coli requirements under 40 CFR 141.704.

4. Radiochemistry: 40 CFR 141.25.

5. Alternative testing methods: 40 CFR Part 141, Subpart C, Appendix A.

6. Test methods specified for secondary maximum contaminant levels: 40 CFR 143.4.

C. The exceptions to the requirements for laboratory certification in 40 CFR 141.28, 40 CFR 141.74(a), 40 CFR 141.89(a)(1), 40 CFR 141.131(b)(3), and 40 CFR 141.131(c)(3) are incorporated by reference into this chapter. Laboratory testing for alkalinity, calcium, conductivity, disinfectant residual, orthophosphate, pH, silica, temperature, and turbidity for compliance purposes may be performed by laboratories or persons not certified under this chapter but acceptable to VDH-ODW.

1VAC30-40-100. Evaluation procedure.

A. DGS-DCLS shall notify a laboratory three weeks before the on-site evaluation.

B. During the on-site evaluation, the certifying team shall evaluate the laboratory on its equipment and supplies, general laboratory practices, sample collection, handling and preservation, methodology and quality assurance. A laboratory may be required to analyze an unknown sample or perform analysis on a parameter during the evaluation.

Survey forms may be used as guidelines for complete coverage of the laboratory's activities. Each deviation observed during the laboratory evaluation shall be discussed at the time it is observed. The certifying team shall make an oral report to the laboratory staff at the end of the evaluation.

C. The certifying team shall prepare a narrative and action report for the Virginia laboratory officer. This report shall contain information pertinent to the evaluation. The report shall recommend the parameters in a category for which certification can be granted.

D. DGS-DCLS shall obtain from VDH-DWSE VDH-ODW an identification number for a newly certified laboratory. DGS-DCLS shall inform VDH- DSWE VDH-ODW of the certification status of a laboratory.

E. The Virginia laboratory officer shall advise the laboratory within 30 days after the on-site evaluation of its certification status and forward the certifying team's complete report.

F. Each laboratory found to be in noncompliance with this chapter, as indicated in the certifying team report, shall submit documentation of the corrective actions at the time specified by DGS-DCLS.

G. Additional actions toward certification shall be determined based on the specific circumstances.

1VAC30-40-110. Levels of certification.

Certification is granted for individual parameters in a category except for the volatile organic chemicals (VOC's). The VOC's are certified as a group based on the method employed and successful completion of the performance evaluation study.

1. "Certified" means a laboratory that meets the minimum requirements as determined by the certifying team using this chapter. The certification shall be valid for up to three years.

2. "Provisionally certified" means a laboratory which has deficiencies but can still produce valid data. The laboratory can continue to report compliance data to VDH-DWSE VDH-ODW. A laboratory shall be permitted up to six months for correction of deficiencies. The certifying team may perform an announced or unannounced on-site evaluation to determine the adequacy of documented corrective actions. The certifying team shall recommend to the Virginia laboratory officer to upgrade the laboratory's certification status.

3. "Not certified" means a laboratory that does not meet the minimum requirements as determined by the certifying team using this chapter.

1VAC30-40-130. Maintenance of certified status.

To maintain its certified status, a laboratory shall:

1. Continue to meet the requirements listed in this chapter based on the on-site evaluation.

2. Pass performance evaluation samples on an annual basis (for radiochemistry pass additional two cross-check samples).

3. Perform a minimum of five water analyses for each chemical parameter per month. Refer to 1VAC30-40-330 for the minimum number of microbiology analyses. This shall ensure that the laboratory maintains expertise in the certified categories.

4. Notify DGS-DCLS within 30 days of changes in personnel, equipment or laboratory location which may change the laboratory's analytical capability.

5. Use approved methodology listed in this chapter incorporated by reference at 1VAC30-40-85.

6. Notify VDH-DWSE VDH-ODW in accordance with 1VAC30-40-30.

1VAC30-40-150. Revocation of certified status.

A laboratory shall be downgraded from certified or provisionally certified to not certified status for:

1. Failure to employ USEPA approved methods incorporated by reference at 1VAC30-40-85.

2. Failure to submit report for the performance evaluation study at the specified time limit unless a waiver is approved by DGS-DCLS.

3. Failure to successfully analyze a parameter that is provisionally certified.

4. Submission of a performance evaluation sample to another laboratory for analysis and reporting the data as its own.

5. Failure to correct identified deficiencies based on an on-site visit.

6. Permitting persons other than qualified personnel to perform and report results for drinking water analysis.

7. Falsification of data or use of other deceptive practices.

8. Failure to notify the VDH-DWSE VDH-ODW in accordance with 1VAC30-40-30.

1VAC30-40-240. Analytical methodology.

Analytical methods are specified in NPDWR 40 CFR 141 and 143. All procedural steps in the approved methods are considered requirements.

1. Inorganic contaminants. Table III-1 of this chapter shows the approved methodology for inorganic contaminants.

2. Organic contaminants. Table III-2 of this chapter shows the approved methodology for organic contaminants.

3. Secondary inoraganic contaminants. Table III-3 of this chapter shows the approved methodology for secondary inorganic contaminants.

A. Laboratories shall meet the sampling and analytical methodology requirements incorporated by reference at 1VAC30-40-85 B 1 for primary inorganic contaminants, 1VAC30-40-85 B 2 for primary organic contaminants, and 1VAC30-40-85 B 5 for alternative testing methods.

4. Prepackaged kits. B. DPD Colorimetric Test Kit and FACTS Colorimetric Test Kit are the only acceptable prepackaged kits for free chlorine residual.

5. C. Measurement for residual disinfectant, turbidity, pH and temperature need not be made in certified laboratories but may be performed by any persons acceptable by the VDH-DWSE VDH-ODW. The following are the critical elements of these tests:

a. 1. Sealed liquid turbidity standards purchased from the instrument manufacturer shall be calibrated against properly prepared and diluted formazin or styrene divinylbenzene polymer standards at least every four months in order to monitor for any eventual deterioration. This calibration shall be documented. The standards shall be replaced when they do not fall within 15% of the assigned value of the standard. Solid turbidity standards composed of plastic, glass, or other materials shall not be used.

b. 2. Calibration interval for color wheels, sealed ampules, and other visual standards for free chlorine residual at least every six months. These calibrations shall be documented. By comparing standards and plotting such a comparison on graph paper, a correction factor can be derived and applied to all future results obtained on the now calibrated apparatus.

c. 3. Additional criteria. The following criteria shall be used by persons for performing free chlorine residual, turbidity, pH and temperature measurements.

(1) a. Free chlorine residual. Samples shall be collected in plastic or glass. Samples are not preserved; analyses are made within 15 minutes. A DPD or FACTS Colorimetric Test Kit, spectrophotometer or photometer is required.

(2) b. Turbidity. Samples shall be collected in plastic or glass. Samples are not preserved; analyses are to be made within 15 minutes. Nephelometer is needed with light source for illuminating the sample and one or more photoelectric detectors with a readout device to indicate the intensity of light scattered at right angles to the path of the incident light. Unit may be line/bench or battery/portable operated.

(3) c. pH. Samples shall be collected in plastic or glass. Samples are not preserved. Analyses are to be made within 15 minutes. A pH meter is necessary.

(4) d. Temperature. Samples shall be analyzed immediately. Good A good grade mercury-filled or dial-type centigrade thermometer, or thermistor are is required.

1VAC30-40-250. Sample collection, handling, and preservation.

A. A written sampling procedure with specified sampling instructions shall be made available to sample collectors. The laboratory shall require strict adherence to correct sampling procedures, complete identification of a sample and prompt transfer of the sample to the laboratory.

B. The collector shall be trained in sampling procedures.

C. The sample needs to be representative of the potable water system. The water tap shall be sampled after maintaining a steady water flow for two or three minutes to clear service line unless otherwise specified by the method, as an example, lead and copper. The tap shall be free of any attachments or water purification devices.

D. The sample report form shall be completed immediately after collection with location, date and time of collection, collector's name, preservative added and any remarks concerning the sample. Indelible ink shall be used.

C. E. The sample container, required preservative preservation, and maximum holding time requirements for sampling and analyzing inorganic contaminants are listed in Table III-4 of this chapter incorporated by reference at 1VAC30-40-85 B 1.

D. F. The sample container, required preservative preservation, and maximum holding time requirements for sampling and analyzing organic contaminants are listed in Table III-5 of this chapter incorporated by reference at 1VAC30-40-85 B 2.

G. The sample container, required preservation, and maximum holding time requirements for alternative test methods are incorporated by reference at 1VAC30-40-85 B 5.

E. H. The laboratory shall reject any sample not meeting the above criteria and notify the system or individual requesting the analyses.

1VAC30-40-280. Action response to laboratory results.

When the action response is a designated laboratory responsibility, the laboratory shall notify the proper authority of noncompliance sample results and request resampling from the same sampling point immediately.

Title of Regulation: 2VAC5-70. Health Requirements Governing the Control of Equine Infectious Anemia in Virginia (amending 2VAC5-70-20; repealing 2VAC5-70-30).

Statutory Authority: § 3.2-6002 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information:

March 25, 2010 - 10 a.m. - Oliver Hill Building, 102 Governor Street, Second Floor Board Room, Richmond, VA

Public Comment Deadline: April 5, 2010.

Agency Contact: Doug Saunders, Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 786-8905, FAX (804) 371-2380, or email doug.saunders@vdacs.virginia.gov.

Basis: Section 3.2-6002 of the Code of Virginia authorizes the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services to adopt regulations as may be necessary to prevent, control, or eradicate infectious or contagious diseases in livestock and poultry in Virginia.

Purpose: The current regulation establishes requirements for the control of equine infectious anemia (EIA) in Virginia. EIA is a contagious and infectious disease of horses, ponies, jackasses, mules and other animals of the genus Equus. This regulation requires the testing of equine animals to be imported into the state and those to be assembled for sale, auction, and other purposes. Additionally, the current regulation authorizes the State Veterinarian to allow, as an alternative or option, the testing of horses at the market or auction where equines are sold rather than requiring the test before the animals are transported to market.

The purpose of this regulatory action is two-fold. First, the language in 2VAC5-70-20 requiring EIA testing is amended to explain that the testing requirements apply to any activity on properties where horses owned by two or more owners may come into contact with each other, such as in state parks. This change is necessary to clarify that horses that come into contact with horses owned by others must have the required testing to further control the spread of EIA, thereby enhancing the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Second, 2VAC5-70-30, which addresses alternate testing requirements, will be eliminated as such alternate testing requirements are ineffective in controlling the spread of EIA.

Substance: Changes being proposed to the current regulation will (i) clarify that the EIA testing requirements identified in 2VAC5-70-20 apply to activities on properties where horses owned by two or more owners may come into contact with each other, such as in state parks, and (ii) remove the authority of the State Veterinarian in 2VAC5-70-30 to allow the EIA (Coggins agar gel immunodiffusin (AGID)) test to be made at market or auction, rather than prior to horses being transported to these activities.

Issues: The predominant issue associated with the proposed regulatory action is the control of EIA in animals of the genus Equus. The current regulation was established in 1985 and has been effective in controlling the spread of EIA. However, instances have arisen where individuals who gather with their horses for the purpose of riding activities, such as in state parks, have argued that the testing requirements do not apply to them. The amendments to 2VAC5-70-20 clarify that the regulation also applies to such activities, providing greater protection to Virginia's horse industry and protecting the horses owned by those individuals who have argued that the testing requirements do not apply to them. Additionally, eliminating 2VAC5-70-30 will remove the allowance for alternate testing that is ineffective in controlling the spread of EIA.

The advantage of these proposed changes is much greater control of the spread of EIA within horse populations in Virginia. This advantage applies to anyone owning a horse, whether an individual horse owner or a large horse operation. The agency does not see any disadvantages of the proposed changes.

The Department of Planning and Budget's Economic Impact Analysis:

Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Regulation. The current regulation details requirements for the control of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) in Virginia. EIA is a contagious and infectious disease of horses, ponies, jackasses, mules and other animals of the genus Equus. The regulation requires the testing for EIA of equine animals to be imported into the state and for those to be assembled for sale, auction and other purposes. Horses found to have EIA are quarantined. Additionally, the current regulation authorizes the State Veterinarian to allow, as an alternative or option, the testing of horses at the market or auction where equines are sold rather than requiring the test before the animals are transported to market.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) proposes: 1) to amend language to clarify that testing requirements apply to all horses involved in activities on properties where horses owned by two or more owners may come into contact with each other and 2) to eliminate the language on alternate testing requirements for horses assembled for sale or auction in Virginia when authorized by the State Veterinarian.

Result of Analysis. The benefits likely exceed the costs for all proposed changes.

Estimated Economic Impact. The current regulations specify that "All horses assembled at a show, fair, race meet, or other such function in Virginia, must be accompanied by a report of an official negative test for equine infectious anemia conducted within 12 months prior to such event." According to VDACS, there has been some confusion as to whether horses that are brought to state parks are subject to the negative test requirement. Thus the agency proposes to specify that the requirement applies to all horses involved in activities on properties where horses owned by two or more owners may come into contact with each other.

VDACS estimates that 2,000 or fewer horses that are currently not already being tested by their owners will need to be tested. Given VDACS' estimate that veterinary practitioners charge $30.00 for an EIA test, the cumulative monetary impact on horse owners in the Commonwealth will be $60,000 or less. Horses infected with EIA can die within two to three weeks.¹ Given the relatively small testing cost of $30 per horse per year, the cost of required testing would seem to be outweighed by the benefit of reduced risk of equine fatalities. VDACS reports that EIA has been present in the Commonwealth in recent years.

According to VDACS, the State Veterinarian has not authorized the testing of horses at the market or auction where equines are sold rather than requiring the test before the animals are transported to market. Thus the proposal to eliminate the language on alternate testing requirements for horses assembled for sale or auction in Virginia when authorized by the State Veterinarian will have no impact beyond the beneficial impact of reducing confusion for the public.

Businesses and Entities Affected. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services estimates that a maximum of 1500 owners owning 2000 horses will be affected by the proposed amendments. The Department estimates that 100 or fewer private businesses, such as horse camps or bed and breakfast establishments that accept horses, will be affected.

Localities Particularly Affected. The proposed amendments potentially affect all localities. Those localities which contain state parks that are frequented by horses are particularly affected.

Projected Impact on Employment. The proposed amendments are unlikely to have a significant net impact on employment.

Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. The proposal to amend language to clarify that testing requirements apply to all horses involved in activities on properties where horses owned by two or more owners may come into contact with each other will likely encourage some additional EIA testing. Veterinarians will likely get some additional business.

Small Businesses: Costs and Other Effects. The proposed amendments are unlikely to increase costs for small businesses.

Small Businesses: Alternative Method that Minimizes Adverse Impact. The proposed amendments are unlikely to adversely affect small businesses.

Real Estate Development Costs. The proposed amendments are unlikely to significantly affect real estate development costs.

Legal Mandate. The Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) has analyzed the economic impact of this proposed regulation in accordance with § 2.2-4007.04 of the Administrative Process Act and Executive Order Number 36 (06). Section 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include, but need not be limited to, the projected number of businesses or other entities to whom the regulation would apply, the identity of any localities and types of businesses or other entities particularly affected, the projected number of persons and employment positions to be affected, the projected costs to affected businesses or entities to implement or comply with the regulation, and the impact on the use and value of private property. Further, if the proposed regulation has adverse effect on small businesses, § 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include (i) an identification and estimate of the number of small businesses subject to the regulation; (ii) the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other administrative costs required for small businesses to comply with the regulation, including the type of professional skills necessary for preparing required reports and other documents; (iii) a statement of the probable effect of the regulation on affected small businesses; and (iv) a description of any less intrusive or less costly alternative methods of achieving the purpose of the regulation. The analysis presented above represents DPB's best estimate of these economic impacts.

____________________________

¹ Source: Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Agency's Response to the Department of Planning and Budget's Economic Impact Analysis: The agency concurs with the analysis of the Department of Planning and Budget.

Summary:

The proposed amendments (i) clarify that testing requirements apply to all horses involved in activities on properties where horses owned by two or more owners may come into contact with each other and (ii) eliminate the alternate testing requirements for horses assembled for sale or auction in Virginia.

2VAC5-70-20. Testing requirements for horses exhibited at shows, fairs, or other exhibitions, or coming into contact with horses owned by others in Virginia.

All horses assembled at a show, fair, race meet, or other such function, or participating in any activity on properties where horses owned by two or more owners may come into contact with each other in Virginia, must be accompanied by a report of an official negative test for equine infectious anemia conducted within 12 months prior to such event or activity. The person in charge will ensure that a copy of the official negative test results accompanies each horse in the event or activity, and shall make such reports available for inspection by a representative of the State Veterinarian upon request. The person in charge shall exclude any horse which is not accompanied by a negative test report.

2VAC5-70-30. Alternate testing requirements for horses assembled for sale or auction in Virginia. (Repealed.)

Horses may be assembled at a sale or auction without a negative test for equine infectious anemia, provided that the State Veterinarian so approves, and that the following requirements are met:

1. All horses, while assembled at the sale or auction, shall have blood samples drawn for equine infectious anemia testing.

2. Horses consigned or sold for immediate slaughter to an official slaughtering establishment are exempt from equine infectious anemia testing. Such horses shall be identified in a manner approved by the State Veterinarian, and a written permit shall be issued for their transfer to the slaughtering establishment.

3. The owner or manager of the sale or auction shall employ a licensed accredited veterinarian, who shall draw blood samples from all horses required to be tested, and shall record all visible markings or other permanent identification for each horse bled.

4. The owner or manager shall announce, prior to the sale or auction, that all nonslaughter horses will be tested. Each buyer of a nonslaughter horse or horses at the sale or auction shall sign a release form, signifying his agreement to maintain such horse or horses at a specified location until notified of the results of the test. Horses that prove negative to the test may move in normal trade channels. Owners of horses that react to the test must comply with 2VAC5-70-40 of this chapter.

5. The State Veterinarian may grant such exceptions to these requirements as he feels the circumstances warrant and that are not in variance with other rules and regulations of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Title of Regulation: 2VAC5-316. Rules and Regulations for Enforcement of the Virginia Pest Law - Beach Vitex Quarantine (adding 2VAC5-316-10 through 2VAC5-316-110).

Statutory Authority: § 3.2-703 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: January 8, 2010.

Agency Contact: Roy E. Seward, Jr., Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Oliver Hill Building, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 786-3535, FAX (804) 371-7679, or email roy.seward@vdacs.virginia.gov.

Summary:

This action establishes the Beach Vitex Quarantine in the cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach and the counties of Accomack and Northhampton. Beach Vitex is a highly invasive, deciduous, woody vine native to Asia that grows rapidly along dunes and shorelines causing damage to these areas by crowding out native plants and threatening the habitats of various animals. The purpose of this action is to prevent the long distance, artificial spread of Beach Vitex from coastal areas of the Commonwealth that are infested with Beach Vitex to other areas that are not infested.

CHAPTER 316
RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE VIRGINIA PEST LAW - BEACH VITEX QUARANTINE

2VAC5-316-10. Declaration of quarantine.

A quarantine is hereby established to restrict the movement of the invasive plant, Beach Vitex, and articles capable of transporting life stages of Beach Vitex unless such articles comply with the conditions specified herein.

2VAC5-316-20. Purpose of quarantine.

Beach Vitex, a deciduous woody vine native to the Pacific Rim, grows rapidly along dunes and shorelines causing damage to these areas by crowding out native plants and threatening the habitats of various animals, including the endangered loggerhead sea turtle. Although Beach Vitex has been planted in efforts to stabilize dunes, it is less effective than native grasses in controlling dune erosion. Beach Vitex has been detected in several coastal sites in the Commonwealth and has the potential to spread to other areas through the artificial movement of Beach Vitex by individuals, or through the natural movement of Beach Vitex parts such as seeds and stems that could be carried by water currents to uninfested coastal areas. The purpose of this quarantine is to help prevent the spread of Beach Vitex by prohibiting its artificial movement and the movement of those articles that are capable of transporting it.

2VAC5-316-30. Definitions.

The following words and terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Beach Vitex" means the live plant, in any life stage, known as Beach Vitex, Vitex rotundifolia.

"Board" means the Virginia Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

"Certificate" means a document issued by an inspector or person operating in accordance with a compliance agreement to allow the movement of regulated articles to any destination.

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

"Compliance agreement" means a written agreement between a person engaged in handling, receiving, or moving regulated articles and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services wherein the former agrees to fulfill the requirements of the compliance agreement and comply with the provisions of this regulation.

"Department" means the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

"Infestation" means the presence of Beach Vitex or the existence of circumstances that make it reasonable to believe that life stages of Beach Vitex are present.

"Inspector" means an employee of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or other person authorized by the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to enforce the provisions of this quarantine or regulation.

"Limited permit" means a document issued by an inspector to allow the movement of regulated articles to a specific destination.

"Moved," "move," or "movement" means shipped, offered for shipment, received for transportation, transported, carried, or allowed to be moved, shipped, transported, or carried.

"Person" means the term as defined in § 1-230 of the Code of Virginia.

"Regulated area" means the locality or area listed in 2VAC5-315-50 of this quarantine.

"Virginia Pest Law" means the statute set forth in Chapter 7 (§ 3.2-700 et seq.) of Title 3.2 of the Code of Virginia.

2VAC5-316-40. Regulated articles.

The following articles are regulated under the provisions of this quarantine and shall not be moved into, within, or out of any regulated area in Virginia, except in compliance with the conditions prescribed in this quarantine:

1. Beach Vitex, in any life stage, including roots, stems, and seeds.

2. Any article known to be infested with Beach Vitex, such as sand, soil, or mulch containing Beach Vitex in any life stage.

3. Any other article or means of conveyance when it is determined by an inspector that it presents a risk of spreading Beach Vitex.

2VAC5-316-50. Regulated areas.

The following areas in Virginia are quarantined for Beach Vitex:

The entire counties of:

Accomack

Northampton

The entire cities of:

Norfolk

Virginia Beach

2VAC5-316-60. Conditions governing the intrastate movement of regulated articles.

A. Movement within regulated area – movement of a regulated article solely within the quarantined area is prohibited unless accompanied by a valid certificate or limited permit.

B. Movement from regulated area into nonregulated area – movement of a regulated article that originates inside of the quarantined area to an area outside of the quarantined area is prohibited unless accompanied by a valid certificate or limited permit.

C. Movement from nonregulated area into regulated area – movement of a regulated article that originates outside of the quarantined area to an area inside of the quarantined area is prohibited unless accompanied by a valid certificate or limited permit.

D. Movement outside of the regulated area – movement of a regulated article solely outside of the quarantined area is not restricted.

2VAC5-316-70. Issuance and cancellation of certificates and limited permits.

A. Certificates and limited permits may be issued by an inspector for the movement of regulated articles into, within, or out of any regulated area to any destination within Virginia when the regulated articles meet the following three conditions:

1. The regulated articles are to be moved intrastate to a specified destination under conditions that specify the limited handling, utilization, processing, or treatment of the articles when the inspector determines that such movement will not result in the spread of Beach Vitex because the life stage of the plant will be destroyed by such specified handling, utilization, processing, or treatment; or the regulated articles are to be moved by a state or federal agency or person authorized by the department for experimental or scientific purposes;

2. The regulated articles are to be moved in compliance with any additional conditions deemed necessary under the Virginia Pest Law to prevent the spread of Beach Vitex; and

3. The regulated articles are eligible for unrestricted movement under all other domestic plant quarantines and regulations applicable to the regulated articles.

B. Any certificate or limited permit that has been issued or authorized may be withdrawn by the inspector orally or in writing if the inspector determines that the holder of the certificate or limited permit has not complied with all conditions for the use of the certificate or limited permit or with any applicable compliance agreement. If the withdrawal is oral, the withdrawal and the reasons for the withdrawal shall be confirmed in writing and communicated to the certificate or limited permit holder as promptly as circumstances allow.

2VAC5-316-80. Assembly and inspection of regulated articles.

A. Any person who desires to move regulated articles into, within, or out of any regulated area shall apply for a limited permit as far in advance as practical but no less than five business days before the regulated articles are to be moved.

B. The regulated article must be assembled at the place and in the manner the inspector designates as necessary to facilitate inspection and shall be safeguarded from infestation.

2VAC5-316-90. Attachment and disposition of certificates and limited permits.

A. A certificate or limited permit required for the movement of a regulated article into, within, or out of any regulated area must be attached at all times during the intrastate movement to the outside of the container that contains the regulated article or to the regulated article itself. The requirements of this section may also be met by attaching the certificate or limited permit to the consignee's copy of the waybill provided the regulated article is sufficiently described on the certificate or limited permit and on the waybill to facilitate the identification of the regulated article.

B. The certificate or limited permit for the intrastate movement of a regulated article must be furnished by the carrier to the consignee at the destination of the regulated article. A copy of the certificate or the limited permit must be retained by the sender of the regulated article at the place of shipment.

2VAC5-316-100. Inspection and disposal of regulated articles and pests.

Upon presentation of official credentials, an inspector is authorized to stop and inspect, and to seize, destroy, or otherwise dispose of, or require disposal of, regulated articles as provided in the Virginia Pest Law.

2VAC5-316-110. Nonliability of the department.

The department shall not be liable for any costs incurred by third parties whose costs result from or are incidental to inspections required under the provisions of the quarantine.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-20. Pertaining to the Licensing of Fixed Fishing Devices (amending 4VAC20-20-50).

Statutory Authority: § 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: December 18, 2009.

Agency Contact: Jane Warren, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, telephone (757) 247-2248, FAX (757) 247-2002, or email betty.warren@mrc.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendment requires that pound net licensees set and fish pound nets at least once during two consecutive calendar years starting in 2009 to maintain their licenses and priority rights associated with those pound nets.

4VAC20-20-50. Priority rights; renewal by current licensee.

A. Applications for renewal of license for existing fixed fishing devices may be accepted by the officer beginning at 9 a.m. on December 1 of the current license year through noon on January 10 of the next license year providing the applicant has met all requirements of law and this chapter. Any location not relicensed during the above period of time shall be considered vacant and available to any qualified applicant after noon on January 10.

B. Except as provided in subsections C and D of this section, a currently licensed fixed fishing device must have been fished during the current license year in order for the licensee to maintain his priority right to such location. It shall be mandatory for the licensee to notify the officer, on forms provided by the commission, when the fixed fishing device is ready to be fished in the location applied for, by a complete system of nets and poles, except as provided in subsection D of this section, for the purpose of visual inspection by the officer. Either the failure of the licensee to notify the officer when the fixed fishing device is ready to be fished or the failure by the licensee actually to fish the licensed device, by use of a complete system of nets and poles, except as provided in subsection D of this section, shall terminate his right or privilege to renew the license during the period set forth in subsection A of this section of this chapter, and he shall not become a qualified applicant for such location until 9 a.m. on February 1. Any application received from an unqualified applicant under this subsection shall be considered as received at 9 a.m. on February 1; however, in the event of the death of a current license holder, the priority right to renew the currently held locations of the deceased licensee shall not expire by reason of failure to fish said locations during the year for which they were licensed, but one additional year shall be and is hereby granted to the personal representative or lawful beneficiary of the deceased licensee to license the location in the name of the estate of the deceased licensee for purposes of fishing said location or making valid assignment thereof.

C. During the effective period of 4VAC20-530, which establishes a moratorium on the taking and possession of American shad in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, any person licensed during 1993 to set a staked gill net who chooses not to set that net during the period of the moratorium may maintain his priority right to the stake net's 1993 location by completing an application for a fixed fishing device and submitting it to the officer. No license fee shall be charged for the application.

D. Current pound net licensees shall not be required to fish their pound nets or establish a complete system of nets and poles in 2008 in order to renew their licenses or maintain their priority rights to such locations for 2009. In order to maintain priority rights and renew a license to a specific pound net location, a pound net licensee shall be required to set and fish that pound net at least once during two consecutive calendar years starting with calendar year 2009.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-490. Pertaining to Sharks (amending 4VAC20-490-44).

Statutory Authority: § 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: December 23, 2009.

Agency Contact: Jane Warren, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, telephone (757) 247-2248, FAX (757) 247-2002, or email betty.warren@mrc.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendment makes it unlawful to transfer any spiny dogfish limited entry permit after November 23, 2009.

4VAC20-490-44. Spiny dogfish limited entry permit and permit transfers.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to take, catch, possess, or land any spiny dogfish without first having obtained a spiny dogfish limited entry permit from the Marine Resources Commission. Such permit shall be completed in full by the permittee who shall keep a copy of that permit in his possession while fishing for or selling spiny dogfish. Permits shall only be issued to Virginia registered commercial fishermen meeting either of the following criteria:

1. Shall have documented on Virginia mandatory harvest reporting forms harvest from a legally licensed, movable gill net for an average of at least 60 days from 2006 through 2008, and a minimum harvest of one pound of spiny dogfish at any time from 2006 through 2008.

2. Shall have documented on Virginia mandatory reporting forms harvests that total greater than 10,000 pounds of spiny dogfish in any one year from 2006 through 2008.

B. A spiny dogfish limited entry permittee may only transfer that permit to another Virginia registered commercial fisherman. The transferor and the transferee shall have documented any prior fishing activity on Virginia mandatory reporting forms and shall not be under any sanction by the Marine Resources Commission for noncompliance with the regulation. Transfers must be approved by the commissioner, or his designee, and are permanent. The permanent transfer authorizes the transferee to possess a spiny dogfish limited entry permit, and the transferor shall lose his eligibility for that spiny dogfish limited entry permit. It is unlawful to transfer any spiny dogfish limited entry permit after November 23, 2009.

Final Regulation

Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-610. Pertaining to Commercial Fishing and Mandatory Harvest Reporting (amending 4VAC20-610-20, 4VAC20-610-60; adding 4VAC20-610-65).

Statutory Authority: § 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: January 1, 2010.

Agency Contact: Jane Warren, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, telephone (757) 247-2248, FAX (757) 247-2002, or email betty.warren@mrc.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments (i) define "agent" as any person who possesses the commercial fisherman registration license, fishing gear license, or fishing permit of a registered commercial fisherman, in order to fish that commercial fisherman's gear or sell that commercial fisherman's harvest; (ii) require commercial harvesters to report use of an agent to harvest for them; (iii) limit the number of helpers reported by a commercial fisherman registration licensee to five; and (iv) provide guidelines for the commission to use in noncompliance with mandatory reporting cases that are linked to the severity of those noncompliance violations.

4VAC20-610-20. Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Agent" means any person who possesses the commercial fisherman registration license, fishing gear license, or fishing permit of a registered commercial fisherman in order to fish that commercial fisherman's gear or sell that commercial fisherman's harvest.

"Clam aquaculture product owner" means any person or firm that owns clams on leased, subleased or fee simple ground or on any growing area within or adjacent to Virginia tidal waters that are raised by any form of aquaculture. This does not include any riparian shellfish gardeners whose activities are authorized by 4VAC20-336.

"Commission" means the Marine Resources Commission.

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Marine Resources Commission.

"Continuing business enterprise" means any business that is required to have a Virginia Seafood Buyer's License or is required to have a business license by county, city or local ordinance.

"Oyster aquaculture product owner" means any person or firm that owns oysters on leased, subleased or fee simple ground or on any growing area within or adjacent to Virginia tidal waters that are raised by any form of aquaculture. This does not include any riparian shellfish gardeners whose activities are authorized by 4VAC20-336.

"Sale" means sale, trade, or barter.

"Sell" means sell, trade, or barter.

"Selling" means selling, trading or bartering.

"Sold" means sold, traded, or bartered.

4VAC20-610-60. Mandatory harvest reporting.

A. It shall be unlawful for any valid commercial fisherman registration licensee, seafood landing licensee, oyster aquaculture product owner permittee, or clam aquaculture product owner permittee to fail to fully report harvests and related information as set forth in this chapter.

B. It shall be unlawful for any recreational fisherman, charter boat captain, head boat captain, commercial fishing pier operator, or owner of a private boat licensed pursuant to §§ 28.2-302.7 through 28.2-302.9 of the Code of Virginia, to fail to report recreational harvests, upon request, to those authorized by the commission.

C. All registered commercial fishermen and any valid seafood landing licensee, oyster aquaculture product owner permittee, and clam aquaculture product owner permittee shall complete a daily form accurately quantifying and legibly describing that day's harvest from Virginia tidal and federal waters. The forms used to record daily harvest shall be those provided by the commission or another form approved by the commission. Registered commercial fishermen and seafood landing licensees may use more than one form when selling to more than one buyer.

D. Registered commercial fishermen, seafood landing licensees, valid oyster aquaculture product owner permittees and valid clam aquaculture product owner permittees shall submit a monthly harvest report to the commission no later than the fifth day of the following month. This report shall be accompanied by the daily harvest records described in subsection E of this section. Completed forms shall be mailed or delivered to the commission or other designated locations.

E. The monthly harvest report and daily harvest records from registered commercial fishermen shall include the name and signature of the registered commercial fisherman and his license registration number; buyer or private sale information; date of harvest; city or county of landing; water body fished; gear type and amount used; number of hours gear fished; number of hours the registered commercial fisherman fished; number of crew on board, including captain; species harvested; market category; live weight or processed weight of species harvested; and vessel identification (Coast Guard documentation number, Virginia license number or hull/VIN number). Any information on the price paid for the harvest may be provided voluntarily. The monthly harvest report and daily harvest records from oyster aquaculture product owner permittees and clam aquaculture product owner permittees shall include the name, signature, permit number, lease number, date of harvest, city or county of landing, gear (growing technique) used, species harvested in weight or amount, number of crew, and buyer or private sale information. The monthly harvest report and daily harvest records from seafood landing licensees shall include the name and signature of the seafood landing licensee and his seafood landing license number; buyer or private sale information; date of harvest; city or county of landing; water body fished; gear type and amount used; number of hours gear fished; number of hours the seafood landing licensee fished; number of crew on board, including captain; nonfederally permitted species harvested; market category; live weight or processed weight of species harvested; and vessel identification (Coast Guard documentation number, Virginia license number, or hull/VIN number).

E. The monthly harvest report requirements shall be as follows:

1. Registered commercial fishermen shall be responsible for providing monthly harvest report and daily harvest records that include the name and signature of the registered commercial fisherman and his commercial fisherman's registration license number; ­the name and license registration number of any agent, if used; the license registration number of no more than five helpers who were not serving as agents; any buyer or private sale information; the date of any harvest; the city or county of landing that harvest; the water body fished, gear type, and amount of gear used for that harvest; the number of hours any gear was fished and the number of hours the registered commercial fisherman fished; the number of crew on board, including captain; species harvested; market category; live weight or processed weight of species harvested; and vessel identification (Coast Guard documentation number, Virginia license number, or hull/VIN number). Any information on the price paid for the harvest may be provided voluntarily.

2. The monthly harvest report and daily harvest records from oyster aquaculture product owner permittees and clam aquaculture product owner permittees shall include the name, signature, permit number, lease number, date of harvest, city or county of landing, gear (growing technique) used, weight or amount of species harvested, number of crew, and buyer or private sale information.

3. The monthly harvest report and daily harvest records from seafood landing licensees shall include the name and signature of the seafood landing licensee and his seafood landing license number; buyer or private sale information; date of harvest; city or county of landing; water body fished; gear type and amount used; number of hours gear fished; number of hours the seafood landing licensee fished; number of crew on board, including captain; nonfederally permitted species harvested; market category; live weight or processed weight of species harvested; and vessel identification (Coast Guard documentation number, Virginia license number, or hull/VIN number).

F. Registered commercial fishermen, oyster aquaculture product owner permittees and clam aquaculture product owner permittees not fishing during a month, or seafood landing licensees not landing in Virginia during a month, shall so notify the commission no later than the fifth of the following month by postage paid postal card provided by the commission or by calling the commission's toll free telephone line.

G. Any person licensed as a commercial seafood buyer pursuant to § 28.2-228 of the Code of Virginia shall maintain for a period of one year a copy of each fisherman's daily harvest record form for each purchase made. Such records shall be made available upon request to those authorized by the commission.

H. Registered commercial fishermen, seafood landing licensees, oyster aquaculture product owner permittees and clam aquaculture product owner permittees shall maintain their daily harvest records for one year and shall make them available upon request to those authorized by the commission.

I. Registered commercial fishermen, seafood landing licensees, and licensed seafood buyers shall allow those authorized by the commission to sample harvest and seafood products to obtain biological information for scientific and management purposes only. Such sampling shall be conducted in a manner that does not hinder normal business operations.

J. The reporting of oyster harvest and transactions by licensed seafood buyers, oyster aquaculture product owner permittees, clam aquaculture product owner permittees, and any registered commercial fisherman who self-markets his oyster harvest shall be made in accordance with 4VAC20-200 and Article 3 (§ 28.2-538 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 28.2 of the Code of Virginia.

K. The reporting of the harvest of federally permitted species from beyond Virginia's tidal waters that are sold to a federally permitted dealer shall be exempt from the procedures described in this section.

L. The owner of any purse seine vessel or bait seine vessel (snapper rig) licensed under the provisions of § 28.2-402 of the Code of Virginia shall submit the Captain's Daily Fishing Reports to the National Marine Fisheries Service, in accordance with provisions of Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission for Atlantic Menhaden, which became effective July 2001.

4VAC20-610-65. Noncompliance.

A. Any initial violation of 4VAC20-610-60 by any registered commercial fisherman, oyster aquaculture product owner permittee, clam aquaculture product owner permittee, or seafood landing licensee shall be subject to penalties as described in subdivisions 1 through 4 of this subsection.

1. Any failure to report harvest or no harvest activity or no landing in Virginia within one to three months after that report was due shall result in a minimum of one year of probation.

2. Any failure to report harvest or no harvest activity or no landing in Virginia within four to six months after that report was due shall result in a minimum of two years of probation.

3. Any failure to report harvest or no harvest activity or no landing in Virginia within seven to 12 months after that report was due shall result in a minimum of six months of suspension of all commercial licenses and permits.

4. Any failure to report harvest or no harvest activity or no landing in Virginia more than 12 months after that report was due shall result in a minimum of one year of suspension of all commercial licenses and permits.

B. Any second or subsequent violation of 4VAC20-610-60 by any registered commercial fisherman, oyster aquaculture product owner permittee, clam aquaculture product owner permittee, or seafood landing licensee may be subject to having his commercial licenses and permits suspended by the commission.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-900. Pertaining to Horseshoe Crab (amending 4VAC20-900-25, 4VAC20-900-30, 4VAC20-900-35).

Statutory Authority: § 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: January 1, 2010.

Agency Contact: Jane Warren, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, telephone (757) 247-2248, FAX (757) 247-2002, or email betty.warren@mrc.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments (i) reduce the 2010 horseshoe crab harvest quota to 137,168, and (ii) enhance management and harvest control measures within the fishery to include (a) reducing the landing limit trigger from 85% to 50%, (b) establishing a horseshoe crab bycatch permit, (c) establishing daily call-in requirements for buyers, (d) increasing the frequency of buyer's reports from monthly to weekly, (e) establishing a separate quota management area for waters east of the COLREGS line, and (f) establishing separate landing limit triggers and provisions for quota overage payback for waters east of the COLREGS line.

4VAC20-900-25. Commercial fisheries management measures.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest horseshoe crabs from any shore or tidal waters of Virginia within 1,000 feet in any direction of the mean low water line from May 1 through June 7. The harvests of horseshoe crabs for biomedical use shall not be subject to this limitation.

B. From January 1 through June 7 of each year, it shall be unlawful for any person to land, in Virginia, any horseshoe crab harvested from federal waters.

C. Harvests for biomedical purposes shall require a special permit issued by the Commissioner of Marine Resources, and all crabs taken pursuant to such permit shall be returned to the same waters from which they were collected.

D. The commercial quota of horseshoe crab for each calendar year 2010 shall be 152,495 137,168 horseshoe crabs. Additional quantities of horseshoe crab may be transferred to Virginia by other jurisdictions in accordance with the provisions of Addendum I to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Fishery Management Plan for Horseshoe Crab, April 2000, provided that the combined total of the commercial quota and transfer from other jurisdictions shall not exceed 355,000 horseshoe crabs. It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest from Virginia waters, or to land in Virginia, any horseshoe crab for commercial purposes after any calendar-year commercial quota of horseshoe crab has been attained and announced as such.

E. During each calendar year no more than 40% of Virginia's the commercial horseshoe crab quota and any and all transfers of quota from other jurisdictions shall be harvested from waters east of the COLREGS Line. It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest horseshoe crabs from waters east of the COLREGS Line, or to land horseshoe crabs, in Virginia, that are harvested east of the COLREGS Line, after 40% of Virginia's horseshoe crab quota and any and all transfers of quota have been attained for this designated area and announced as such.

E. F. It shall be unlawful for any person whose harvest of horseshoe crabs is from waters east of the COLREGS Line to possess aboard a vessel or to land in Virginia any quantity of horseshoe crabs that, in aggregate, is not comprised of at least a minimum ratio of two male horseshoe crabs to one female horseshoe crab. For the purposes of this regulation, no horseshoe crab shall be considered a male horseshoe crab unless it possesses at least one modified, hook-like appendage as its first pair of walking legs.

F. G. Limitations on the daily harvest and possession of horseshoe crabs for any vessel described below are as follows:

1. It shall be unlawful for any person who meets the requirements of 4VAC20-900-30 D and holds a valid horseshoe crab endorsement license to possess aboard any vessel or to land any number of horseshoe crabs in excess of 5,000, except that when it is projected and announced that 85% 50% of the commercial quota is taken it shall be unlawful for any person who meets the requirements of 4VAC20-900-30 D and holds a valid horseshoe crab endorsement license to possess aboard any vessel in Virginia any number of horseshoe crabs in excess of 2,500.

2. It shall be unlawful for any person who meets the requirements of 4VAC20-900-30 E and holds a valid horseshoe crab endorsement license to possess aboard any vessel or to land any number of horseshoe crabs in excess of 2,000, except that when it is projected and announced that 85% 50% of the commercial quota is taken, it shall be unlawful for any person who meets the requirements of 4VAC20-900-30 D E and holds a valid horseshoe crab endorsement license to possess aboard any vessel in Virginia any number of horseshoe crabs in excess of 1,000. The harvest of horseshoe crabs, described in this subdivision, shall be restricted to using only crab dredge.

3. It shall be unlawful for any registered commercial fisherman or seafood landing licensee who does not possess a horseshoe crab endorsement license to possess horseshoe crabs, without first obtaining a horseshoe crab bycatch permit. It shall be unlawful for a horseshoe crab bycatch permittee to possess aboard any vessel more than 500 horseshoe crabs or for any vessel to land any number of horseshoe crabs in excess of 500, per day. When it is projected and announced that 50% of the commercial quota is taken, it shall be unlawful for any person with a horseshoe crab bycatch permit to possess aboard any vessel more than 250 horseshoe crabs or for any vessel to land any number of horseshoe crabs in excess of 250 per day.

G. H. It shall be unlawful for any fisherman issued a horseshoe crab endorsement license to offload any horseshoe crabs between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

I. When it is projected and announced that 20% of the commercial quota, as described in 4 VAC20-900-25D, has been taken from waters east of the COLREGS line, the limitations on the possession and landing of horseshoe crabs are as follows:

1. It shall be unlawful for any person who possesses a valid horseshoe crab endorsement license to possess aboard any vessel in waters east of the COLREGS Line or to land more than 2,500 horseshoe crabs per day.

2. It shall be unlawful for any person who possesses a valid restricted horseshoe crab endorsement license to possess aboard any vessel in waters east of the COLREGS Line or to land more than 1,000 horseshoe crabs per day.

3. It shall be unlawful for any person who possesses a valid horseshoe crab bycatch permit to possess aboard any vessel east of the COLREGS Line or to land more than 250 horseshoe crabs per day.

4VAC20-900-30. License requirements and exemption.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest horseshoe crabs by hand for commercial purposes without first obtaining a commercial fisherman registration license and a horseshoe crab hand harvester license.

B. The taking by hand of as many as five horseshoe crabs in any one day for personal use only shall be exempt from the above licensing requirement.

C. Except as provided for in 4VAC20-900-25 F G 3, it shall be unlawful for any boat or vessel to land horseshoe crabs in Virginia for commercial purposes without first obtaining a horseshoe crab endorsement license as described in this section. The horseshoe crab endorsement license shall be required of each boat or vessel used to land horseshoe crabs for commercial purposes. Possession of any quantity of horseshoe crabs that exceeds the limit described in subsection B of this section shall be presumed for commercial purposes. There shall be no fee for the license.

D. To be eligible for an unrestricted horseshoe crab endorsement license, the boat or vessel shall have landed and sold at least 500 horseshoe crabs in Virginia in at least one year during the period 1998-2000, except as described in subsection E of this section.

1. The owner shall complete an application for each boat or vessel by providing to the Marine Resources Commission a notarized and signed statement of applicant's name, address, telephone number, boat or vessel name and its registration or documentation number.

2. The owner shall complete a notarized authorization to allow the Marine Resources Commission to obtain copies of landings data from the National Marine Fisheries Service.

E. Any Virginia registered commercial fisherman is eligible for a horseshoe crab endorsement license that is restricted to using a crab dredge to harvest horseshoe crabs provided his boat or vessel shall have landed at least 10,000 pounds of whelk in any one year from 2002 through 2005.

1. The Virginia registered commercial fisherman shall complete an application for each boat or vessel by providing to the Marine Resources Commission a notarized and signed statement of the applicant's name, address, telephone number, boat or vessel name and its registration or documentation number.

2. The Virginia registered commercial fisherman shall complete a notarized authorization to allow the Marine Resources Commission to obtain copies of whelk landings data from the National Marine Fisheries Service.

4VAC20-900-35. Monitoring requirements.

A. Any person harvesting or landing horseshoe crabs in Virginia shall report monthly on forms provided by the Marine Resources Commission all harvests of horseshoe crabs including, but not limited to, bait fisheries, bycatch, biomedical industry, and scientific and educational research harvests. Reporting requirements shall consist of numbers and pounds landed by sex, harvest method and harvest location.

B. It shall be unlawful for a horseshoe crab endorsement license holder to fail to contact the Marine Resources Operations Station prior to the vessel issued a horseshoe crab endorsement license offloading horseshoe crabs. The horseshoe crab endorsement license holder shall provide the Marine Resources Commission the name of the vessel and its captain and the anticipated or approximate offloading time and site. Following offloading, the horseshoe crab endorsement license holder shall contact the Virginia Marine Resources Commission Interactive-Voice-Response (IVR) System within 24 hours of landing and provide his horseshoe crab endorsement license number; the time, date and location of offloading; and the number of horseshoe crabs landed.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to buy any horseshoe crabs from any lawful harvester on or after July 1, 2007, without first having obtained a Horseshoe Crab Buying Permit from the Marine Resources Commission. The permit application shall be completed in full by the licensed seafood buyer, and a copy of the permit shall be kept in possession of the licensed buyer while buying or possessing horseshoe crabs.

D. Any licensed seafood buyer permitted to purchase horseshoe crabs shall provide written reports to the commission of daily purchases and harvest information on forms provided by the commission. Such information shall include the date of the purchase, the buyer's horseshoe crab permit number and harvester's Commercial Fisherman Registration License number, gear type used, water area fished, city or county of landing, and the number of female horseshoe crabs and male horseshoe crabs for each purchased harvest of horseshoe crabs. These reports of any current monthly weekly purchases shall be completed in full and submitted to the commission no later than the 5th day Thursday of the following month week. In addition, once it has been projected and announced that 85% of the annual commercial quota of horseshoe crab quota has been landed, or 34% of the commercial quota of horseshoe crab established for the horseshoe crab harvest east of the COLREGS Line has been landed each permitted buyer shall call the commission's interactive voice recording system on a daily basis to report his name and permit number, date, number of female horseshoe crabs and number of male horseshoe crabs purchased, gear used and water area fished by the harvester.

E. Persons harvesting horseshoe crabs for biomedical use and owners of facilities using horseshoe crabs for biomedical purposes shall monitor and report monthly to the commission all harvests or purchases of horseshoe crabs and the percentage of mortality up to the point of release including that mortality which occurs during harvest, shipping, handling, and bleeding.

F. Owners of biomedical facilities using horseshoe crabs shall participate in the tagging program of the commission to evaluate the post-release mortality of horseshoe crabs.

G. Monthly reports shall be due to the commission no later than the fifth day of the following month.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC50-60. Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) Permit Regulations (amending 4VAC50-60-700, 4VAC50-60-720, 4VAC50-60-730, 4VAC50-60-740, 4VAC50-60-750, 4VAC50-60-760, 4VAC50-60-770, 4VAC50-60-780, 4VAC50-60-790, 4VAC50-60-800, 4VAC50-60-810, 4VAC50-60-820, 4VAC50-60-830; adding 4VAC50-60-825; repealing 4VAC50-60-710).

Statutory Authority: §§ 10.1-603.2:1 and 10.1-603.4 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: February 3, 2010.

Agency Contact: David C. Dowling, Policy, Planning, and Budget Director, Department of Conservation and Recreation, 203 Governor Street, Suite 302, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 786-2291, FAX (804) 786-6141, or email david.dowling@dcr.virginia.gov.

Summary:

This regulatory action establishes a statewide base fee schedule for stormwater management projects and establishes the fee assessment and the collection and distribution systems for those fees. Permit fees are established for: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (new coverage); Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (major modifications); Construction activity general permit coverage; Construction activity individual permits, Construction activity modifications or transfers; and MS4 and Construction activity annual permit maintenance fees.

This action is closely tied to the Parts I, II, and III action as the base fees generated are necessary to fund the local stormwater management programs established through that concurrent regulatory action also published in this Register. The fees are established using estimates of the time determined to be necessary for different-sized projects; for a local stormwater management program to conduct plan review, inspections (including stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) review and reinspections), enforcement, technical assistance, and permit coverage; and for the Department of Conservation and Recreation to provide oversight of the Commonwealth's stormwater management program.

The permit base fee levels were arrived at through discussions of a subcommittee of the Technical Advisory Committee and discussions with the overall Technical Advisory Committee and through corroboration of the costs of conducting the various components of program implementation with Department of Conservation and Recreation stormwater field staff and with a number of local government program personnel.

The qualifying local program with approval of the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board (board) was authorized to establish a lower construction fee provided that it can demonstrate its ability to fully and successfully implement a program. Additional authority is added to allow a qualifying local program to establish greater fees if it demonstrates to the board that greater fees are necessary to properly administer a program. Additionally, the permit maintenance fee for MS4s with general permit coverage is reduced from $4,000 to $3,000 and an annual increase in fees based on the CPI-U is removed.

Summary of Public Comments and Agency's Response: A summary of comments made by the public and the agency's response may be obtained from the promulgating agency or viewed at the office of the Registrar of Regulations.

Part XIII
Fees

4VAC50-60-700. Purpose.

Sections 10.1-603.4 and 10.1-603.5 of the Code of Virginia authorize the establishment of a statewide fee schedule, including administrative charges for state agencies, for stormwater management and state agency projects for land-disturbing activities and for municipal separate storm sewer systems. These regulations in this This part establish establishes the fee assessment and the collection system and distribution systems for those fees. The fees associated with individual permits or coverage under the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater From Construction Activities (permits for stormwater management for land-disturbing activities) issued by a qualifying local program or a department-administered local stormwater management program that has been approved by the board shall include costs associated with plan review, permit review and issuance, inspections, enforcement, program administration and oversight, and database management. Fees shall also be established for permit maintenance, modification, and transfer.

Should a qualifying local program demonstrate to the board its ability to fully and successfully implement a qualifying local program without a full implementation of the fees set out in this part, the board may authorize the administrative establishment of a lower fee for that program provided that such reduction shall not reduce the amount of fees due to the department for its program oversight and shall not affect the fee schedules set forth herein.

A qualifying local program may establish greater fees than those base fees specified by this part should it be demonstrated to the board that such greater fees are necessary to properly administer the qualifying local program. Any fee increases established by the qualifying local program beyond those base fees established in this part shall not be subject to the fee distribution formula set out in 4VAC50-60-780. Nothing in this part shall prohibit a locality from establishing other local fees authorized by the Code of Virginia related to stormwater management within their jurisdictions.

As part of its program oversight, the department shall periodically assess the revenue generated by both the localities and the department to ensure that the fees have been appropriately set and the fees may be adjusted through periodic regulatory actions should significant deviations become apparent. The department may make such periodic adjustments in addition to the annual fee increases authorized by 4VAC50-60-840.

4VAC50-60-710. Definitions. (Repealed.)

The following words and terms used in this chapter have the following meanings:

"Permit applicant" means for the purposes of this part any person submitting a permit application for issuance, reissuance, or modification, except as exempted by 4VAC50-60-740, of a permit or filing a registration statement or permit application for coverage under a general permit issued pursuant to the Act and this chapter.

"Permit application" means for the purposes of this part the forms approved by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board for applying for issuance or reissuance of a permit or for filing a registration statement or application for coverage under a general permit issued in response to the Act and this chapter. In the case of modifications to an existing permit requested by the permit holder and not exempted by 4VAC50-60-740, the application shall consist of the formal written request and any accompanying documentation submitted by the permit holder to initiate the modification.

4VAC50-60-720. Authority.

The authority for this part is pursuant to §§ 10.1-604.4 §§ 10.1-603.4 and 10.1-603.4:1 of the Code of Virginia and enactment clause 7 governing the transfer of the relevant provisions of Fees for Permits and Certificates Regulations, 9VAC25-20, in accordance with Chapter 372 of the 2004 Virginia Acts of Assembly.

4VAC50-60-730. Applicability.

A. This part applies to:

1. All permit applicants for issuance of persons seeking coverage of a MS4 under a new permit or reissuance of an existing permit, except as specifically exempt under 4VAC50-60-740 A. The fee due shall be as specified under 4VAC50-60-800 or 4VAC50-60-820.

2. All permittees operators who request that an existing MS4 individual permit be modified, except as specifically exempt under 4VAC50-60-740 A 1 of this chapter. The fee due shall be as specified under 4VAC50-60-810.

3. All persons seeking coverage under the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater From Construction Activities or a person seeking an Individual Permit for Discharges of Stormwater From Construction Activities. The fee due shall be as specified under 4VAC50-60-820.

4. All permittees who request modifications to or transfers of their existing registration statement for coverage under a General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater From Construction Activities or of an Individual Permit for Discharges of Stormwater From Construction Activities. The fee due shall be as specified under 4VAC50-60-825 in addition to any additional fees necessary pursuant to 4VAC50-60-820 due to an increase in acreage.

B. An applicant for a permit involving a permit that is to be revoked and reissued Persons who are applicants for an individual VSMP Municipal Separate Stormwater Sewer System permit as a result of existing permit revocation shall be considered an applicant for a new permit. The fee due shall be as specified under 4VAC50-60-800.

Persons whose coverage under the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater From Construction Activities has been revoked shall reapply for an Individual Permit for Discharges of Stormwater From Construction Activities. The fee due shall be as specified under 4VAC50-60-820.

C. Permit and permit coverage maintenance fees may apply to each Virginia Stormwater Management Permit Program (VSMP) permit holder. The fee due shall be as specified under 4VAC50-60-830.

4VAC50-60-740. Exemptions.

A. No permit application fees will be assessed to:

1. Permittees who request minor modifications or minor amendments to permits as defined in 4VAC50-60-10 or other minor amendments at the discretion of the local stormwater management program.

2. Permittees whose permits are modified or amended at the initiative of the permit-issuing authority. This does not include errors in the registration statement identified by the local stormwater management program or errors related to the acreage of the site.

B. Permit modifications at the request of the permittee resulting in changes to stormwater management plans that require additional review by the local stormwater management program shall not be exempt pursuant to this section and shall be subject to fees specified under 4VAC50-60-825.

4VAC50-60-750. Due dates for Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) Permits.

A. Permit application fees for all new permit applications are due on the day a permit application is submitted and shall be Requests for a permit, permit modification, or general permit coverage shall not be processed until the fees required pursuant to this part are paid in accordance with 4VAC50-60-760. Applications will not be processed without payment of the required fee.

B. A permit application fee is due on the day a permit application is submitted for a major modification that occurs (and becomes effective) before the stated permit expiration date. There is no application fee for a major modification or amendment that is made at the permit-issuing authority's initiative.

C. Permit B. Individual permit or general permit coverage maintenance fees shall be paid annually to the permit-issuing authority by October 1 of each year department or the qualifying local program, as applicable, by the anniversary date of individual permit issuance or general permit coverage. No permit will be reissued or automatically continued without payment of the required fee. Individual permit or general permit coverage maintenance fees shall be applied until a Notice of Termination is effective.

MS4 individual operators who currently pay a permit maintenance fee that is due by October 1 of each year shall continue to pay the maintenance fee by October 1 until their current permit expires. Upon reissuance of the MS4 individual permit, maintenance fees shall be paid on the anniversary date of the reissued permit.

Effective April 1, 2005, any permit holder whose permit is effective as of April 1 of a given year (including permits that have been administratively continued) shall pay the permit maintenance fee or fees to the permit-issuing authority by October 1 of that same year.

4VAC50-60-760. Method of payment.

A. Fees, as applicable, shall be, at the discretion of the department, submitted electronically or be paid by check, draft or postal money order payable to:

the 1. The Treasurer of Virginia, for a MS4 individual or general permit or for a coverage issued by the department under the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater From Construction Activities or Individual Permit for Discharges of Stormwater From Construction Activities, to the permit-issuing authority, and must be in U.S. currency, except that agencies and institutions of the Commonwealth of Virginia may submit Interagency Transfers for the amount of the fee. To pay electronically, go to the Department of Conservation and Recreation's stormwater management section of the Department's public website at http://www.dcr.virginia.gov. The Department of Conservation and Recreation may provide a means to pay fees electronically. Fees not submitted electronically shall be sent to the following address: Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Finance, Accounts Payable, 203 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219.

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Division of Finance, Accounts Payable 203 Governor Street Richmond, VA 23219

2. The qualifying local program, for coverage authorized by the qualifying local program under the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater From Construction Activities, and must be in U.S. currency.

B. Required information . for permits or permit coverage: All applicants for new permit issuance, permit reissuance, or permit modification, unless otherwise specified by the department, shall submit the following information along with the fee payment or utilize the Department of Conservation and Recreation Permit Application Fee Form:

1. Applicant name, address and daytime phone number.

2. Applicant Federal Identification Number (FIN), if applicable.

3. The name of the facility/activity, and the facility/activity location.

4. The type of permit applied for.

5. Whether the application is for a new permit issuance, permit reissuance, permit maintenance, or permit modification.

6. The amount of fee submitted.

7. The existing permit number, if applicable.

8. Other information as required by the local stormwater management program.

4VAC50-60-770. Incomplete payments and late payments.

All incomplete payments will be deemed as nonpayments. The department or the qualifying local program, as applicable, shall provide notification to the applicant of any incomplete payments.

Interest may be charged for late payments at the underpayment rate set out by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service established pursuant to § 6621(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. This rate is prescribed set forth in § 58.1-15 of the Code of Virginia and is calculated on a monthly basis at the applicable periodic rate.

A 10% late payment fee may shall be charged to any delinquent (over 90 days past due) account.

The permit-issuing authority is department and the qualifying local program are entitled to all remedies available under the Code of Virginia in collecting any past due amount and may recover any attorney's fees and/or other administrative costs incurred in pursuing and collecting any past due amount.

4VAC50-60-780. Deposit and use of fees.

A. All fees collected by the board department or department board in response pursuant to this chapter shall be deposited into a special nonreverting fund known as the Virginia Stormwater Management Fund established by, and shall be used and accounted for as specified in § 10.1-603.4:1 of the Code of Virginia. Fees collected by the department or board shall be exempt from statewide indirect costs charged and collected by the Department of Accounts.

B. All fees collected by a qualifying local program pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to accounting review and shall be used solely to carry out the qualifying local program's responsibilities pursuant to Part II and Part III A of this chapter.

Whenever Pursuant to subdivision 5 a of § 10.1-603.4 of the Code of Virginia, whenever the board has delegated authorized the administration of a stormwater management program to by a locality or is required to do so by the Act qualifying local program, no more than 30% 28% of the total revenue generated by the statewide stormwater management fees collected within the locality in accordance with 4VAC50-60-820 shall be remitted on a monthly basis to the State Treasurer for deposit in the Virginia Stormwater Management Fund unless otherwise collected electronically. If the qualifying local program waives or reduces any fee due in accordance with 4VAC50-60-820, the qualifying local program shall remit the 28% portion that would be due to the Virginia Stormwater Management Fund if such fee were charged in full. Any fee increases established by the qualifying local program beyond the base fees established in this part shall not be subject to the fee distribution formula.

4VAC50-60-790. General.

Each permit application for a new permit each permit application for reissuance of a permit, each permit application for major modification of a permit, and each revocation and reissuance of a permit is a The fees for individual permits, general permit coverage, permit or registration statement modification, or permit transfers are considered separate action actions and shall be assessed a separate fee, as applicable. The fees for each type of permit that the permit-issuing authority has the authority to issue, reissue or modify will be as specified in this part.

4VAC50-60-800. Fee schedules for VSMP Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System new permit issuance.

The following fee schedule applies to permit applications for issuance of a new individual VSMP Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit or coverage under a MS4 General Permit. All regulated MS4s that apply for joint coverage under an individual permit or general permit registration shall each pay the appropriate fees set out below.

VSMP Municipal Stormwater / MS4 Individual (Large and Medium)	$21,300 $16,000
VSMP Municipal Stormwater / MS4 Individual (Small)	$2,000 $8,000
VSMP Municipal Stormwater / MS4 General Permit (Small)	$600 $4,000

4VAC50-60-810. Fee schedules for major modification of MS4 individual permits or certificates requested by the permitee operator.

The following fee schedules apply schedule applies to applications for major modification of an individual MS4 permit requested by the permittee:

The permit application fees listed in the table below apply to a major modification of a VSMP Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems Permit that occurs (and becomes effective) before the stated permit expiration date.

VSMP Municipal Stormwater / MS4 Individual (Large and Medium)	$10,650 $5,000
VSMP Municipal Stormwater / MS4 Individual (Small)	$1,000 $2,500

4VAC50-60-820. Fees for filing permit applications (registration statements) for general permits issued by the permit-issuing authority an individual permit or coverage under the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities.

The following fees apply to filing of permit applications (registration statements) for all general permits issued by the permit-issuing authority, except VSMP Stormwater Construction General Permits coverage under the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities issued by the department prior to a qualifying local program or a department-administered local stormwater management program being approved by the board in the area where the applicable land-disturbing activity is located, or where the department has issued an individual permit or coverage under the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities for a state or federal agency for which it has approved annual standards and specifications.

The fee for filing a permit application (registration statement) for coverage under a VSMP stormwater general permit issued by the permit-issuing authority shall be:

VSMP General / Stormwater Management - Phase I Land Clearing ("Large" Construction Activity - Sites or common plans of development equal to or greater than 5 five acres)	$500
VSMP General / Stormwater Management - Phase II Land Clearing ("Small" Construction Activity - Sites or common plans of development equal to or greater than 1 one acre and less than 5 Acres) five acres)	$300
VSMP General / Stormwater Management - Small Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites within designated areas of Chesapeake Bay Act localities with land disturbance acreage equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet and less than one acre)	$200

The following fees apply to coverage under the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities for a state or federal agency that does not file annual standards and specifications, an individual permit issued by the board or coverage under the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities issued by a qualifying local program, or a department-administered local stormwater management program that has been approved by the board. For coverage under the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities, no more than 50% of the base fee set out in this part shall be due at the time that a stormwater management plan or an initial stormwater management plan is submitted for review in accordance with 4VAC50-60-108. The remaining 50% base fee balance shall be due prior to the issuance of coverage under the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities.

When a site or sites are purchased for development within a previously permitted common plan of development or sale, the applicant shall be subject to fees in accordance with the disturbed acreage of their site or sites according to the following table.

VSMP General / Stormwater Management - Small Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites within designated areas of Chesapeake Bay Act localities with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet and less than 0.5 acre)	$290
VSMP General / Stormwater Management - Small Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Areas within common plans of development or sale with land-disturbance acreage less than one acre)	$290
VSMP General / Stormwater Management - Small Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites within designated areas of Chesapeake Bay Act localities with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than 0.5 acre and less than one acre)	$1,500
VSMP General / Stormwater Management - Small Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites or areas within common plans of development or sale with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than one acre and less than five acres)	$2,700
VSMP General / Stormwater Management - Large Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites or areas within common plans of development or sale with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than five acres and less than 10 acres)	$3,400
VSMP General / Stormwater Management - Large Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites or areas within common plans of development or sale with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than 10 acres and less than 50 acres)	$4,500
VSMP General / Stormwater Management - Large Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites or areas within common plans of development or sale with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than 50 acres and less than 100 acres)	$6,100
VSMP General / Stormwater Management - Large Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites or areas within common plans of development or sale with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than 100 acres)	$9,600
VSMP Individual Permit for Discharges of Stormwater From Construction Activities	$15,000

4VAC50-60-825. Fees for the modification or transfer of individual permits or of registration statements for the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities.

The following fees apply to modification or transfer of individual permits or of registration statements for the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities issued by a qualifying local program or a department-administered local stormwater management program that has been approved by the board. If the permit modifications result in changes to stormwater management plans that require additional review by the local stormwater management program, such reviews shall be subject to the fees set out in this section. The fee assessed shall be based on the total disturbed acreage of the site. In addition to the permit modification fee, modifications resulting in an increase in total disturbed acreage shall pay the difference in the initial permit fee paid and the permit fee that would have applied for the total disturbed acreage in 4VAC50-60-820. No modification or transfer fee shall be required until such board-approved programs exist. No modification fee shall be required for the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities for a state or federal agency that is administering a project in accordance with approved annual standards and specifications but shall apply to all other state or federal agency projects.

VSMP General / Stormwater Management – Small Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites within designated areas of Chesapeake Bay Act localities with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet and less than 0.5 acre)	$20
VSMP General / Stormwater Management – Small Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Areas within common plans of development or sale with land disturbance acreage less than one acre)	$20
VSMP General / Stormwater Management – Small Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites within designated areas of Chesapeake Bay Act localities with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than 0.5 acre and less than one acre)	$100
VSMP General / Stormwater Management – Small Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites or areas within common plans of development or sale with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than one and less than five acres)	$200
VSMP General / Stormwater Management – Large Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites or areas within common plans of development or sale with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than five acres and less than 10 acres)	$250
VSMP General / Stormwater Management – Large Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites or areas within common plans of development or sale with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than 10 acres and less than 50 acres)	$300
VSMP General / Stormwater Management – Large Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites or areas within common plans of development or sale with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than 50 acres and less than 100 acres)	$450
VSMP General / Stormwater Management – Large Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites or areas within common plans of development or sale with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than 100 acres)	$700
VSMP Individual Permit for Discharges of Stormwater From Construction Activities	$5,000

4VAC50-60-830. Permit maintenance fees.

A. The following annual permit maintenance fees apply to each VSMP permit identified below, including expired permits that have been administratively continued:. With respect to the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities, these fees shall apply until the permit coverage is terminated, and shall only be effective when assessed by a qualifying local program or a department-administered local stormwater management program that has been approved by the board. No maintenance fee shall be required for a General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities until such board approved programs exist. No maintenance fee shall be required for the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities for a state or federal agency that is administering a project in accordance with approved annual standards and specifications but shall apply to all other state or federal agency projects. All regulated MS4s who are issued joint coverage under an individual permit or general permit registration shall each pay the appropriate fees set out below:

VSMP Municipal Stormwater / MS4 Individual (Large and Medium)	$3,800 $8,800
VSMP Municipal Stormwater / MS4 Individual (Small)	$400 $6,000
VSMP Municipal Stormwater / MS4 General Permit (Small)	$4,000 $3,000
VSMP General / Stormwater Management - Phase I Land Clearing ("Large" Construction Activity - Sites or common plans of development equal to or greater than 5 acres)	$0
VSMP General / Stormwater Management - Phase II Land Clearing ("Small" Construction Activity - Sites or common plans of development equal to or greater than 1 acre and less than 5 Acres)	$0
VSMP General / Stormwater Management – Small Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites within designated areas of Chesapeake Bay Act localities with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet and less than 0.5 acre)	$50
VSMP General / Stormwater Management – Small Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Areas within common plans of development or sale with land-disturbance acreage less than one acre)	$50
VSMP General / Stormwater Management – Small Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites within designated areas of Chesapeake Bay Act localities with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than 0.5 acre and less than one acre)	$200
VSMP General / Stormwater Management – Small Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites or areas within common plans of development or sale with land-disturbance equal to or greater than one acre and less than five acres)	$400
VSMP General / Stormwater Management – Large Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites or areas within common plans of development or sale with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than five acres and less than 10 acres)	$500
VSMP General / Stormwater Management – Large Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites or areas within common plans of development or sale with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than 10 acres and less than 50 acres)	$650
VSMP General / Stormwater Management – Large Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites or areas within common plans of development or sale with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater than 50 acres and less than 100 acres)	$900
VSMP General / Stormwater Management – Large Construction Activity/Land Clearing (Sites or areas within common plans of development or sale with land-disturbance acreage equal to or greater 100 acres)	$1,400
VSMP Individual Permit for Discharges From from Construction Activities	$3,000

B. An additional permit maintenance fee of $1,000 shall be paid annually by permittees in a toxics management program. Any facility that performs acute or chronic biological testing for compliance with a limit or special condition requiring monitoring in a VPDES permit is included in the toxics management program.

4VAC50-60-840. [Reserved.] Annual increase in fees.

The fees set out in 4VAC50-60-800 through 4VAC50-60-830 shall be increased each July 1 by multiplying the fee by the percentage by which the consumer price index for all-urban consumers published by the United States Department of Labor (CPI-U) for the 12-month period ending May 31 of the preceding year exceeds the CPI-U for the 12-month period ending May 31, 2007, and the result shall be rounded to the nearest $1 increment. The fee schedule shall be posted to the department's website and distributed to each qualified local program in advance of each fiscal year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the permit fee be decreased and in no event shall any increase exceed 4.0% per annum without formal action by the board.

FORMS (4VAC50-60)

Application Form 1-General Information, Consolidated Permits Program, EPA Form 3510-1, DCR 199-149 (August 1990).

Department of Conservation and Recreation Permit Fee Form, DCR 199-145 (03/09) (9/08) (10/09).

VSMP General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities (VAR10) - Registration Statement, DCR 199-146 (03/09).

VSMP General Permit Notice of Termination - Construction Activity Stormwater Discharges (VAR10), DCR 199-147 (03/09).

VSMP General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities (VAR10) - Transfer Agreement, DCR199-191 (03/09).

VSMP General Permit Registration Statement for Stormwater Discharges From Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (VAR04), DCR 199-148 (07/08).

Title of Regulation: 4VAC50-60. Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) Permit Regulations (amending 4VAC50-60-10, 4VAC50-60-20, 4VAC50-60-30, 4VAC50-60-40; adding 4VAC50-60-45, 4VAC50-60-48, 4VAC50-60-53, 4VAC50-60-56, 4VAC50-60-63, 4VAC50-60-65, 4VAC50-60-66, 4VAC50-60-69, 4VAC50-60-72, 4VAC50-60-74, 4VAC50-60-76, 4VAC50-60-85, 4VAC50-60-92, 4VAC50-60-93, 4VAC50-60-94, 4VAC50-60-95, 4VAC50-60-96, 4VAC50-60-97, 4VAC50-60-98, 4VAC50-60-99, 4VAC50-60-102, 4VAC50-60-104, 4VAC50-60-106, 4VAC50-60-108, 4VAC50-60-112, 4VAC50-60-114, 4VAC50-60-116, 4VAC50-60-118, 4VAC50-60-122, 4VAC50-60-124, 4VAC50-60-126, 4VAC50-60-128, 4VAC50-60-132, 4VAC50-60-134, 4VAC50-60-136, 4VAC50-60-138, 4VAC50-60-142, 4VAC50-60-154, 4VAC50-60-156, 4VAC50-60-157, 4VAC50-60-158, 4VAC50-60-159; repealing 4VAC50-60-50 through 4VAC50-60-150).

Statutory Authority: §§ 10.1-603.2:1 and 10.1-603.4 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: July 1, 2010.

Agency Contact: David C. Dowling, Policy, Planning, and Budget Director, Department of Conservation and Recreation, 203 Governor Street, Suite 302, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 786-2291, FAX (804) 786-6141, or email david.dowling@dcr.virginia.gov.

Summary:

This final regulatory action amends the technical criteria applicable to stormwater discharges from construction activities; establishes minimum criteria for locality-administered stormwater management programs (qualifying local programs) and Department of Conservation and Recreation (department) administered local stormwater management programs, as well as authorization procedures and review procedures for qualifying local programs; and amends the definitions section applicable to all of the Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) regulations.

The proposed version of the regulations established consistent statewide water quality requirements that included a 0.28 lbs/acre/year phosphorus standard for new development and a requirement that total phosphorus loads be reduced to an amount at least 20% below the predevelopment phosphorus load on prior developed lands. Concerning water quantity, the proposed version specified that stormwater discharged from a site to an unstable channel must be released at or below a "forested" peak flow rate condition. No exceptions to the standard were provided. As described below, the final regulations change these technical standards and provide additional flexibility that was not present in the proposed regulations.

In the final action, with regard to technical criteria applicable to stormwater discharges from construction activities, revised water quality and water quantity requirements are included in Part II A of the regulations (existing technical criteria will now be maintained in a new Part II B that applies to grandfathered projects). These revised technical requirements in Part II A include:

1. A 0.45 lbs/acre/year phosphorus standard for new development activities statewide;

2. A requirement that total phosphorus loads be reduced to an amount at least 20% below the predevelopment phosphorus load on prior developed lands for land disturbing activities greater than or equal to an acre and 10% for redevelopment sites disturbing less than 1 acre;

3. A requirement that control measures be installed on a site to meet any applicable wasteload allocation; and

4. Water quantity requirements that include both channel protection and flood protection criteria. In the final version, stormwater that is discharged from a site to an unstable channel must be released at or below a "good pasture" peak flow rate condition unless the predeveloped condition for the site is forest, in which case, the runoff shall be held to the forested condition. Exceptions to the "good pasture" standard are provided to a land disturbing activity that is less than five acres on prior developed lands; or less than one acre for new development. Under the exceptions, the sites are expected to improve upon the predeveloped runoff condition.

The final regulations also provide five offsite options organized in a new section that may be utilized as specified in the regulation for a developer to achieve the required onsite water quality and, where allowed, water quantity requirements (the proposed regulations only contained three options). One of the new provisions includes a state buy-down option that would be available in the future should a standard more stringent than 0.45 lbs/acre/year phosphorus be established for projects occurring within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

The proposed regulations did not contain grandfathering provisions. The final regulations contain a new section on grandfathering that specifies that if the operator of a project has met the three listed local vesting criteria related to significant affirmative governmental acts and has received general permit coverage by July 1, 2010, then the project is grandfathered under today's water quality and quantity technical standards (Part II B) until June 30, 2014. If permit coverage is maintained by the operator, then the project will remain grandfathered until June 30, 2019. It also notes that past June 30, 2019, or if a project's general permit coverage is not maintained, portions of the project not yet completed shall become subject to the new technical criteria set out in Part II A. The grandfathering provisions also contain criteria for the grandfathering of state agency projects for which state or federal funding has been approved as of July 1, 2010, and finally, criteria for grandfathering projects that governmental bonding or public debt financing has been issued prior to July 1, 2010.

This final action establishes the minimum criteria and ordinance requirements (where applicable) for a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board (board) authorized qualifying local program (Part III A) or for a board-authorized department-administered local stormwater management program (Part III B) which include, but are not limited to, administration, plan review, issuance of coverage under the General Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities, inspection, enforcement, reporting, and recordkeeping. Part III D establishes the procedures the board will utilize in authorizing a locality to administer a qualifying local program. Part III C establishes the criteria the department will utilize in reviewing a locality's administration of a qualifying local program.

The primary issue in Part III that changed between the proposed and final regulations is that in the final regulations language was added that specified that stormwater management facilities designed to treat stormwater runoff primarily from an individual residential lot, at the qualifying program's discretion, are not subject to the locality inspection requirements (once every five years), homeowner inspection requirements, maintenance agreement requirements, or construction record drawing requirements. Instead, a qualifying local program is authorized to develop a strategy for addressing maintenance of stormwater management facilities located on and primarily designed to treat stormwater runoff from an individual residential lot. Such a strategy may include periodic inspections, public outreach and education, or other method targeted at promoting the long-term maintenance of such facilities.

Finally, this action changes definitions in Part I, which is applicable to the full body of the VSMP regulations. Unnecessary definitions are deleted, needed definitions are added, and many existing definitions are updated. In the final action, several additional definitions are added and other minor refinements address comments received.

Summary of Public Comments and Agency's Response: A summary of comments made by the public and the agency's response may be obtained from the promulgating agency or viewed at the office of the Registrar of Regulations.

Part I
Definitions, Purpose, and Applicability

4VAC50-60-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms used in this chapter have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

"Act" means the Virginia Stormwater Management Act, Article 1.1 (§ 10.1-603.1 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 10.1 of the Code of Virginia.

"Adequate channel" means a channel watercourse or wetland that will convey the designated frequency storm event without overtopping the channel bank nor its banks or causing erosive damage to the channel bed or, banks, or overbank sections of the same. A wetland may be considered an adequate channel provided the discharge from the designated frequency storm event does not cause erosion in the wetland.

"Administrator" means the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency or an authorized representative.

"Applicable standards and limitations" means all state, interstate, and federal standards and limitations to which a discharge or a related activity is subject under the Clean Water Act (CWA) (33 USC § 1251 et seq.) and the Act, including effluent limitations, water quality standards, standards of performance, toxic effluent standards or prohibitions, best management practices, and standards for sewage sludge use or disposal under §§ 301, 302, 303, 304, 306, 307, 308, 403 and 405 of CWA.

"Approval authority" means the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board or their its designee.

"Approved program" or "approved state" means a state or interstate program that has been approved or authorized by EPA under 40 CFR Part 123 (2000).

"Aquatic bench" means a 10- to 15-foot wide bench around the inside perimeter of a permanent pool that ranges in depth from zero to 12 inches. Vegetated with emergent plants, the bench augments pollutant removal, provides habitats, conceals trash and water level fluctuations, and enhances safety.

"Average land cover condition" means a measure of the average amount of impervious surfaces within a watershed, assumed to be 16%. Note that a locality may opt to calculate actual watershed-specific values for the average land cover condition based upon 4VAC50-60-110.

"Average monthly discharge limitation" means the highest allowable average of daily discharges over a calendar month, calculated as the sum of all daily discharges measured during a calendar month divided by the number of daily discharges measured during that month.

"Average weekly discharge limitation" means the highest allowable average of daily discharges over a calendar week, calculated as the sum of all daily discharges measured during a calendar week divided by the number of daily discharges measured during that week.

"Best management practice (BMP)" or "BMP" means schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, including both structural and nonstructural practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the pollution of surface waters and groundwater systems from the impacts of land-disturbing activities.

"Bioretention basin" means a water quality BMP engineered to filter the water quality volume through an engineered planting bed, consisting of a vegetated surface layer (vegetation, mulch, ground cover), planting soil, and sand bed, and into the in-situ material.

"Bioretention filter" means a bioretention basin with the addition of a sand filter collector pipe system beneath the planting bed.

"Board" means the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board.

"Bypass" means the intentional diversion of waste streams from any portion of a treatment facility.

"Channel" means a natural stream or manmade waterway watercourse with defined bed and banks that conducts continuously or periodically flowing water.

"Chesapeake Bay watershed" means all land areas draining to the following Virginia river basins: Potomac River Basin, James River Basin, Rappahannock River Basin, Chesapeake Bay and small coastal basins, and York River Basin.

"Common plan of development or sale" means a contiguous area where separate and distinct construction activities may be taking place at different times on different schedules.

"Constructed wetlands" means areas intentionally designed and created to emulate the water quality improvement function of wetlands for the primary purpose of removing pollutants from stormwater.

"Comprehensive stormwater management plan" means a plan, which may be integrated with other land use plans or regulations, that specifies how the water quality and components, quantity components, or both of stormwater are to be managed on the basis of an entire watershed or a portion thereof. The plan may also provide for the remediation of erosion, flooding, and water quality and quantity problems caused by prior development.

"Construction activity" means any clearing, grading or excavation associated with large construction activity or associated with small construction activity.

"Contiguous zone" means the entire zone established by the United States under Article 24 of the Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone (37 FR 11906 June 15, 1972).

"Continuous discharge" means a discharge which occurs without interruption throughout the operating hours of the facility, except for infrequent shutdowns for maintenance, process changes, or other similar activities.

"Control measure" means any BMP, stormwater facility, or other method used to minimize the discharge of pollutants to state waters.

"Co-operator" means an operator to of a VSMP permit that is only responsible for permit conditions relating to the discharge for which it is the operator.

"Clean Water Act" or "CWA" means the federal Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1251 et seq.), formerly referred to as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act or Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, Public Law 92-500, as amended by Public Law 95-217, Public Law 95-576, Public Law 96-483, and Public Law 97-117, or any subsequent revisions thereto.

"CWA and regulations" means the Clean Water Act (CWA) and applicable regulations published in the Code of Federal Regulations promulgated thereunder. For the purposes of this chapter, it includes state program requirements.

"Daily discharge" means the discharge of a pollutant measured during a calendar day or any 24-hour period that reasonably represents the calendar day for purposes of sampling. For pollutants with limitations expressed in units of mass, the daily discharge is calculated as the total mass of the pollutant discharged over the day. For pollutants with limitations expressed in other units of measurement, the daily discharge is calculated as the average measurement of the pollutant over the day.

"Department" means the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

"Development" means a tract of land developed or to be developed as a unit under single ownership or unified control which is to be used for any business or industrial purpose or is to contain three or more residential dwelling units land disturbance and the resulting landform associated with the construction of residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, recreation, transportation, or utility facilities or structures or the clearing of land for nonagricultural or nonsilvicultural purposes.

"Direct discharge" means the discharge of a pollutant.

"Director" means the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation or his designee.

"Discharge," when used without qualification, means the discharge of a pollutant.

"Discharge of a pollutant" means:

1. Any addition of any pollutant or combination of pollutants to state waters from any point source; or

2. Any addition of any pollutant or combination of pollutants to the waters of the contiguous zone or the ocean from any point source other than a vessel or other floating craft which is being used as a means of transportation.

This definition includes additions of pollutants into surface waters from: surface runoff that is collected or channeled by man; discharges through pipes, sewers, or other conveyances owned by a state, municipality, or other person that do not lead to a treatment works; and discharges through pipes, sewers, or other conveyances, leading into privately owned treatment works. This term does not include an addition of pollutants by any indirect discharger.

"Discharge Monitoring Report" or "DMR" means the form supplied by the department, or an equivalent form developed by the operator and approved by the board, for the reporting of self-monitoring results by operators.

"Draft permit" means a document indicating the board's tentative decision to issue or deny, modify, revoke and reissue, terminate, or reissue a permit. A notice of intent to terminate a permit, and a notice of intent to deny a permit are types of draft permits. A denial of a request for modification, revocation and reissuance, or termination is not a draft permit. A proposed permit is not a draft permit.

"Drainage area" means a land and area, water area on a land-disturbing site, or both from which runoff flows to a common outlet point.

"Effluent limitation" means any restriction imposed by the board on quantities, discharge rates, and concentrations of pollutants which are discharged from point sources into surface waters, the waters of the contiguous zone, or the ocean.

"Effluent limitations guidelines" means a regulation published by the administrator under § 304(b) of the CWA to adopt or revise effluent limitations.

"Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)" or "EPA" means the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

"Existing permit" means for the purposes of this chapter a permit issued by the permit-issuing authority and currently held by a permit applicant.

"Existing source" means any source that is not a new source or a new discharger.

"Facilities or equipment" means buildings, structures, process or production equipment or machinery that form a permanent part of a new source and that will be used in its operation, if these facilities or equipment are of such value as to represent a substantial commitment to construct. It excludes facilities or equipment used in connection with feasibility, engineering, and design studies regarding the new source or water pollution treatment for the new source.

"Facility or activity" means any VSMP point source or treatment works treating domestic sewage or any other facility or activity (including land or appurtenances thereto) that is subject to regulation under the VSMP program.

"Flood fringe" is the portion of the floodplain outside the floodway, usually associated with standing rather than flowing water, which is covered by floodwater during the 100-year discharge [ that is covered with water from the 100-year storm event ].

"Flooding" means a volume of water that is too great to be confined within the banks or walls of the stream, water body or conveyance system and that overflows onto adjacent lands, thereby causing or threatening damage.

"Floodplain" means any land area adjoining a channel, river, stream, or other water body that is susceptible to being inundated by water. It includes the floodway and flood fringe areas [ associated with the 100-year storm event ].

"Floodway" means the channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas, usually associated with flowing water, that must be reserved in order to discharge the [ base flood 100-year storm event ] without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than one foot or as otherwise designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"General permit" means a VSMP permit authorizing a category of discharges under the CWA and the Act within a geographical area of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"Grassed swale" means an earthen conveyance system which is broad and shallow with erosion resistant grasses and check dams, engineered to remove pollutants from stormwater runoff by filtration through grass and infiltration into the soil.

"Hazardous substance" means any substance designated under the Code of Virginia or 40 CFR Part 116 (2000) pursuant to § 311 of the CWA.

"Hydrologic Unit Code" or "HUC" means a watershed unit established in the most recent version of Virginia's 6th Order National Watershed Boundary Dataset.

"Illicit discharge" means any discharge to a municipal separate storm sewer that is not composed entirely of stormwater, except discharges pursuant to a VPDES or VSMP permit (other than the VSMP permit for discharges from the municipal separate storm sewer), discharges resulting from fire fighting activities, and discharges identified by and in compliance with 4VAC50-60-1220 C 2.

"Impervious cover" means a surface composed of any material that significantly impedes or prevents natural infiltration of water into soil. Impervious surfaces include, but are not limited to, conventional roofs, buildings, streets, parking areas, and any conventional concrete, asphalt, or compacted gravel surface that is or may become compacted.

"Incorporated place" means a city, town, township, or village that is incorporated under the Code of Virginia.

"Indian country" means (i) all land within the limits of any Indian reservation under the jurisdiction of the United States government, notwithstanding the issuance of any patent, and including rights-of-way running through the reservation; (ii) all dependent Indian communities with the borders of the United States whether within the originally or subsequently acquired territory thereof, and whether within or without the limits of a state; and (iii) all Indian allotments, the Indian titles to which have not been extinguished, including rights-of-way running through the same.

"Indirect discharger" means a nondomestic discharger introducing "pollutants" to a "publicly owned treatment works (POTW)."

"Infiltration facility" means a stormwater management facility that temporarily impounds runoff and discharges it via infiltration through the surrounding soil. While an infiltration facility may also be equipped with an outlet structure to discharge impounded runoff, such discharge is normally reserved for overflow and other emergency conditions. Since an infiltration facility impounds runoff only temporarily, it is normally dry during nonrainfall periods. Infiltration basin, infiltration trench, infiltration dry well, and porous pavement shall be considered infiltration facilities.

"Inspection" means an on-site review of the project's compliance with the permit, the local stormwater management program, and any applicable design criteria, or an on-site review to obtain information or conduct surveys or investigations necessary in the enforcement of the Act and this chapter.

"Interstate agency" means an agency of two or more states established by or under an agreement or compact approved by Congress, or any other agency of two or more states having substantial powers or duties pertaining to the control of pollution as determined and approved by the administrator under the CWA and regulations.

"Karst area" means any land area predominantly underlain at the surface or shallow subsurface by limestone, dolomite, or other soluble bedrock regardless of any obvious surface karst features.

"Karst features" means sinkholes, sinking and losing streams, caves, large flow springs, and other such landscape features found in karst areas.

"Land disturbance" or "land-disturbing activity" means a manmade change to the land surface that potentially changes its runoff characteristics including any clearing, grading, or excavation associated with a construction activity regulated pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act CWA, the Act, and this chapter.

"Large construction activity" means construction activity including clearing, grading and excavation, except operations that result in the disturbance of less than five acres of total land area. Large construction activity also includes the disturbance of less than five acres of total land area that is a part of a larger common plan of development or sale if the larger common plan will ultimately disturb five acres or more.

"Large municipal separate storm sewer system" means all municipal separate storm sewers that are either:

1. Located in an incorporated place with a population of 250,000 or more as determined by the 1990 decennial census by the Bureau of Census (40 CFR Part 122 Appendix F (2000));

2. Located in the counties listed in 40 CFR Part 122 Appendix H (2000), except municipal separate storm sewers that are located in the incorporated places, townships or towns within such counties;

3. Owned or operated by a municipality other than those described in subdivision 1 or 2 of this definition and that are designated by the board as part of the large or medium municipal separate storm sewer system due to the interrelationship between the discharges of the designated storm sewer and the discharges from municipal separate storm sewers described under subdivision 1 or 2 of this definition. In making this determination the board may consider the following factors:

a. Physical interconnections between the municipal separate storm sewers;

b. The location of discharges from the designated municipal separate storm sewer relative to discharges from municipal separate storm sewers described in subdivision 1 of this definition;

c. The quantity and nature of pollutants discharged to surface waters;

d. The nature of the receiving surface waters; and

e. Other relevant factors.

4. The board may, upon petition, designate as a large municipal separate storm sewer system, municipal separate storm sewers located within the boundaries of a region defined by a stormwater management regional authority based on a jurisdictional, watershed, or other appropriate basis that includes one or more of the systems described in this definition.

"Linear development project" means a land-disturbing activity that is linear in nature such as, but not limited to, (i) the construction of electric and telephone utility lines, and natural gas pipelines; (ii) construction of tracks, rights-of-way, bridges, communication facilities and other related structures of a railroad company; (iii) highway construction projects and; (iv) construction of stormwater channels and stream restoration activities; and (v) water and sewer lines. Private subdivision roads or streets shall not be considered linear development projects.

"Local stormwater management program" or "local program" means a statement of the various methods employed by a locality or the department to manage the quality and quantity of runoff resulting from land-disturbing activities and shall include such items as local ordinances, permit requirements, policies and guidelines, technical materials, plan review, inspection, enforcement, and evaluation consistent with the Act and this chapter. The ordinance shall include provisions to require the control of after-development stormwater runoff rate of flow, the proper maintenance of stormwater management facilities, and minimum administrative procedures.

"Locality" means a county, city, or town.

"Major facility" means any VSMP facility or activity classified as such by the regional administrator in conjunction with the board.

"Major modification" means, for the purposes of this chapter, the modification or amendment of an existing permit before its expiration that is not a minor modification as defined in this regulation.

"Major municipal separate storm sewer outfall (or major outfall)" or "major outfall" means a municipal separate storm sewer outfall that discharges from a single pipe with an inside diameter of 36 inches or more or its equivalent (discharge from a single conveyance other than circular pipe which is associated with a drainage area of more than 50 acres); or for municipal separate storm sewers that receive stormwater from lands zoned for industrial activity (based on comprehensive zoning plans or the equivalent), with an outfall that discharges from a single pipe with an inside diameter of 12 inches or more or from its equivalent (discharge from other than a circular pipe associated with a drainage area of two acres or more).

"Manmade" means constructed by man.

"Manmade stormwater conveyance system" means a pipe, ditch, vegetated swale, or other conveyance constructed by man.

"Maximum daily discharge limitation" means the highest allowable daily discharge.

"Maximum extent practicable" or "MEP" means the technology-based discharge standard for municipal separate storm sewer systems established by CWA § 402(p). MEP is achieved, in part, by selecting and implementing effective structural and nonstructural best management practices (BMPs) and rejecting ineffective BMPs and replacing them with effective best management practices (BMPs). MEP is an iterative standard, which evolves over time as urban runoff management knowledge increases. As such, the operator's MS4 program must continually be assessed and modified to incorporate improved programs, control measures, BMPs, etc., to attain compliance with water quality standards.

"Medium municipal separate storm sewer system" means all municipal separate storm sewers that are either:

1. Located in an incorporated place with a population of 100,000 or more but less than 250,000 as determined by the 1990 decennial census by the Bureau of Census (40 CFR Part 122 Appendix G (2000));

2. Located in the counties listed in 40 CFR Part 122 Appendix I (2000), except municipal separate storm sewers that are located in the incorporated places, townships or towns within such counties;

3. Owned or operated by a municipality other than those described in subdivision 1 or 2 of this definition and that are designated by the board as part of the large or medium municipal separate storm sewer system due to the interrelationship between the discharges of the designated storm sewer and the discharges from municipal separate storm sewers described under subdivision 1 or 2 of this definition. In making this determination the board may consider the following factors:

a. Physical interconnections between the municipal separate storm sewers;

b. The location of discharges from the designated municipal separate storm sewer relative to discharges from municipal separate storm sewers described in subdivision 1 of this definition;

c. The quantity and nature of pollutants discharged to surface waters;

d. The nature of the receiving surface waters; or

e. Other relevant factors.

4. The board may, upon petition, designate as a medium municipal separate storm sewer system, municipal separate storm sewers located within the boundaries of a region defined by a stormwater management regional authority based on a jurisdictional, watershed, or other appropriate basis that includes one or more of the systems described in subdivisions 1, 2 and 3 of this definition.

"Minor modification" means, for the purposes of this chapter, minor modification or amendment of an existing permit before its expiration for the reasons listed at 40 CFR 122.63 and as specified in 4VAC50-60-640. Minor modification for the purposes of this chapter also means other modifications and amendments not requiring extensive review and evaluation including, but not limited to, changes in EPA promulgated test protocols, increasing monitoring frequency requirements, changes in sampling locations, and changes to compliance dates within the overall compliance schedules. A minor permit modification or amendment does not substantially alter permit conditions, substantially increase or decrease the amount of surface water impacts, increase the size of the operation, or reduce the capacity of the facility to protect human health or the environment.

"Municipal separate storm sewer" means a conveyance or system of conveyances otherwise known as a municipal separate storm sewer system, including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, manmade channels, or storm drains:

1. Owned or operated by a federal, state, city, town, county, district, association, or other public body, created by or pursuant to state law, having jurisdiction or delegated authority for erosion and sediment control and stormwater management, or a designated and approved management agency under § 208 of the CWA that discharges to surface waters;

2. Designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater;

3. That is not a combined sewer; and

4. That is not part of a publicly owned treatment works.

"Municipal separate storm sewer system" or "MS4" means all separate storm sewers that are defined as "large" or "medium" or "small" municipal separate storm sewer systems or designated under 4VAC50-60-380 A 1.

"Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Management Program" or "MS4 Program" means a management program covering the duration of a permit for a municipal separate storm sewer system that includes a comprehensive planning process that involves public participation and intergovernmental coordination, to reduce the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable, to protect water quality, and to satisfy the appropriate water quality requirements of the CWA and regulations and the Virginia Stormwater Management Act and attendant regulations, using management practices, control techniques, and system, design and engineering methods, and such other provisions that are appropriate.

"Municipality" means a city, town, county, district, association, or other public body created by or under state law and having jurisdiction over disposal of sewage, industrial wastes, or other wastes, or an Indian tribe or an authorized Indian tribal organization, or a designated and approved management agency under § 208 of the CWA.

"National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)" or "NPDES" means the national program for issuing, modifying, revoking and reissuing, terminating, monitoring and enforcing permits, and imposing and enforcing pretreatment requirements under §§ 307, 402, 318, and 405 of the CWA. The term includes an approved program.

"Natural channel design concepts" means the utilization of engineering analysis and fluvial geomorphic processes to create, rehabilitate, restore, or stabilize an open conveyance system for the purpose of creating or recreating a stream that conveys its bankfull storm event within its banks and allows larger flows to access its floodplain.

"Natural stormwater conveyance system" means the main channel of a natural stream, in combination with the floodway and flood fringe, which compose the floodplain.

"Natural stream" means a tidal or nontidal watercourse that is part of the natural topography. It usually maintains a continuous or seasonal flow during the year and is characterized as being irregular in cross-section with a meandering course. Constructed channels such as drainage ditches or swales shall not be considered natural streams ; however, channels designed utilizing natural channel design concepts may be considered natural streams.

"New discharger" means any building, structure, facility, or installation:

1. From which there is or may be a discharge of pollutants;

2. That did not commence the discharge of pollutants at a particular site prior to August 13, 1979;

3. Which is not a new source; and

4. Which has never received a finally effective VPDES or VSMP permit for discharges at that site.

This definition includes an indirect discharger that commences discharging into surface waters after August 13, 1979. It also includes any existing mobile point source (other than an offshore or coastal oil and gas exploratory drilling rig or a coastal oil and gas developmental drilling rig) such as a seafood processing rig, seafood processing vessel, or aggregate plant, that begins discharging at a site for which it does not have a permit; and any offshore or coastal mobile oil and gas exploratory drilling rig or coastal mobile oil and gas developmental drilling rig that commences the discharge of pollutants after August 13, 1979.

"New permit" means, for the purposes of this chapter, a permit issued by the permit-issuing authority to a permit applicant that does not currently hold and has never held a permit of that type, for that activity, at that location.

"New source," means any building, structure, facility, or installation from which there is or may be a discharge of pollutants, the construction of which commenced:

1. After promulgation of standards of performance under § 306 of the CWA that are applicable to such source; or

2. After proposal of standards of performance in accordance with § 306 of the CWA that are applicable to such source, but only if the standards are promulgated in accordance with § 306 of the CWA within 120 days of their proposal.

"Nonpoint source pollution" means pollution such as sediment, nitrogen and phosphorous, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and toxics whose sources cannot be pinpointed but rather are washed from the land surface in a diffuse manner by stormwater runoff.

"Nonpoint source pollutant runoff load" or "pollutant discharge" means the average amount of a particular pollutant measured in pounds per year, delivered in a diffuse manner by stormwater runoff.

"Operator" means the owner or operator of any facility or activity subject to the VSMP permit regulation. In the context of stormwater associated with a large or small construction activity, operator means any person associated with a construction project that meets either of the following two criteria: (i) the person has direct operational control over construction plans and specifications, including the ability to make modifications to those plans and specifications or (ii) the person has day-to-day operational control of those activities at a project that are necessary to ensure compliance with a stormwater pollution prevention plan for the site or other permit conditions (i.e., they are authorized to direct workers at a site to carry out activities required by the stormwater pollution prevention plan or comply with other permit conditions). In the context of stormwater discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s), operator means the operator of the regulated MS4 system.

"Outfall" means, when used in reference to municipal separate storm sewers, a point source at the point where a municipal separate storm sewer discharges to surface waters and does not include open conveyances connecting two municipal separate storm sewers, or pipes, tunnels or other conveyances which connect segments of the same stream or other surface waters and are used to convey surface waters.

"Overburden" means any material of any nature, consolidated or unconsolidated, that overlies a mineral deposit, excluding topsoil or similar naturally occurring surface materials that are not disturbed by mining operations.

"Owner" means the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions including, but not limited to, sanitation district commissions and authorities, and any public or private institution, corporation, association, firm or company organized or existing under the laws of this or any other state or country, or any officer or agency of the United States, or any person or group of persons acting individually or as a group that owns, operates, charters, rents, or otherwise exercises control over or is responsible for any actual or potential discharge of sewage, industrial wastes, or other wastes or pollutants to state waters, or any facility or operation that has the capability to alter the physical, chemical, or biological properties of state waters in contravention of § 62.1-44.5 of the Code of Virginia, the Act and this chapter.

"Peak flow rate" means the maximum instantaneous flow from a prescribed design storm at a particular location.

"Percent impervious" means the impervious area within the site divided by the area of the site multiplied by 100.

"Permit" means an approval issued by the permit-issuing authority for the initiation of a land-disturbing activity or for stormwater discharges from an MS4. Permit does not include any permit that has not yet been the subject of final permit-issuing authority action, such as a draft permit or a proposed permit.

"Permit-issuing authority" means the board, the department, or a locality that is delegated authority by the board to issue, deny, revoke, terminate, or amend stormwater permits under the provisions of the Act and this chapter with a qualifying local program.

"Permittee" means the person or locality to which the permit is issued, including any owner or operator whose construction site is covered under a construction general permit.

"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, association, state, municipality, commission, or political subdivision of a state, governmental body (including but not limited to a federal, state, or local entity), any interstate body or any other legal entity.

"Planning area" means a designated portion of the parcel on which the land development project is located. Planning areas shall be established by delineation on a master plan. Once established, planning areas shall be applied consistently for all future projects.

"Point of discharge" means a location at which concentrated stormwater runoff is released.

"Point source" means any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance including, but not limited to, any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, concentrated animal feeding operation, landfill leachate collection system, vessel, or other floating craft from which pollutants are or may be discharged. This term does not include return flows from irrigated agriculture or agricultural stormwater runoff.

"Pollutant" means dredged spoil, solid waste, incinerator residue, filter backwash, sewage, garbage, sewage sludge, munitions, chemical wastes, biological materials, radioactive materials (except those regulated under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 USC § 2011 et seq.)), heat, wrecked or discarded equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt and industrial, municipal, and agricultural waste discharged into water. It does not mean:

1. Sewage from vessels; or

2. Water, gas, or other material that is injected into a well to facilitate production of oil or gas, or water derived in association with oil and gas production and disposed of in a well if the well used either to facilitate production or for disposal purposes is approved by the board and if the board determines that the injection or disposal will not result in the degradation of ground or surface water resources.

"Pollutant discharge" means the average amount of a particular pollutant measured in pounds per year or other standard reportable unit as appropriate, delivered in a diffuse manner by stormwater runoff.

"Pollution" means such alteration of the physical, chemical or biological properties of any state waters as will or is likely to create a nuisance or render such waters (a) harmful or detrimental or injurious to the public health, safety or welfare, or to the health of animals, fish or aquatic life; (b) unsuitable with reasonable treatment for use as present or possible future sources of public water supply; or (c) unsuitable for recreational, commercial, industrial, agricultural, or other reasonable uses, provided that (i) an alteration of the physical, chemical, or biological property of state waters, or a discharge or deposit of sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes to state waters by any owner which by itself is not sufficient to cause pollution, but which, in combination with such alteration of or discharge or deposit to state waters by other owners, is sufficient to cause pollution; (ii) the discharge of untreated sewage by any owner into state waters; and (iii) contributing to the contravention of standards of water quality duly established by the State Water Control Board, are "pollution" for the terms and purposes of this chapter.

"Post-development" "Postdevelopment" refers to conditions that reasonably may be expected or anticipated to exist after completion of the land development activity on a specific site or tract of land.

"Pre-development" "Predevelopment" refers to the conditions that exist at the time that plans for the land development of a tract of land are approved by submitted to the plan approval authority. Where phased development or plan approval occurs (preliminary grading, demolition of existing structures, roads and utilities, etc.), the existing conditions at the time prior to the first item being approved or permitted submitted shall establish pre-development predevelopment conditions.

"Prior developed lands" means land that has been previously utilized for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, recreation, transportation or utility facilities or structures, and that will have the impervious areas associated with those uses altered during a land-disturbing activity.

"Privately owned treatment works (PVOTW)" or "PVOTW" means any device or system that is (i) used to treat wastes from any facility whose operator is not the operator of the treatment works and (ii) not a POTW.

"Proposed permit" means a VSMP permit prepared after the close of the public comment period (and, when applicable, any public hearing and administrative appeals) that is sent to EPA for review before final issuance. A proposed permit is not a draft permit.

"Publicly owned treatment works (POTW)" or "POTW" means a treatment works as defined by § 212 of the CWA that is owned by a state or municipality (as defined by § 502(4) of the CWA). This definition includes any devices and systems used in the storage, treatment, recycling, and reclamation of municipal sewage or industrial wastes of a liquid nature. It also includes sewers, pipes, and other conveyances only if they convey wastewater to a POTW treatment plant. The term also means the municipality as defined in § 502(4) of the CWA, that has jurisdiction over the indirect discharges to and the discharges from such a treatment works.

"Qualified personnel" means a licensed professional engineer, responsible land disturber, or other person who holds a certificate of competency from the board in the area of project inspection or combined administrator.

"Qualifying local stormwater management program" or "qualifying local program" means a local program that is administered by a locality that has been authorized by the board to issue coverage under the VSMP General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities (4VAC50-60-1170).

"Recommencing discharger" means a source that recommences discharge after terminating operations.

"Regional administrator" means the Regional Administrator of Region III of the Environmental Protection Agency or the authorized representative of the regional administrator.

"Regional (watershed-wide) stormwater management facility" or "regional facility" means a facility or series of facilities designed to control stormwater runoff from a specific watershed, although only portions of the watershed may experience land development.

"Regional (watershed-wide) stormwater management plan" or "regional plan" means a document containing material describing how runoff from open space, existing development and future planned development areas within a watershed will be controlled by coordinated design and implementation of regional stormwater management facilities.

"Restored stormwater conveyance system" means a stormwater conveyance system that has been designed and constructed using natural channel design concepts, including the main channel, floodway, and flood fringe.

"Revoked permit" means, for the purposes of this chapter, an existing permit that is terminated by the board before its expiration.

"Runoff coefficient" means the fraction of total rainfall that will appear at a conveyance as runoff.

"Runoff" or "stormwater runoff" means that portion of precipitation that is discharged across the land surface or through conveyances to one or more waterways.

"Sand filter" means a contained bed of sand that acts to filter the first flush of runoff. The runoff is then collected beneath the sand bed and conveyed to an adequate discharge point or infiltrated into the in-situ soils.

"Runoff characteristics" include , but are not limited to, velocity, peak flow rate, volume, time of concentration, and flow duration, and their influence on channel morphology including sinuosity, channel cross-sectional area, and channel slope.

"Runoff volume" means the volume of water that runs off the site of a land-disturbing activity from a prescribed design storm.

"Schedule of compliance" means a schedule of remedial measures included in a permit, including an enforceable sequence of interim requirements (for example, actions, operations, or milestone events) leading to compliance with the Act, the CWA and regulations.

"Secretary" means the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers.

"Severe property damage" means substantial physical damage to property, damage to the treatment facilities that causes them to become inoperable, or substantial and permanent loss of natural resources that 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.

"Shallow marsh" means a zone within a stormwater extended detention basin that exists from the surface of the normal pool to a depth of six to 18 inches, and has a large surface area and, therefore, requires a reliable source of baseflow, groundwater supply, or a sizeable drainage area, to maintain the desired water surface elevations to support emergent vegetation.

"Significant materials" means, but is not limited to: raw materials; fuels; materials such as solvents, detergents, and plastic pellets; finished materials such as metallic products; raw materials used in food processing or production; hazardous substances designated under § 101(14) of CERCLA (42 USC § 9601(14)); any chemical the facility is required to report pursuant to § 313 of Title III of SARA (42 USC § 11023); fertilizers; pesticides; and waste products such as ashes, slag and sludge that have the potential to be released with stormwater discharges.

"Single jurisdiction" means, for the purposes of this chapter, a single county or city. The term county includes incorporated towns which are part of the county.

"Site" means the land or water area where any facility or activity is physically located or conducted, a parcel of land being developed, or a designated planning area of a parcel in which the land development project is located. Areas channelward of mean low water in tidal Virginia shall not be considered part of a site.

"Site hydrology" means the movement of water on, across, through and off the site as determined by parameters including, but not limited to, soil types, soil permeability, vegetative cover, seasonal water tables, slopes, land cover, and impervious cover.

"Small construction activity" means:

1. Construction activities including clearing, grading, and excavating that results in land disturbance of equal to or greater than one acre, or equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet in all areas of the jurisdictions designated as subject to the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Designation and Management Regulations adopted pursuant to the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, and less than five acres. Small construction activity also includes the disturbance of less than one acre of total land area that is part of a larger common plan of development or sale if the larger common plan will ultimately disturb equal to or greater than one and less than five acres. Small construction activity does not include routine maintenance that is performed to maintain the original line and grade, hydraulic capacity, or original purpose of the facility. The board may waive the otherwise applicable requirements in a general permit for a stormwater discharge from construction activities that disturb less than five acres where stormwater controls are not needed based on a "total maximum daily load" (TMDL) approved or established by EPA that addresses the pollutant(s) of concern or, for nonimpaired waters that do not require TMDLs, an equivalent analysis that determines allocations for small construction sites for the pollutant(s) of concern or that determines that such allocations are not needed to protect water quality based on consideration of existing in-stream concentrations, expected growth in pollutant contributions from all sources, and a margin of safety. For the purpose of this subdivision, the pollutant(s) of concern include sediment or a parameter that addresses sediment (such as total suspended solids, turbidity or siltation) and any other pollutant that has been identified as a cause of impairment of any water body that will receive a discharge from the construction activity. The operator must certify to the board that the construction activity will take place, and stormwater discharges will occur, within the drainage area addressed by the TMDL or equivalent analysis.

2. Any other construction activity designated by the either the board or the EPA regional administrator, based on the potential for contribution to a violation of a water quality standard or for significant contribution of pollutants to surface waters.

"Small municipal separate storm sewer system" or "small MS4" means all separate storm sewers that are (i) owned or operated by the United States, a state, city, town, borough, county, parish, district, association, or other public body (created by or pursuant to state law) having jurisdiction over disposal of sewage, industrial wastes, stormwater, or other wastes, including special districts under state law such as a sewer district, flood control district or drainage district, or similar entity, or an Indian tribe or an authorized Indian tribal organization, or a designated and approved management agency under § 208 of the CWA that discharges to surface waters and (ii) not defined as "large" or "medium" municipal separate storm sewer systems or designated under 4VAC50-60-380 A 1. This term includes systems similar to separate storm sewer systems in municipalities, such as systems at military bases, large hospital or prison complexes, and highway and other thoroughfares. The term does not include separate storm sewers in very discrete areas, such as individual buildings.

"Source" means any building, structure, facility, or installation from which there is or may be a discharge of pollutants.

"Stable" means, in the context of channels, a channel that has developed an established dimension, pattern, and profile such that over time, these features are maintained.

"State" means the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"State/EPA agreement" means an agreement between the regional administrator and the state that coordinates EPA and state activities, responsibilities and programs including those under the CWA and the Act.

"State project" means any land development project that is undertaken by any state agency, board, commission, authority or any branch of state government, including state-supported institutions of higher learning.

"State Water Control Law" means Chapter 3.1 (§ 62.1-44.2 et seq.) of Title 62.1 of the Code of Virginia.

"State waters" means all water, on the surface and under the ground, wholly or partially within or bordering the Commonwealth or within its jurisdiction, including wetlands.

"Stormwater" means precipitation that is discharged across the land surface or through conveyances to one or more waterways and that may include stormwater runoff, snow melt runoff, and surface runoff and drainage.

"Stormwater conveyance system" means any of the following, either within or downstream of the land-disturbing activity: (i) a manmade stormwater conveyance system, (ii) a natural stormwater conveyance system, or (iii) a restored stormwater conveyance system.

"Stormwater detention basin" or "detention basin" means a stormwater management facility that temporarily impounds runoff and discharges it through a hydraulic outlet structure to a downstream conveyance system. While a certain amount of outflow may also occur via infiltration through the surrounding soil, such amounts are negligible when compared to the outlet structure discharge rates and are, therefore, not considered in the facility's design. Since a detention facility impounds runoff only temporarily, it is normally dry during nonrainfall periods.

"Stormwater discharge associated with construction activity" means a discharge of pollutants in stormwater runoff from areas where land-disturbing activities (e.g., clearing, grading, or excavation); construction materials or equipment storage or maintenance (e.g., fill piles, borrow area, concrete truck washout, fueling); or other industrial stormwater directly related to the construction process (e.g., concrete or asphalt batch plants) are located.

"Stormwater discharge associated with large construction activity" means the discharge of stormwater from large construction activities.

"Stormwater discharge associated with small construction activity" means the discharge of stormwater from small construction activities.

"Stormwater extended detention basin" or "extended detention basin" means a stormwater management facility that temporarily impounds runoff and discharges it through a hydraulic outlet structure over a specified period of time to a downstream conveyance system for the purpose of water quality enhancement or stream channel erosion control. While a certain amount of outflow may also occur via infiltration through the surrounding soil, such amounts are negligible when compared to the outlet structure discharge rates and, therefore, are not considered in the facility's design. Since an extended detention basin impounds runoff only temporarily, it is normally dry during nonrainfall periods.

"Stormwater extended detention basin-enhanced" or "extended detention basin-enhanced" means an extended detention basin modified to increase pollutant removal by providing a shallow marsh in the lower stage of the basin.

"Stormwater management facility" means a device that controls stormwater runoff and changes the characteristics of that runoff including, but not limited to, the quantity and quality, the period of release or the velocity of flow.

"Stormwater management plan" means a document(s) containing material for describing how existing runoff characteristics will be maintained by a land-disturbing activity and methods for complying with the requirements of the local program or this chapter.

"Stormwater Management Program" means a program established by a locality that is consistent with the requirements of the Virginia Stormwater Management Act, this chapter and associated guidance documents.

"Stormwater management standards" means the minimum criteria for stormwater management programs and land-disturbing activities as set out in Part II (4VAC50-60-40 et seq.) of this chapter.

"Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan" or "SWPPP" means a document that is prepared in accordance with good engineering practices and that identifies potential sources of pollutants that may reasonably be expected to affect the quality of stormwater discharges from the construction site or its associated land-disturbing activities. In addition the document shall identify and require the implementation of control measures, and shall include, but not be limited to the inclusion of, or the incorporation by reference of, an erosion and sediment control plan, a post-construction stormwater management plan, a spill prevention control and countermeasure (SPCC) plan, and other practices that will be used to minimize pollutants in stormwater discharges from land-disturbing activities in compliance with the terms and conditions of this chapter. All plans incorporated by reference into the SWPPP shall be enforceable under the permit issued or general permit coverage authorized.

"Stormwater retention basin" or "retention basin" means a stormwater management facility that includes a permanent impoundment, or normal pool of water, for the purpose of enhancing water quality and, therefore, is normally wet, even during nonrainfall periods. Storm runoff inflows may be temporarily stored above this permanent impoundment for the purpose of reducing flooding, or stream channel erosion.

"Stormwater retention basin I" or "retention basin I" means a retention basin with the volume of the permanent pool equal to three times the water quality volume.

"Stormwater retention basin II" or "retention basin II" means a retention basin with the volume of the permanent pool equal to four times the water quality volume.

"Stormwater retention basin III" or "retention basin III" means a retention basin with the volume of the permanent pool equal to four times the water quality volume with the addition of an aquatic bench.

"Subdivision" means the same as defined in § 15.2-2201 of the Code of Virginia.

"Surface waters" means:

1. All waters that are currently used, were used in the past, or may be susceptible to use in interstate or foreign commerce, including all waters that are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide;

2. All interstate waters, including interstate wetlands;

3. All other waters such as intrastate lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams), mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, or natural ponds the use, degradation, or destruction of which would affect or could affect interstate or foreign commerce including any such waters:

a. That are or could be used by interstate or foreign travelers for recreational or other purposes;

b. From which fish or shellfish are or could be taken and sold in interstate or foreign commerce; or

c. That are used or could be used for industrial purposes by industries in interstate commerce.

4. All impoundments of waters otherwise defined as surface waters under this definition;

5. Tributaries of waters identified in subdivisions 1 through 4 of this definition;

6. The territorial sea; and

7. Wetlands adjacent to waters (other than waters that are themselves wetlands) identified in subdivisions 1 through 6 of this definition.

Waste treatment systems, including treatment ponds or lagoons designed to meet the requirements of the CWA and the law, are not surface waters. Surface waters do not include prior converted cropland. Notwithstanding the determination of an area's status as prior converted cropland by any other agency, for the purposes of the Clean Water Act, the final authority regarding the Clean Water Act jurisdiction remains with the EPA.

"Total dissolved solids" means the total dissolved (filterable) solids as determined by use of the method specified in 40 CFR Part 136 (2000).

"Total maximum daily load" or "TMDL" means the sum of the individual wasteload allocations for point sources, load allocations (LAs) for nonpoint sources, natural background loading and a margin of safety. TMDLs can be expressed in terms of either mass per time, toxicity, or other appropriate measure. The TMDL process provides for point versus nonpoint source trade-offs.

"Toxic pollutant" means any pollutant listed as toxic under § 307(a)(1) of the CWA or, in the case of sludge use or disposal practices, any pollutant identified in regulations implementing § 405(d) of the CWA.

"Unstable" means, in the context of channels, a channel that is not stable.

"Upset" means an exceptional incident in which there is unintentional and temporary noncompliance with technology based permit effluent limitations because of factors beyond the reasonable control of the operator. An upset does not include noncompliance to the extent caused by operational error, improperly designed treatment facilities, inadequate treatment facilities, lack of preventive maintenance, or careless or improper operation.

"Urban development area" or "UDA" means, as defined by § 15.2-2223.1 of the Code of Virginia, an area designated by a locality that is appropriate for higher density development due to proximity to transportation facilities, the availability of a public or community water and sewer system, or proximity to a city, town, or other developed area.

"Variance" means any mechanism or provision under § 301 or § 316 of the CWA or under 40 CFR Part 125 (2000), or in the applicable federal effluent limitations guidelines that allows modification to or waiver of the generally applicable effluent limitation requirements or time deadlines of the CWA. This includes provisions that allow the establishment of alternative limitations based on fundamentally different factors or on § 301(c), § 301(g), § 301(h), § 301(i), or § 316(a) of the CWA.

"Vegetated filter strip" means a densely vegetated section of land engineered to accept runoff as overland sheet flow from upstream development. It shall adopt any natural vegetated form, from grassy meadow to small forest. The vegetative cover facilitates pollutant removal through filtration, sediment deposition, infiltration and absorption, and is dedicated for that purpose.

"Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit" or "VPDES permit" means a document issued by the State Water Control Board pursuant to the State Water Control Law authorizing, under prescribed conditions, the potential or actual discharge of pollutants from a point source to surface waters and the use or disposal of sewage sludge.

"Virginia Stormwater Management Act" means Article 1.1 (§ 10.1-603.1 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 10.1 of the Code of Virginia.

"Virginia Stormwater BMP Clearinghouse website" means a website that contains detailed design standards and specifications for control measures that may be used in Virginia to comply with the requirements of the Virginia Stormwater Management Act and associated regulations and that is jointly created by the department and the Virginia Water Resources Research Center subject to advice to the director from a permanent stakeholder advisory committee.

"Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook" means a collection of pertinent information that provides general guidance for compliance with the Act and associated regulations and is developed by the department with advice from a stakeholder advisory committee.

"Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP)" or "VSMP" means the Virginia program for issuing, modifying, revoking and reissuing, terminating, monitoring and enforcing permits, and imposing and enforcing requirements pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act CWA, the Virginia Stormwater Management Act, this chapter, and associated guidance documents.

"Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) permit" or "VSMP permit" means a document issued by the permit-issuing authority pursuant to the Virginia Stormwater Management Act and this chapter authorizing, under prescribed conditions, the potential or actual discharge of pollutants from a point source to surface waters. Under the approved state program, a VSMP permit is equivalent to a NPDES permit.

"VSMP application" or "application" means the standard form or forms, including any additions, revisions or modifications to the forms, approved by the administrator and the board for applying for a VSMP permit.

"Wasteload allocation" or "wasteload" or "WLA" means the portion of a receiving surface water's loading or assimilative capacity allocated to one of its existing or future point sources of pollution. WLAs are a type of water quality-based effluent limitation.

"Water quality standards" or "WQS" means provisions of state or federal law that consist of a designated use or uses for the waters of the Commonwealth and water quality criteria for such waters based on such uses. Water quality standards are to protect the public health or welfare, enhance the quality of water, and serve the purposes of the State Water Control Law (§ 62.1-44.2 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), the Virginia Stormwater Management Act (§ 10.1-603.1 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), and the federal Clean Water Act CWA (33 USC § 1251 et seq.).

"Water quality volume" means the volume equal to the first 1/2 inch of runoff multiplied by the impervious surface of the land development project.

"Watershed" means a defined land area drained by a river or stream, karst system, or system of connecting rivers or streams such that all surface water within the area flows through a single outlet. In karst areas, the karst feature to which the water drains may be considered the single outlet for the watershed.

"Wetlands" means those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas.

"Whole effluent toxicity" means the aggregate toxic effect of an effluent measured directly by a toxicity test.

4VAC50-60-20. Purposes.

The purposes of this chapter are to provide a framework for the administration, implementation and enforcement of the Virginia Stormwater Management Act (Act) and to delineate the procedures and requirements to be followed in connection with VSMP permits issued by the board or its designee pursuant to the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Virginia Stormwater Management Act, while at the same time providing flexibility for innovative solutions to stormwater management issues. The chapter also establishes the board's procedures for the authorization of a qualifying local program, board and department oversight authorities for an authorized qualifying local program, the board's procedures for utilization by the department in administering a local program in localities where no qualifying local program is authorized, and the components of a stormwater management program including but not limited to stormwater management standards.

4VAC50-60-30. Applicability.

This chapter is applicable to:

1. Every private, local, state, or federal entity that establishes a stormwater management program or a MS4 program;

2. The department in its oversight of locally administered programs or in its administration of a local program;

2. 3. Every state agency project regulated under the Act and this chapter; and

3. 4. Every land-disturbing activity regulated under § 10.1-603.8 of the Code of Virginia unless otherwise exempted in § 10.1-603.8 B.

Part II A
Stormwater Management Program Technical Criteria

4VAC50-60-40. Applicability Authority and applicability.

This part specifies technical criteria for every stormwater management program and land-disturbing activity.

Pursuant to the Virginia Stormwater Management Act (§ 10.1-603.2 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), the board is required to take actions ensuring the general health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth as well as protecting the quality and quantity of state waters from the potential harm of unmanaged stormwater. In addition to other authority granted to the board under the Stormwater Management Act, the board is authorized pursuant to §§ 10.1-603.2:1 and 10.1-603.4 to adopt regulations that specify minimum technical criteria for stormwater management programs in Virginia, to establish statewide standards for stormwater management from land-disturbing activities, and to protect properties, the quality and quantity of state waters, the physical integrity of stream channels, and other natural resources.

In accordance with the board's authority, this part establishes the minimum technical criteria and stormwater management standards that shall be employed by a state agency in accordance with an implementation schedule set by the board, or by a qualifying local program or department-administered local stormwater management program that has been approved by the board, to protect the quality and quantity of state waters from the potential harm of unmanaged stormwater runoff resulting from land-disturbing activities.

For those localities required to adopt a local stormwater management program pursuant to § 10.1-603.3 of the Code of Virginia, until a local program is approved by the board, the technical criteria required shall be that found at 4VAC50-60-1180 through 4VAC50-60-1190.

4VAC50-60-45. Applicability.

In accordance with the board's authority, this part establishes the minimum technical criteria and stormwater management standards that shall be employed by a state agency in accordance with an implementation schedule set by the board, or by a qualifying local program or department-administered local stormwater management program that has been approved by the board, to protect the quality and quantity of state waters from the potential harm of unmanaged stormwater runoff resulting from land-disturbing activities, except as provided in 4VAC50-60-48.

4VAC50-60-48. Grandfathering.

A. Land-disturbing activities that receive coverage under the VSMP General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities prior to the adoption of a local stormwater management program within their jurisdiction shall not be subject to the technical criteria of Part II A, but shall be subject to the technical criteria of Part II B, until the expiration of that permit on June 30, 2014.

B. If the operator of a project, as of July 1, 2010, (i) obtained or is the beneficiary of a significant affirmative governmental act that remains in effect allowing development of a specific project, (ii) relied in good faith on the significant affirmative governmental act, (iii) incurred extensive obligations or substantial expenses in diligent pursuit of the specific project in reliance on the significant affirmative governmental act, and (iv) obtained VSMP general permit coverage prior to July 1, 2010, then the land-disturbing activity associated with the project is grandfathered and shall remain subject to the Part II B Technical Criteria until June 30, 2014. If permit coverage continuously remains in effect for the land-disturbing activity within the entire project area, then the project shall remain subject to the Part II B Technical Criteria until June 30, 2019. Should permit coverage not be maintained or if the land-disturbing activity continues beyond June 30, 2019, portions of the project not completed shall be subject to the Part II A Technical Criteria. In the event that the qualifying significant affirmative governmental act or the VSMP permit is subsequently modified or amended in a manner such that there is no increase in the amount of phosphorus leaving the site through stormwater runoff, and such that there is no increase in the volume or rate of runoff, the grandfathering shall continue as before.

For purposes of this subsection and without limitation, the following are deemed to be significant affirmative governmental acts allowing development of a specific project: (i) the governing body has accepted proffers or proffered conditions that specify use related to a zoning amendment; (ii) the governing body has approved an application for a rezoning for a specific use or density; (iii) the governing body or board of zoning appeals has granted a special exception or use permit with conditions; (iv) the board of zoning appeals has approved a variance; (v) the governing body or its designated agent has approved a preliminary subdivision plat, site plan, or plan of development for the landowner's property and the applicant diligently pursues approval of the final plat or plan within a reasonable period of time under the circumstances; or (vi) the governing body or its designated agent has approved a final subdivision plat, site plan or plan of development for the landowner's property. [ For the purposes of this subsection and without limitation, for state and federal projects, the approval of state or federal funding for a project or the approval of a stormwater management plan are deemed to be significant affirmative governmental acts. ]

C. Where a land-disturbing activity is part of a common plan of development or sale that has obtained VSMP general permit coverage from the department prior to July 1, 2010, the land-disturbing activity will be subject to the technical criteria of Part II B. The registration statement shall include the permit coverage number for the common plan of development or sale for which association is being claimed.

[ D. In cases where governmental bonding or public debt financing has been issued for a project prior to July 1, 2010, such project shall be subject to the technical criteria of Part II B. ]

4VAC50-60-50. General. (Repealed.)

A. Determination of flooding and channel erosion impacts to receiving streams due to land-disturbing activities shall be measured at each point of discharge from the land disturbance and such determination shall include any runoff from the balance of the watershed which also contributes to that point of discharge.

B. The specified design storms shall be defined as either a 24-hour storm using the rainfall distribution recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) when using NRCS methods or as the storm of critical duration that produces the greatest required storage volume at the site when using a design method such as the Modified Rational Method.

C. For purposes of computing runoff, all pervious lands in the site shall be assumed prior to development to be in good condition (if the lands are pastures, lawns, or parks), with good cover (if the lands are woods), or with conservation treatment (if the lands are cultivated); regardless of conditions existing at the time of computation.

D. Construction of stormwater management facilities or modifications to channels shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Evidence of approval of all necessary permits shall be presented.

E. Impounding structures that are not covered by the Impounding Structure Regulations (4VAC50-20) shall be engineered for structural integrity during the 100-year storm event.

F. Pre-development and post-development runoff rates shall be verified by calculations that are consistent with good engineering practices.

G. Outflows from a stormwater management facility or stormwater conveyance system, shall be discharged to an adequate channel.

H. Proposed residential, commercial, or industrial subdivisions shall apply these stormwater management criteria to the land disturbance as a whole. Individual lots in new subdivisions shall not be considered separate land-disturbing activities, but rather the entire subdivision shall be considered a single land development project. Hydrologic parameters shall reflect the ultimate land disturbance and shall be used in all engineering calculations.

I. All stormwater management facilities shall have an inspection and maintenance plan that identifies the owner and the responsible party for carrying out the inspection and maintenance plan.

J. Construction of stormwater management impoundment structures within a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated 100-year floodplain shall be avoided to the extent possible. When this is unavoidable, all stormwater management facility construction shall be in compliance with all applicable regulations under the National Flood Insurance Program, 44 CFR Part 59.

K. Natural channel characteristics shall be preserved to the maximum extent practicable.

L. Land-disturbing activities shall comply with the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law (§ 10.1-560 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) and attendant regulations.

M. Flood control and stormwater management facilities that drain or treat water from multiple development projects or from a significant portion of a watershed may be allowed in Resource Protection Areas defined in the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, provided that (i) the local government has conclusively established that the location of the facility within the Resource Protection Area is the optimum location; (ii) the size of the facility is the minimum necessary to provide necessary flood control, stormwater treatment, or both; and, (iii) the facility must be consistent with a stormwater management program that has been approved by the board.

4VAC50-60-53. General requirements.

The physical, chemical, biological, and hydrologic characteristics and the water quality and quantity of the receiving state waters shall be maintained, protected, or improved in accordance with the requirements of this part. Objectives include, but are not limited to, supporting state designated uses and water quality standards. All control measures used shall be employed in a manner that minimizes impacts on receiving state waters.

4VAC50-60-56. Applicability of other laws and regulations.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the applicability of other laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the CWA, Virginia Stormwater Management Act, Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law, and the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, except as provided in § 10.1-603.3 I of the Code of Virginia and all applicable regulations adopted in accordance with those laws, or the rights of other federal agencies, state agencies, or local governments to impose more stringent technical criteria or other requirements as allowed by law.

4VAC50-60-60. Water quality. (Repealed.)

A. Compliance with the water quality criteria may be achieved by applying the performance-based criteria or the technology-based criteria to either the site or a planning area.

B. Performance-based criteria. For land-disturbing activities, the calculated post-development nonpoint source pollutant runoff load shall be compared to the calculated pre-development load based upon the average land cover condition or the existing site condition. A BMP shall be located, designed, and maintained to achieve the target pollutant removal efficiencies specified in Table 1 to effectively reduce the pollutant load to the required level based upon the following four applicable land development situations for which the performance criteria apply:

1. Situation 1 consists of land-disturbing activities where the existing percent impervious cover is less than or equal to the average land cover condition and the proposed improvements will create a total percent impervious cover which is less than the average land cover condition.

Requirement: No reduction in the after disturbance pollutant discharge is required.

2. Situation 2 consists of land-disturbing activities where the existing percent impervious cover is less than or equal to the average land cover condition and the proposed improvements will create a total percent impervious cover which is greater than the average land cover condition.

Requirement: The pollutant discharge after disturbance shall not exceed the existing pollutant discharge based on the average land cover condition.

3. Situation 3 consists of land disturbing activities where the existing percent impervious cover is greater than the average land cover condition.

Requirement: The pollutant discharge after disturbance shall not exceed (i) the pollutant discharge based on existing conditions less 10% or (ii) the pollutant discharge based on the average land cover condition, whichever is greater.

4. Situation 4 consists of land disturbing activities where the existing percent impervious cover is served by an existing stormwater management BMP that addresses water quality.

Requirement: The pollutant discharge after disturbance shall not exceed the existing pollutant discharge based on the existing percent impervious cover while served by the existing BMP. The existing BMP shall be shown to have been designed and constructed in accordance with proper design standards and specifications, and to be in proper functioning condition.

C. Technology-based criteria. For land-disturbing activities, the post-developed stormwater runoff from the impervious cover shall be treated by an appropriate BMP as required by the post-developed condition percent impervious cover as specified in Table 1. The selected BMP shall be located, designed, and maintained to perform at the target pollutant removal efficiency specified in Table 1. Design standards and specifications for the BMPs in Table 1 that meet the required target pollutant removal efficiency will be available at the department.

Table 1*

Water Quality BMP*	Target Phosphorus Removal Efficiency	Percent Impervious Cover
Vegetated filter strip Grassed Swale	10% 15%	16-21%
Constructed wetlands Extended detention (2 x WQ Vol) Retention basin I (3 x WQ Vol)	20% 35% 40%	22-37%
Bioretention basin Bioretention filter Extended detention-enhanced Retention basin II (4 x WQ Vol) Infiltration (1 x WQ Vol)	50% 50% 50% 50% 50%	38-66%
Sand filter Infiltration (2 x WQ Vol) Retention basin III (4 x WQ Vol with aquatic bench)	65% 65% 65%	67-100%

*Innovative or alternate BMPs not included in this table may be allowed at the discretion of the local program administrator or the department. Innovative or alternate BMPs not included in this table which target appropriate nonpoint source pollution other than phosphorous may be allowed at the discretion of the local program administrator or the department.

4VAC50-60-63. Water quality design criteria requirements.

In order to protect the quality of state waters and to control nonpoint source pollution stormwater pollutants, the following minimum technical criteria and statewide standards for stormwater management shall be applied to the site of a land-disturbing activity. The local program shall have discretion to allow for application of the criteria to each drainage area of the site. However, where a site drains to more than one HUC, the pollutant load reduction requirements shall be applied independently within each HUC unless reductions are achieved in accordance with a comprehensive watershed stormwater management plan in accordance with 4VAC50-60-96.

1. New development. The total phosphorus load of new development projects shall not exceed 0.28 0.45 pounds per acre per year, as calculated pursuant to 4VAC50-60-65, except:

[ a. The total phosphorus load of a new development project disturbing greater than or equal to one acre in the Chesapeake Bay watershed shall not exceed 0.28 pounds per acre per year, as calculated pursuant to 4VAC50-60-65.

b. Within a. Should the board establish by regulatory action a standard more stringent than 0.45 pounds per acre per year in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, then a qualifying local program may establish a standard of no greater than 0.45 pounds per acre per year to be applied within ] urban development areas designated pursuant to § 15.2-2223.1 of the Code of Virginia [ in the Chesapeake Bay watershed a qualifying local program may establish a phosphorus standard between 0.28 and 0.45 pounds per acre per year ] for projects greater than or equal to one acre in order to encourage compact development that achieves superior water quality benefits. The qualifying local program shall provide to the board for approval a justification for any standards established [ if greater than 0.28 ] and shall define the types of projects within a UDA that would qualify for the [ relaxed ] standards. The standard shall be based upon factors including, but not limited to, number of housing units per acre for residential development, floor area ratio for nonresidential development, level of imperviousness, brownfield remediation potential, mixed-use and transit oriented development potential, proximity to the Chesapeake Bay or local waters of concern, and the presence of impaired waters. This provision shall not apply to department-administered local programs.

[ c. Localities b. Should the board establish by regulatory action a standard more stringent than 0.45 pounds per acre per year in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, localities ] that have lands that drain to both the Chesapeake Bay watershed and other non-Chesapeake Bay watersheds may choose to apply the [ 0.28 pounds per acre per year more stringent ] phosphorus standard [ for the Chesapeake Bay watershed ] to land-disturbing activities that discharge to watersheds other than the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

[ c. Upon the completion of the Virginia TMDL Implementation Plan for the Chesapeake Bay Nutrient and Sediment TMDL approved by EPA, the board shall by regulatory action establish a water quality design criteria for new development activities that is consistent with the pollutant loadings called for in the approved Implementation Plan. ]

2. Development on prior developed lands.

a. The total phosphorus load of projects a project occurring on prior developed lands and [ distributing disturbing ] greater than or equal to one acre shall be reduced to an amount at least 20% below the predevelopment total phosphorus load.

However, the b. The total phosphorus load of a project occurring on prior developed lands and disturbing less than one acre shall be reduced to an amount at least 10% below the predevelopment total phosphorus load.

c. The total phosphorus load shall not be required to be reduced to below 0.28 pounds per acre per year the applicable standard for new development unless a more stringent standard has been established by a qualifying local program.

3. Compliance with subdivisions 1 and 2 of this section shall be determined in accordance with 4VAC50-60-65 shall constitute compliance with subdivisions 1 and 2 of this section.

4. TMDL. In addition to the above requirements, if a specific WLA for a pollutant has been established in a TMDL and is assigned to stormwater discharges from a construction activity, necessary control measures must be implemented by the operator to meet the WLA in accordance with the requirements established in the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities or an individual permit, which address both construction and postconstruction discharges.

5. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a qualifying local program from establishing a more stringent standard.

4VAC50-60-65. Water quality compliance.

A. Compliance with the water quality design criteria set out in subdivisions 1 and 2 of 4VAC50-60-63 shall be determined by utilizing the Virginia Runoff Reduction Method or another methodology that is demonstrated by the qualifying local program to achieve equivalent or more stringent results and is approved by the board.

B. The BMPs listed in Table 1 or the BMPs available on the Virginia Stormwater BMP Clearinghouse website shall be utilized as necessary to effectively reduce the phosphorus load in accordance with the Virginia Runoff Reduction Method. Design specifications for the BMPs listed in Table 1 can be found on the Virginia Stormwater BMP Clearinghouse Website at http://www.vwrrc.vt.edu/swc. Other approved BMPs available on this website may also be utilized.

TABLE 1 BMP Pollutant Removal Efficiencies
Practice	Removal of Total Phosphorus by Runoff Volume Reduction (RR, as %) (based upon 1 inch of rainfall --90% storm)	Removal of Total Phosphorus by Treatment -- Pollutant Concentration Reduction (PR, as %)	Total Mass Load Removal of Total Phosphorus (TR, as %) [ 5 ]
Green Vegetated Roof 1	45	0	45
Green Vegetated Roof 2	60	0	60
Rooftop Disconnection 1 2	25 or 501	0	25 or 501
Rooftop Disconnection 2	50	0	50
Rain Tanks/Cisterns 1 Rainwater Harvesting	actual volume x .75 up to 903 [ , 5 ]	0	actual volume x .75 up to 903 [ , 5 ]
Soil Amendments 1	50	0	50
Soil Amendments 2	75	0	75
Soil Amendments	Can be used to decrease runoff coefficient for turf cover at site. See designs for Rooftop Disconnection, Sheet Flow, and Grass Channel practices.
Permeable Pavement 1	45	25	59
Permeable Pavement 2	75	25	81
Grass Channel 1	10 or 201	15	23
Grass Channel 2	20	15	32
Bioretention 1 (also applies to Urban Bioretention)	40	25	55
Bioretention 2	80	50	90
Infiltration 1	50	25	63
Infiltration 2	90	25	93
Dry Swale 1	40	20	52
Dry Swale 2	60	40	76
Wet Swale 1	0	20	20
Wet Swale 2	0	40	40
Sheet Flow to Conserved Filter/ Open Space 1	0 25 or 501	50 0	25 or 501
Sheet Flow to Conserved Filter/ Open Space 2[ 52 ]	0 50 or 751	75 0	50 or 751
Extended Detention Pond 1	0	15	15
Extended Detention Pond 2	15	15	28 31
Filtering Practice 1	0	60	60
Filtering Practice 2	0	65	65
Constructed Wetland 1	0	50	50
Constructed Wetland 2	0	75	75
Wet Pond 1	0	50 (454)	50 (454)
Wet Pond 2	0	75 (654)	75 (654)
1 Lower rate is for Hydrologic Soil Group (HSG) class C and D soils; higher rate is for HSG class A and B soils.
2 The removal can be increased to 50% for C and D soils by adding soil compost amendments, and may be higher yet if combined with secondary runoff reduction practices.
3 Credit up to 90% is possible if all water from storms 1" or less is used through demand, and tank is sized such that no overflow occurs. Total credit is not to exceed 90%.
4 Lower nutrient removals in parentheses apply to wet ponds in coastal plain terrain.
5 See BMP design specification for an explanation of how additional pollutant removal can be achieved.

C. BMPs differing from those listed in Table 1 shall be reviewed and approved by the director in accordance with procedures established by the BMP Clearinghouse Committee and approved by the board.

D. A qualifying local program may establish use limitations on the use of specific BMPs following the submission of the proposed use limitation and written justification to the department.

E. Where the land-disturbing activity only occurs on a portion of the site, the local program may review the stormwater management plan based upon the portion of the site that is proposed to be developed, provided that the local program has established guidance for such a review. Such portion shall be deemed to include any area left undeveloped pursuant to any local requirement or proffer accepted by a locality. Any such guidance shall be provided to the department.

F. If a comprehensive watershed stormwater management plan has been adopted pursuant to 4VAC50-60-96 for the watershed within which a project is located, then the qualifying local program may allow offsite controls in accordance with the plan to achieve the postdevelopment pollutant load water quality technical criteria set out in subdivisions 1 and 2 of 4VAC50-60-63. Such offsite controls shall achieve the required pollutant reductions either completely offsite in accordance with the plan or in a combination of onsite and offsite controls. The local program shall have the discretion to allow for application of the criteria to each drainage area of the site. However, where a site drains to more than one HUC, the pollutant load reduction requirements shall be applied independently within each HUC unless reductions are achieved in accordance with a comprehensive watershed stormwater management plan in accordance with 4VAC50-60-92.

G. Where no plan exists pursuant to subsection F of this section, offsite controls may be used to meet the postdevelopment pollutant load water quality technical criteria set out in subdivisions 1 and 2 of 4VAC50-60-63 provided:

1. The local program allows for offsite controls;

2. The applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the local program that offsite reductions equal to or greater than those that would otherwise be required for the site are achieved;

3. The applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the local program that the development's runoff and the runoff from any offsite treatment area shall be controlled in accordance with 4VAC50-60-66;

4. Offsite controls must be located within the same HUC or the adjacent downstream HUC to the land-disturbing site; and

5. The applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the local program that the right to utilize the offsite control area and any necessary easements has been obtained and maintenance agreements for the stormwater management facilities have been established pursuant to 4VAC50-60-124.

H. Alternatively, the local program may waive the requirements of subdivisions 1 and 2 of 4VAC50-60-63 through the granting of an exception pursuant to 4VAC50-60-122. G. Offsite alternatives where allowed in accordance with 4VAC50-60-69 may be utilized to meet the design criteria of subdivisions 1 and 2 of 4VAC50-60-63.

4VAC50-60-66. Water quantity.

A. Channel protection and flood protection shall be addressed in accordance with the minimum standards set out in this section, which are established pursuant to the requirements of subdivision 7 of § 10.1-603.4 of the Code of Virginia. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a qualifying local program from establishing a more stringent standard.

B. Channel protection. Concentrated stormwater flow from the site and offsite contributing areas shall be released into a stormwater conveyance system and shall meet one of the following criteria as demonstrated by use of accepted hydrologic and hydraulic methodologies:

1. Concentrated stormwater flow to manmade stormwater conveyance systems. The point of discharge releases stormwater into a manmade stormwater conveyance system that, following the land-disturbing activity, conveys the postdevelopment peak flow rate from the two-year 24-hour storm without causing erosion of the system.

2. Concentrated stormwater flow to restored stormwater conveyance systems. The point of discharge releases stormwater into a stormwater conveyance system that (i) has been restored and is functioning as designed or (ii) will be restored. The applicant must demonstrate that the runoff following the land-disturbing activity, in combination with other existing stormwater runoff, will not exceed the design of the restored stormwater conveyance system nor result in instability of the system.

3. Concentrated stormwater flow to stable natural stormwater conveyance systems. The point of discharge releases stormwater into a natural stormwater conveyance system that is stable and, following the land-disturbing activity, (i) will not become unstable as a result of the discharge from the one-year 24-hour storm, and (ii) provides a peak flow rate from the one-year 24-hour storm calculated as follows or in accordance with another methodology that is demonstrated by the local program to achieve equivalent results and is approved by the board:

Q_Developed* RV_Developed ≤ Q_{Pre-Developed} * RV_{Pre-Developed}, where

Q_Developed = The allowable peak flow rate of runoff from the developed site. [ Such peak flow rate must be less than or equal to Q_{Pre-developed}. ]

Q_{Pre-Developed} = The peak flow rate of runoff from the site in the predeveloped condition.

RV_{Pre-Developed} = The volume of runoff from the site in the predeveloped condition.

RV_Developed = The volume of runoff from the developed site.

4. Concentrated Except as set out in subdivision 5 of this subsection, concentrated stormwater flow to unstable natural stormwater conveyance systems. Where the point of discharge releases stormwater into a natural stormwater conveyance system that is unstable, stormwater runoff following a land-disturbing activity shall be released into a channel at or below a peak flow rate (Q_Developed) based on the one-year 24-hour storm, calculated as follows or in accordance with another methodology that is demonstrated by the local program to achieve equivalent or more stringent results and is approved by the board:

Q_Developed* RV_Developed ≤ Q_{Forested Good Pasture} * RV_{Forested Good Pasture} , where

Q_Developed = The allowable peak flow rate from the developed site. [ Such peak flow rate must be less than or equal to Q_{Good Pasture}. ]

Q_{Forested Good Pasture} = The peak flow rate from the site in a forested good pasture condition.

RV_{Forested Good Pasture} = The volume of runoff from the site in a forested good pasture condition.

RV_Developed = The volume of runoff from the developed site.

However, in the case that the predeveloped condition is forested, [ both the peak flow rate and the volume of runoff from the developed site shall be held to the forested condition the forested condition shall be utilized instead of the good pasture condition in all instances in the calculation above ].

5. This subdivision shall apply to concentrated stormwater flow to unstable natural stormwater conveyance systems from (i) a land-disturbing activity less than five acres on prior developed lands, or (ii) a regulated land-disturbing activity less than one acre for new development. Where the point of discharge releases stormwater into a natural stormwater conveyance system that is unstable, stormwater runoff following a land-disturbing activity shall provide a peak flow rate from the one-year 24-hour storm, calculated as follows or in accordance with another methodology that is demonstrated by the local program to achieve equivalent or more stringent results and is approved by the board:

Q_Developed* RV_Developed < Q_{Pre-Developed} * RV_{Pre-Developed}, where

Q_Developed = The allowable peak flow rate from the developed site. Such peak flow rate must be less than Q_{Pre-Developed.}

Q_{Pre-Developed} = The peak flow rate from the site in pre-development condition.

RV_{Pre-Developed} = The volume of runoff from the site in pre-development condition.

RV_Developed = The volume of runoff from the developed site. [ Such volume must be less than RV_{Pre-Developed. ]}

C. Flood protection. Concentrated stormwater flow shall be released into a stormwater conveyance system and shall meet one of the following criteria as demonstrated by use of accepted hydrologic and hydraulic methodologies:

1. Concentrated stormwater flow to manmade stormwater conveyance systems. The point of discharge releases stormwater into a manmade stormwater conveyance system that, following the land-disturbing activity, confines the postdevelopment peak flow rate from the 10-year 24-hour storm within the manmade stormwater conveyance system.

2. Concentrated stormwater flow to restored stormwater conveyance systems. The point of discharge releases stormwater into a stormwater conveyance system that (i) has been restored and is functioning as designed or (ii) will be restored. The applicant must demonstrate that the peak flow rate from the 10-year 24-hour storm following the land-disturbing activity will be confined within the system.

3. Concentrated stormwater flow to natural stormwater conveyance systems. The point of discharge releases stormwater into a natural stormwater conveyance system that currently does not flood during the 10-year 24-hour storm and, following the land-disturbing activity, confines the postdevelopment peak flow rate from the 10-year 24-hour storm within the system.

4. Concentrated stormwater flow to natural stormwater conveyance systems where localized flooding exists during the 10-year 24-hour storm. The point of discharge releases a postdevelopment peak flow rate for the 10-year 24-hour storm that shall not exceed the predevelopment peak flow rate from the 10-year 24-hour storm based on forested good pasture conditions, unless the predeveloped condition is forested, in which case the peak flow rate from the developed site shall be held to the forested condition.

5. A local program may adopt alternate flood protection design criteria that (i) achieve equivalent or more stringent results, (ii) are based upon geographic, land use, topographic, geologic, or other downstream conveyance factors, and (iii) are approved by the board. Subdivision C 4 of this subsection notwithstanding, this subdivision shall apply to concentrated stormwater flow to natural stormwater conveyance systems where localized flooding exists during the 10-year 24-hour storm from (i) a land-disturbing activity less than five acres on prior developed lands, or (ii) a regulated land-disturbing activity less than one acre for new development. The point of discharge releases a postdevelopment peak flow rate for the 10-year 24-hour storm that is less than the predevelopment peak flow rate from the 10-year 24-hour storm.

D. One percent rule. If either of the following criteria are met, subsections A B and B C of this section do not apply, nor is the analysis of subsection H required:

1. Based on area. Prior to any land disturbance, the site's contributing drainage area to a point of discharge from the site is less than or equal to 1.0% of the total watershed area draining to that point of discharge; or

2. Based on peak flow rate. Based on the postdevelopment land cover conditions prior to the implementation of any stormwater quantity control measures, the development of the site results in an increase in the peak flow rate from the one-year 24-hour storm that is less than 1.0% of the existing peak flow rate from the one-year 24-hour storm generated by the total watershed area draining to that point of discharge.

E. Increased volumes of sheet flow resulting from pervious or disconnected impervious areas, or from physical spreading of concentrated flow through level spreaders, must be identified and evaluated for potential impacts on down gradient properties or resources. Increased volumes of sheet flow that will cause or contribute to erosion, sedimentation, or flooding of down gradient properties or resources shall be diverted to a detention stormwater management facility or a stormwater conveyance system that conveys the runoff without causing down gradient erosion, sedimentation, or flooding. If all runoff from the site is sheet flow and the conditions of this subsection are met, no further water quantity controls are required.

F. For purposes of computing predevelopment runoff from prior developed sites, all pervious lands on the site shall be assumed to be in good hydrologic condition in accordance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) standards, regardless of conditions existing at the time of computation. Predevelopment runoff calculations utilizing other hydrologic conditions may be utilized provided that it is demonstrated to and approved by the local program that actual site conditions warrant such considerations.

G. Predevelopment runoff characteristics and site hydrology shall be verified by site inspections, topographic surveys, available soil mapping or studies, and calculations consistent with good engineering practices in accordance with guidance. Guidance provided in the Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook and by the qualifying local program shall be considered appropriate standards.

H. Except where the compliance options under subdivisions B 4 and 5 and C 4 and 5 of this section are utilized, flooding and channel erosion impacts to stormwater conveyance systems shall be analyzed for each point of discharge in accordance with channel analysis guidance provided in Technical Bulletin # 1, Stream Channel Erosion Control, or in accordance with more stringent channel analysis guidance established by the qualifying local program and provided to the department. Such analysis shall include estimates of runoff from the developed site and the entire upstream watershed that contributes to that point of discharge. Good engineering practices and calculations in accordance with department guidance shall be used to evaluate postdevelopment runoff characteristics and site hydrology, and flooding and channel erosion impacts.

If the downstream owner or owners refuse to give permission to access the property for the collection of data, evidence of this refusal shall be given and arrangements made satisfactory to the local program to provide an alternative method for the collection of data to complete the analysis, such as through the use of photos, aerial surveys, "as built" plans, topographic maps, soils maps, and any other relevant information.

4VAC50-60-69. Offsite compliance options.

A. A qualifying local program shall have the authority to consider the use of the following offsite compliance options:

1. If a comprehensive watershed stormwater management plan has been adopted pursuant to 4VAC50-60-92 for the local watershed within which a project is located, then the qualifying local program may allow offsite controls in accordance with the plan to achieve the water quality reductions, quantity reductions, or both required for a site by this chapter. Such offsite controls shall achieve the required reductions either completely offsite in accordance with the plan or by a combination of on site and offsite controls.

2. A pro rata fee in accordance with § 15.2-2243 of the Code of Virginia or similar [ local ] funding mechanism through which the water quality and quantity reductions required for a site by this chapter may be achieved by the payment of a fee sufficient to fund improvements necessary to adequately achieve offsite reductions equal to or greater than those that would otherwise be required for the site.

3. The nonpoint nutrient offset program established by § 10.1-603.8:1 of the Code of Virginia.

4. Where no comprehensive watershed stormwater management plan or pro rata fee exists, or where a qualifying local program otherwise elects to allow the use of this subdivision, offsite stormwater management facilities may be used by the operator of a land-disturbing activity to meet the water quality reductions required for a site by this chapter provided:

a. The operator demonstrates to the satisfaction of the local program that offsite reductions equal to or greater than those that would otherwise be required for the site are achieved;

b. The operator demonstrates to the satisfaction of the local program that the development's runoff and the runoff from any offsite treatment area shall be controlled in accordance with 4VAC50-60-66;

c. Offsite stormwater management facilities must be located within the HUC or within the upstream HUCs in the local watershed that the land-disturbing activity directly discharges to or within the same watershed, as determined by the local program; and

d. The operator demonstrates to the satisfaction of the local program that the right to utilize the offsite area and any necessary easements have been obtained and maintenance agreements for the stormwater management facilities have been established pursuant to 4VAC50-60-124.

B. [ Should the board establish by regulatory action a standard more stringent than 0.45 pounds per acre per year in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the offsite compliance option provided by this subsection shall be available as follows. ] Where the offsite options of subsection A of this section are not available for use, where the fee established by a qualifying local program to offset a pound of phosphorus removal onsite pursuant to subdivision A 2 exceeds $23,900, or where a qualifying local program otherwise elects to allow the use of this subsection, offsite compliance may be achieved through a payment in accordance with the following:

1. When the land-disturbing activity is in an urban development area the payment shall be $15,000 per pound of phosphorus and shall be calculated based on the poundage not treated on site. In all other cases the payment shall be $23,900 per pound of phosphorus. Payment amounts shall be determined based upon the nearest 0.01 of a pound of phosphorus.

2. All payments shall be deposited and utilized in accordance with the following:

a. Payments shall be made prior to commencement of the land-disturbing activity and shall be deposited to the Virginia Stormwater Management Fund and held in a subaccount.

b. The board shall establish priorities for the use of these funds by December 1 of each year. Payments held in the fund shall be promptly applied to ensure that nutrient reduction practices are being implemented. Priorities for the funds shall be established in accordance with the following:

(1) At least 50% of the funds shall be utilized for projects to address local stormwater quality issues related to the impacts of development activities including but not limited to urban retrofits, urban stream restorations, and reduction of impervious areas.

(2) Priority use for the remaining funds shall be for the acquisition of certified nonpoint nutrient offsets at a rate not to exceed $23,900 per pound of phosphorus. Any remaining funds shall be utilized to fund long-term contracts for agricultural best management practices no less than 20 years in duration or long-term best management practices including but not limited to stream fencing, alternative water supplies, and riparian buffers in accordance with practice standards established within the Virginia Agricultural BMP Cost Share Program administered by the department.

(3) In establishing priorities, the board shall consider targeting equivalent reductions in the same local watershed as where the payment came from; implementing urban practices/retrofits that address TMDLs; securing permanent practices; and achieving measurable reductions. When purchasing agricultural best management practices, the board shall consider purchasing practices beyond the baseline established under the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Nutrient Credit Exchange Program (§ 62.1-44.19:12 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).

c. The department shall track the payment amount, the associated poundage of phosphorus purchased, the jurisdiction where the payment originated, the regulated MS4 name, if any, and the HUC for the land-disturbing activity. The department shall additionally track the annual expenditure of the funds including the locality and regulated MS4 name, if any, where the moneys are expended, the associated poundage of phosphorus reduced, and the cost per pound for phosphorus reductions associated with the nutrient reduction practices.

d. The department may annually utilize up to 6.0% of the payments to administer the stormwater management program.

e. The board shall periodically review the payment amount, at least every five years or in conjunction with the development of a new construction general permit, and shall evaluate the performance of the fund and the sufficiency of the payment rate in achieving the needed offsite pollution reductions. The board shall adjust the payment amount based upon this analysis.

3. Utilization of a payment to achieve compliance with the water quality technical criteria shall be subject to the following limitations:

a. A new development project disturbing greater than or equal to one acre in the Chesapeake Bay watershed must reduce its phosphorus discharge to a level of 0.45 pounds per acre per year of phosphorus on site, or less, and then may achieve all or a portion of the remaining required phosphorus reductions through a payment.

b. A new development project disturbing less than one acre in the Chesapeake Bay watershed may achieve all necessary phosphorus reductions through a payment.

c. A new development project outside of the Chesapeake Bay watershed must achieve all necessary phosphorus reductions on site.

d. Development on prior developed lands disturbing greater than or equal to one acre must achieve at least a 10% reduction from the predevelopment total phosphorus load on site and then may achieve the remaining required phosphorus reductions through a payment.

e. Development on prior developed lands disturbing less than one acre may achieve all necessary phosphorus reductions through a payment.

4. Nitrogen or other pollutant reductions achieved through payments into the fund must be retired and shall not be made available to other parties.

C. Where the department is administering a local program, only offsite options set out in subdivisions A 3 and A 4 [ , ] and [ , when available, ] subsection B of this section shall be available.

4VAC50-60-70. Stream channel erosion. (Repealed.)

A. Properties and receiving waterways downstream of any land-disturbing activity shall be protected from erosion and damage due to changes in runoff rate of flow and hydrologic characteristics, including but not limited to, changes in volume, velocity, frequency, duration, and peak flow rate of stormwater runoff in accordance with the minimum design standards set out in this section.

B. The permit-issuing authority shall require compliance with subdivision 19 of 4VAC50-30-40 of the Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations, promulgated pursuant to Article 4 (§ 10.1-560 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 10.1 of the Code of Virginia.

C. The permit-issuing authority may determine that some watersheds or receiving stream systems require enhanced criteria in order to address the increased frequency of bankfull flow conditions (top of bank) brought on by land-disturbing activities. Therefore, in lieu of the reduction of the two-year post-developed peak rate of runoff as required in subsection B of this section, the land development project being considered shall provide 24-hour extended detention of the runoff generated by the one-year, 24-hour duration storm.

D. In addition to subsections B and C of this section permit-issuing authorities, by local ordinance may, or the board by state regulation may, adopt more stringent channel analysis criteria or design standards to ensure that the natural level of channel erosion, to the maximum extent practicable, will not increase due to the land-disturbing activities. These criteria may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Criteria and procedures for channel analysis and classification.

2. Procedures for channel data collection.

3. Criteria and procedures for the determination of the magnitude and frequency of natural sediment transport loads.

4. Criteria for the selection of proposed natural or man-made channel linings.

4VAC50-60-72. Design storms and hydrologic methods.

A. Unless otherwise specified, the prescribed design storms are the one-year, two-year, and 10-year 24-hour storms using the site-specific rainfall precipitation frequency data recommended by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Atlas 14. Partial duration time series shall be used for the precipitation data.

B. All Unless otherwise specified, all hydrologic analyses shall be based on the existing watershed characteristics and the ultimate development condition of the subject project.

C. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) synthetic 24-hour rainfall distribution and models, including, but not limited to TR-55 and TR-20; hydrologic and hydraulic methods developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; or other standard hydrologic and hydraulic methods, shall be used to conduct the analyses described in this part.

D. The local program may allow for the use of the Rational Method for evaluating peak discharges or the Modified Rational Method for evaluating volumetric flows to stormwater conveyances with drainage areas of 200 acres or less.

4VAC50-60-74. Stormwater harvesting.

In accordance with § 10.1-603.4 of the Code of Virginia, stormwater harvesting is encouraged for the purposes of landscape irrigation systems, fire protection systems, flushing water closets and urinals, and other water handling systems to the extent such systems are consistent with federal, state, and local regulatory authorities.

4VAC50-60-76. Linear development projects.

Unless exempt pursuant to § 10.1-603.8 B of the Code of Virginia, linear development projects shall control postdevelopment stormwater runoff in accordance with a site-specific stormwater management plan or a comprehensive watershed stormwater management plan developed in accordance with these regulations.

4VAC50-60-80. Flooding. (Repealed.)

A. Downstream properties and waterways shall be protected from damages from localized flooding due to changes in runoff rate of flow and hydrologic characteristics, including but not limited to, changes in volume, velocity, frequency, duration, and peak flow rate of stormwater runoff in accordance with the minimum design standards set out in this section.

B. The 10-year post-developed peak rate of runoff from the development site shall not exceed the 10-year pre-developed peak rate of runoff.

C. In lieu of subsection B of this section, localities may, by ordinance, adopt alternate design criteria based upon geographic, land use, topographic, geologic factors or other downstream conveyance factors as appropriate.

D. Linear development projects shall not be required to control post-developed stormwater runoff for flooding, except in accordance with a watershed or regional stormwater management plan.

4VAC50-60-85. Stormwater management impoundment structures or facilities.

A. Construction of stormwater management impoundment structures or facilities within tidal or nontidal wetlands and perennial streams is not recommended.

B. Construction of stormwater management impoundment structures or facilities within a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated 100-year floodplain is not recommended.

C. Stormwater management wet ponds and extended detention ponds that are not covered by the Impounding Structure Regulations (4VAC50-20) shall, at a minimum, be engineered for structural integrity and spillway design for the 100-year storm event.

D. Construction of stormwater management impoundment structures or facilities may occur in karst areas only after a geological study of the geology and hydrology of the area has been conducted to determine the presence or absence of karst features that may be impacted by stormwater runoff and BMP placement.

E. Discharge of stormwater runoff to a karst feature shall meet the water quality criteria set out in 4VAC50-60-63 and the water quantity criteria set out in 4VAC50-60-66. Permanent stormwater management impoundment structures or facilities shall only be constructed in karst features after completion of a geotechnical investigation that identifies any necessary modifications to the BMP to ensure its structural integrity and maintain its water quality and quantity efficiencies. The person responsible for the land-disturbing activity is encouraged to screen for known existence of heritage resources in the karst features. Any Class V Underground Injection Control Well registration statements for stormwater discharges to improved sinkholes shall be included in the SWPPP.

4VAC50-60-90. Regional (watershed-wide) stormwater management plans. (Repealed.)

This section enables localities to develop regional stormwater management plans. State agencies intending to develop large tracts of land such as campuses or prison compounds are encouraged to develop regional plans where practical.

The objective of a regional stormwater management plan is to address the stormwater management concerns in a given watershed with greater economy and efficiency by installing regional stormwater management facilities versus individual, site-specific facilities. The result will be fewer stormwater management facilities to design, build and maintain in the affected watershed. It is also anticipated that regional stormwater management facilities will not only help mitigate the impacts of new development, but may also provide for the remediation of erosion, flooding or water quality problems caused by existing development within the given watershed.

If developed, a regional plan shall, at a minimum, address the following:

1. The specific stormwater management issues within the targeted watersheds.

2. The technical criteria in 4VAC50-60-40 through 4VAC50-60-80 as needed based on subdivision 1 of this section.

3. The implications of any local comprehensive plans, zoning requirements, local ordinances pursuant to the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Designation and Management Regulations adopted pursuant to the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, and other planning documents.

4. Opportunities for financing a watershed plan through cost sharing with neighboring agencies or localities, implementation of regional stormwater utility fees, etc.

5. Maintenance of the selected stormwater management facilities.

6. Future expansion of the selected stormwater management facilities in the event that development exceeds the anticipated level.

4VAC50-60-92. Comprehensive watershed stormwater management plans.

[ A. ] Qualifying local programs may develop comprehensive watershed stormwater management plans to be approved by the department that meet the water quality objectives, quantity objectives, or both of this chapter:

1. Such plans shall ensure that offsite reductions equal to or greater than those that would be required on each contributing land-disturbing site are achieved within the same HUC or within another locally designated watershed. Pertaining to water quantity objectives, the plan may provide for implementation of a combination of channel improvement, stormwater detention, or other measures that are satisfactory to the qualifying local program to prevent downstream erosion and flooding.

2. If the land use assumptions upon which the plan was based change or if any other amendments are deemed necessary by the qualifying local program, the qualifying local program shall provide plan amendments to the board for review and approval.

3. During the plan's implementation, the qualifying local program shall account for nutrient reductions accredited to the BMPs specified in the plan.

4. State and federal agencies may develop comprehensive stormwater management plans, and may participate in locality-developed comprehensive watershed stormwater management plans where practicable and permitted by the qualifying local program.

4VAC50-60-93. Stormwater management plan development. (Reserved.)

A. A stormwater management plan for a land-disturbing activity shall apply these stormwater management technical criteria to the entire land-disturbing activity.

B. Individual lots or planned phases of developments shall not be considered separate land-disturbing activities, but rather the entire development shall be considered a single land-disturbing activity.

C. The stormwater management plan shall consider all sources of surface runoff and all sources of subsurface and groundwater flows converted to surface runoff.

Part II B
Stormwater Management Program Technical Criteria: Grandfathered Projects

4VAC50-60-94. Applicability.

This part specifies the technical criteria for regulated land-disturbing activities that are not subject to the technical criteria of Part II A in accordance with 4VAC 50-60-48.

4VAC50-60-95. General.

A. Determination of flooding and channel erosion impacts to receiving streams due to land-disturbing activities shall be measured at each point of discharge from the land disturbance and such determination shall include any runoff from the balance of the watershed that also contributes to that point of discharge.

B. The specified design storms shall be defined as either a 24-hour storm using the rainfall distribution recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) when using NRCS methods or as the storm of critical duration that produces the greatest required storage volume at the site when using a design method such as the Modified Rational Method.

C. For purposes of computing runoff, all pervious lands in the site shall be assumed prior to development to be in good condition (if the lands are pastures, lawns, or parks), with good cover (if the lands are woods), or with conservation treatment (if the lands are cultivated); regardless of conditions existing at the time of computation.

D. Construction of stormwater management facilities or modifications to channels shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Evidence of approval of all necessary permits shall be presented.

E. Impounding structures that are not covered by the Impounding Structure Regulations (4VAC50-20) shall be engineered for structural integrity during the 100-year storm event.

F. Predevelopment and postdevelopment runoff rates shall be verified by calculations that are consistent with good engineering practices.

G. Outflows from a stormwater management facility or stormwater conveyance system shall be discharged to an adequate channel.

H. Proposed residential, commercial, or industrial subdivisions shall apply these stormwater management criteria to the land disturbance as a whole. Individual lots in new subdivisions shall not be considered separate land-disturbing activities, but rather the entire subdivision shall be considered a single land development project. Hydrologic parameters shall reflect the ultimate land disturbance and shall be used in all engineering calculations.

I. All stormwater management facilities shall have an inspection and maintenance plan that identifies the owner and the responsible party for carrying out the inspection and maintenance plan.

J. Construction of stormwater management impoundment structures within a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated 100-year floodplain shall be avoided to the extent possible. When this is unavoidable, all stormwater management facility construction shall be in compliance with all applicable regulations under the National Flood Insurance Program, 44 CFR Part 59.

K. Natural channel characteristics shall be preserved to the maximum extent practicable.

L. Land-disturbing activities shall comply with the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law (§ 10.1-560 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) and attendant regulations.

M. Flood control and stormwater management facilities that drain or treat water from multiple development projects or from a significant portion of a watershed may be allowed in resource protection areas defined in the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, provided that (i) the local government has conclusively established that the location of the facility within the resource protection area is the optimum location; (ii) the size of the facility is the minimum necessary to provide necessary flood control, stormwater treatment, or both; and (iii) the facility must be consistent with a stormwater management program that has been approved by the board, the Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Board, or the Board of Conservation and Recreation.

4VAC50-60-96. Comprehensive watershed stormwater management plans Water quality.

A. Local programs may develop comprehensive watershed stormwater management plans to be approved by the department that meet the water quality objectives, quantity objectives, or both of this chapter:

1. Such plans shall ensure that offsite reductions equal to or greater than those that would be required on each contributing land-disturbing site are achieved within the same HUC or within another locally designated watershed. Pertaining to water quantity objectives, the plan may provide for implementation of a combination of channel improvement, stormwater detention, or other measures that are satisfactory to the local program to prevent downstream erosion and flooding.

2. If the land use assumptions upon which the plan was based change or if any other amendments are deemed necessary by the local program, the local program shall provide plan amendments to the board for review and approval.

3. During the plan's implementation, the local program shall account for nutrient reductions accredited to the BMPs specified in the plan.

4. State and federal agencies may participate in comprehensive watershed stormwater management plans where practicable and permitted by the local program.

A. Compliance with the water quality criteria may be achieved by applying the performance-based criteria or the technology-based criteria to either the site or a planning area.

B. If the qualifying local program allows for a pro rata fee in accordance with § 15.2-2243 of the Code of Virginia, then the reductions required for a site by this chapter may be achieved by the payment of a pro rata fee sufficient to fund improvements necessary to adequately achieve those requirements in accordance with that section of the Code of Virginia and this chapter. Performance-based criteria. For land-disturbing activities, the calculated postdevelopment nonpoint source pollutant runoff load shall be compared to the calculated predevelopment load based upon the average land cover condition or the existing site condition. A BMP shall be located, designed, and maintained to achieve the target pollutant removal efficiencies specified in Table 2 of this section to effectively reduce the pollutant load to the required level based upon the following four applicable land development situations for which the performance criteria apply:

1. Situation 1 consists of land-disturbing activities where the existing percent impervious cover is less than or equal to the average land cover condition and the proposed improvements will create a total percent impervious cover that is less than the average land cover condition.

Requirement: No reduction in the after disturbance pollutant discharge is required.

2. Situation 2 consists of land-disturbing activities where the existing percent impervious cover is less than or equal to the average land cover condition and the proposed improvements will create a total percent impervious cover that is greater than the average land cover condition.

Requirement: The pollutant discharge after disturbance shall not exceed the existing pollutant discharge based on the average land cover condition.

3. Situation 3 consists of land-disturbing activities where the existing percent impervious cover is greater than the average land cover condition.

Requirement: The pollutant discharge after disturbance shall not exceed (i) the pollutant discharge based on existing conditions less 10% or (ii) the pollutant discharge based on the average land cover condition, whichever is greater.

4. Situation 4 consists of land-disturbing activities where the existing percent impervious cover is served by an existing stormwater management BMP that addresses water quality.

Requirement: The pollutant discharge after disturbance shall not exceed the existing pollutant discharge based on the existing percent impervious cover while served by the existing BMP. The existing BMP shall be shown to have been designed and constructed in accordance with proper design standards and specifications, and to be in proper functioning condition.

C. Technology-based criteria. For land-disturbing activities, the postdeveloped stormwater runoff from the impervious cover shall be treated by an appropriate BMP as required by the postdeveloped condition percent impervious cover as specified in Table 2 of this section. The selected BMP shall be located, designed, and maintained to perform at the target pollutant removal efficiency specified in Table 2 or those found in 4VAC50-60-65. Design standards and specifications for the BMPs in Table 2 that meet the required target pollutant removal efficiency are available in the 1990 Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook. Other approved BMPs available on the Virginia Stormwater BMP Clearinghouse website at http://www.vwrrc.vt.edu/swc may also be utilized.

Table 2*
Water Quality BMP*	Target Phosphorus Removal Efficiency	Percent Impervious Cover
Vegetated filter strip	10%	16-21%
Grassed Swale	15%
Constructed wetlands	20%	22-37%
Extended detention (2 x WQ Vol)	35%
Retention basin I (3 x WQ Vol)	40%
Bioretention basin	50%	38-66%
Bioretention filter	50%
Extended detention-enhanced	50%
Retention basin II (4 x WQ Vol)	50%
Infiltration (1 x WQ Vol)	50%
Sand filter	65%	67-100%
Infiltration (2 x WQ Vol)	65%
Retention basin III (4 x WQ Vol with aquatic bench)	65%
*Innovative or alternate BMPs not included in this table may be allowed at the discretion of the local program administrator or the department. Innovative or alternate BMPs not included in this table that target appropriate nonpoint source pollution other than phosphorous may be allowed at the discretion of the local program administrator or the department.

4VAC50-60-97. Stream channel erosion.

A. Properties and receiving waterways downstream of any land-disturbing activity shall be protected from erosion and damage due to changes in runoff rate of flow and hydrologic characteristics, including, but not limited to, changes in volume, velocity, frequency, duration, and peak flow rate of stormwater runoff in accordance with the minimum design standards set out in this section.

B. The permit-issuing authority shall require compliance with subdivision 19 of 4VAC50-30-40 of the Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations, promulgated pursuant to Article 4 (§ 10.1-560 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 10.1 of the Code of Virginia.

C. The permit-issuing authority may determine that some watersheds or receiving stream systems require enhanced criteria in order to address the increased frequency of bankfull flow conditions (top of bank) brought on by land-disturbing activities. Therefore, in lieu of the reduction of the two-year postdeveloped peak rate of runoff as required in subsection B of this section, the land development project being considered shall provide 24-hour extended detention of the runoff generated by the one-year, 24-hour duration storm.

D. In addition to subsections B and C of this section, permit-issuing authorities, by local ordinance may, or the board by state regulation may, adopt more stringent channel analysis criteria or design standards to ensure that the natural level of channel erosion, to the maximum extent practicable, will not increase due to the land-disturbing activities. These criteria may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Criteria and procedures for channel analysis and classification.

2. Procedures for channel data collection.

3. Criteria and procedures for the determination of the magnitude and frequency of natural sediment transport loads.

4. Criteria for the selection of proposed natural or manmade channel linings.

4VAC50-60-98. Flooding.

A. Downstream properties and waterways shall be protected from damages from localized flooding due to changes in runoff rate of flow and hydrologic characteristics, including, but not limited to, changes in volume, velocity, frequency, duration, and peak flow rate of stormwater runoff in accordance with the minimum design standards set out in this section.

B. The 10-year postdeveloped peak rate of runoff from the development site shall not exceed the 10-year predeveloped peak rate of runoff.

C. In lieu of subsection B of this section, localities may, by ordinance, adopt alternate design criteria based upon geographic, land use, topographic, geologic factors, or other downstream conveyance factors as appropriate.

D. Linear development projects shall not be required to control postdeveloped stormwater runoff for flooding, except in accordance with a watershed or regional stormwater management plan.

4VAC50-60-99. Regional [ (watershedwide) (watershed-wide) ] stormwater management plans.

Water quality and where allowed, water quantity, may be achieved in accordance with sections 4VAC50-60-69 and 4VAC50-60-92.

Part III
Local Programs

4VAC50-60-100. Applicability. (Repealed.)

This part specifies technical criteria, minimum ordinance requirements, and administrative procedures for all localities operating local stormwater management programs.

Part III A
Local Programs

4VAC50-60-102. Authority and applicability.

If a locality has adopted a local stormwater management program in accordance with the Virginia Stormwater Management Act (§ 10.1-603.2 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) and the board has deemed such program adoption consistent with the Virginia Stormwater Management Act and these regulations in accordance with § 10.1-603.3 F of the Code of Virginia, the board may authorize a locality to administer a qualifying local program. Pursuant to § 10.1-603.4, the board is required to establish standards and procedures for such an authorization.

This part specifies the minimum technical criteria and the local government ordinance requirements for a local program to be considered a qualifying local program. Such criteria include but are not limited to administration, plan review, issuance of coverage under the Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities, inspection, and enforcement.

4VAC50-60-104. Technical criteria for qualifying local programs.

A. All qualifying local programs shall require compliance with the provisions of Part II Part II A and Part II B as applicable (4VAC50-60-40 et seq.) of this chapter unless an exception is granted pursuant to 4VAC50-60-122 and shall comply with the requirements of 4VAC50-60-460 L.

B. When a locality operating a qualifying local program has adopted requirements more stringent than those imposed by this chapter in accordance with § 10.1-603.7 of the Code of Virginia or implemented a comprehensive stormwater management plan, the department shall consider such requirements in its review of state projects within that locality in accordance with Part IV (4VAC50-60-160 et seq.) of this chapter.

C. Nothing in this part shall be construed as authorizing a locality to regulate, or to require prior approval by the locality for, a state project.

4VAC50-60-106. Qualifying local program administrative requirements.

A. A qualifying local program shall provide for the following:

1. Identification of the authority authorizing coverage under the VSMP General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities, the plan reviewing authority, the plan approving authority, the inspection authority, and the enforcement authority;

2. Technical criteria to be used in the qualifying local program;

3. Procedures for the submission and approval of plans;

4. Inspection and monitoring of land-disturbing activities covered by a permit for compliance;

5. Procedures or policies for long-term inspection and maintenance of stormwater management facilities Enforcement; and

6. Enforcement Procedures or policies for long-term inspection and maintenance of stormwater management facilities.

B. A locality qualifying local program shall adopt an ordinance(s) that incorporates the components set out in subdivisions 1 through 5 of subsection A of this section and consent to follow procedures provided by the department for the issuance, denial, revocation, termination, reissuance, transfer, or modifications of coverage under the VSMP General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities.

C. A qualifying local program shall report to the department information related to the administration and implementation of the qualifying local program in accordance with 4VAC50-60-126.

D. A qualifying local program may require the submission of a reasonable performance bond or other financial surety and provide for the release of such sureties in accordance with the criteria set forth in § 10.1-603.8 of the Code of Virginia.

4VAC50-60-108. Qualifying local program stormwater management plan review.

A. A qualifying local program shall require stormwater management plans to be submitted for review and be approved prior to commencement of land-disturbing activities. In addition to the other requirements of this chapter, a stormwater management plan must be developed in accordance with the following:

1. A stormwater management plan for a land-disturbing activity shall apply the stormwater management technical criteria to the entire land-disturbing activity.

2. At the discretion of the qualifying local program, individual lots or planned phases of developments shall not be considered separate land-disturbing activities, but rather the entire development shall be considered a single land-disturbing activity.

3. The stormwater management plan shall consider all sources of surface runoff and all sources of subsurface and groundwater flows converted to surface runoff.

B. A qualifying local program shall approve or disapprove a stormwater management plan and required accompanying information according to the following:

1. Stormwater management plan review shall begin upon submission of a complete plan. A complete plan shall include the following elements:

a. The location of all points of stormwater discharge, receiving surface waters or karst features into which the stormwater discharges, and predevelopment and postdevelopment conditions for drainage areas, including final drainage patterns and changes to existing contours;

b. Contact information including the name, address, and telephone number of the property owner and the tax reference number and parcel number of the property or properties affected;

c. A narrative that includes a description of current site conditions and proposed development and final site conditions, including proposed stormwater management facilities and the mechanism, including an identification of financially responsible parties, through which the facilities will be operated and maintained during and after construction activity;

d. The location and the design of the proposed stormwater management facilities;

e. Information identifying the hydrologic characteristics and structural properties of soils utilized with the installation of stormwater management facilities;

f. Hydrologic and hydraulic computations of the predevelopment and postdevelopment runoff conditions for the required design storms;

g. Good engineering practices and calculations verifying compliance with the water quality and quantity requirements of this chapter;

h. A map or maps of the site that depicts the topography of the site and includes:

(1) All contributing drainage areas;

(2) Receiving surface waters or karst features into which stormwater will be discharged;

(3) Existing streams, ponds, culverts, ditches, wetlands, and other water bodies;

(4) Soil types, geologic formations, forest cover, and other vegetative areas;

(5) Current land use including existing structures, roads, and locations of known utilities and easements;

(6) Sufficient information on adjoining parcels to assess the impacts of stormwater from the site;

(7) The limits of clearing and grading, and the proposed drainage patterns on the site;

(8) Proposed buildings, roads, parking areas, utilities, and stormwater management facilities; and

(9) Proposed land use with tabulation of the percentage of surface area to be adapted to various uses, including but not limited to planned locations of utilities, roads, and easements.

i. No more than 50% of the required base fee in accordance with 4VAC50-60-820, and the required fee form must have been submitted.

2. Elements of the stormwater management plans shall be appropriately sealed and signed by a professional in adherence to all minimum standards and requirements pertaining to the practice of that profession in accordance with Chapter 4 (§ 54.1-400 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia and attendant regulations.

3. Completeness of a plan and required accompanying information shall be determined by the qualifying local program, and the applicant shall be notified of any determination, within 15 calendar days of receipt.

a. If within those 15 days the plan is deemed to be incomplete based on the criteria set out in this subsection, the applicant shall be notified in writing of the reasons the plan is deemed incomplete.

b. If a determination of completeness is made and communicated to the applicant within the 15 calendar days, an additional 60 calendar days from the date of the communication will be allowed for the review of the plan.

c. If a determination of completeness is not made and communicated to the applicant within the 15 calendar days, the plan shall be deemed complete as of the date of submission and a total of 60 calendar days from the date of submission will be allowed for the review of the plan.

d. The qualifying local program shall act within 45 days on any plan that has been previously disapproved and resubmitted.

4. During the review period, the plan shall be approved or disapproved and the decision communicated in writing to the person responsible for the land-disturbing activity or his designated agent. If the plan is not approved, the reasons for not approving the plan shall be provided in writing. Approval or denial shall be based on the plan's compliance with the requirements of this chapter and of the qualifying local program. Where available to the applicant, electronic communication may be considered communication in writing.

5. If a plan meeting all requirements of this chapter and of the qualifying local program is submitted and no action is taken within the time specified above, the plan shall be deemed approved.

C. Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection A of this section, if allowed by the qualifying local program, an initial stormwater management plan may be submitted for review and approval when it is accompanied by an erosion and sediment control plan, preliminary stormwater design for the current and future site work, fee form, and no more than 50% of the base fee required by 4VAC50-60-820. Such plans shall be limited to the initial clearing and grading of the site unless otherwise allowed by the qualifying local program. Approval by the qualifying local program of an initial plan does not supersede the need for the submittal and approval of a complete stormwater management plan and the updating of the SWPPP prior to the commencement of activities beyond initial clearing and grading and other activities approved by the local program. The initial plan shall include information detailed in subsection B of this section to the extent required by the qualifying local program and such other information as may be required by the qualifying local program.

D. Each approved plan may be modified in accordance with the following:

1. Modifications to an approved stormwater management plan shall be allowed only after review and written approval by the qualifying local program. The qualifying local program shall have 60 calendar days to respond in writing either approving or disapproving such requests.

2. Based on an inspection, the qualifying local program may require amendments to the approved stormwater management plan to address the noted deficiencies and notify the permittee of the required modifications.

4VAC50-60-110. Technical criteria for local programs. (Repealed.)

A. All local stormwater management programs shall comply with the general technical criteria as outlined in 4VAC50-60-50.

B. All local stormwater management programs which contain provisions for stormwater runoff quality shall comply with 4VAC50-60-60. A locality may establish criteria for selecting either the site or a planning area on which to apply the water quality criteria. A locality may opt to calculate actual watershed specific or locality wide values for the average land cover condition based upon:

1. Existing land use data at time of local Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act Program or department stormwater management program adoption, whichever was adopted first;

2. Watershed or locality size; and

3. Determination of equivalent values of impervious cover for nonurban land uses which contribute nonpoint source pollution, such as agriculture, forest, etc.

C. All local stormwater management programs which contain provisions for stream channel erosion shall comply with 4VAC50-60-70.

D. All local stormwater management programs must contain provisions for flooding and shall comply with 4VAC50-60-80.

E. All local stormwater management programs which contain provisions for watershed or regional stormwater management plans shall comply with 4VAC50-60-110.

F. A locality that has adopted more stringent requirements or implemented a regional (watershed-wide) stormwater management plan may request, in writing, that the department consider these requirements in its review of state projects within that locality.

G. Nothing in this part shall be construed as authorizing a locality to regulate, or to require prior approval by the locality for, a state project.

4VAC50-60-112. Qualifying local program authorization of coverage under the VSMP General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities.

A. Coverage shall be authorized by the qualifying local program under the VSMP General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities in accordance with the following:

1. The applicant must have an approved initial stormwater management plan or an approved stormwater management plan for the land-disturbing activity.

2. The applicant must have submitted proposed right-of-entry agreements or easements from the owner for purposes of inspection and maintenance and proposed maintenance agreements, including inspection schedules, where required in accordance with 4VAC50-60-124.

3. The applicant must have an approved registration statement for the VSMP General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities.

4. The applicant must have submitted the required fee form and total fee required by 4VAC50-60-820.

5. Applicants submitting registration statements deemed to be incomplete must be notified within 15 working days of receipt by the qualifying local program that the registration statement is not complete and be notified (i) of what material needs to be submitted to complete the registration statement, and (ii) that the land-disturbing activity does not have coverage under the VSMP General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities.

B. Coverage or termination of coverage shall be authorized through a standardized database or other method provided by the department. Such database shall include, at a minimum, permit number, operator name, activity name, acres disturbed, date of permit coverage, and site address and location as well as date of termination.

C. Coverage information pertaining to the VSMP General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities shall be reported to the department in accordance with 4VAC50-60-126 by the qualifying local program.

D. The applicant shall be notified of authorization of permit coverage by the qualifying local program.

4VAC50-60-114. Inspections.

A. The qualifying local program or its designee shall inspect the land-disturbing activity during construction for compliance with the VSMP General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities.

B. The person responsible for the development project or their designated agent shall submit to a qualifying local program a construction record drawing for permanent stormwater management facilities, appropriately sealed, and signed by a professional in accordance with all minimum standards and requirements pertaining to the practice of that profession pursuant to Chapter 4 (§ 54.1-400 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia and attendant regulations, certifying that the stormwater management facilities have been constructed in accordance with the approved plan. The qualifying local program shall have the construction record drawing and certification on file prior to the release of the portion of the any performance bond or surety associated with the stormwater management facility. The qualifying local program may elect not to require construction record drawings for stormwater management facilities for which maintenance agreements are not required pursuant to 4VAC50-60-124.

C. The owners owner of a stormwater management facilities facility for which a maintenance agreement is required pursuant to 4VAC50-60-124 shall be required to conduct inspections in accordance with an inspection schedule in a the recorded maintenance agreement, and shall submit written inspection and maintenance reports to the qualifying local program upon request. Such reports, if consistent with a board-approved inspection program established in subsection D E of this section, may be utilized by the qualifying local program if the inspection is conducted by a person who is licensed as a professional engineer, architect, certified landscape architect, or land surveyor pursuant to Article 1 (§ 54.1-400 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 54.1 or who holds a certificate of competence from the board. The reports, if so utilized, must be kept on file with the qualifying local program.

D. A qualifying local program shall develop a strategy for addressing maintenance of stormwater management facilities designed to treat stormwater runoff [ solely primarily ] from an individual residential lot on which they are located. Such a strategy may include periodic inspections, homeowner outreach and education, or other method targeted at promoting the long-term maintenance of such facilities. Such facilities shall not be subject to the requirement for an inspection to be conducted by the qualifying local program every five years contained within subsection E of this section.

E. A qualifying local program shall establish an inspection program that ensures that the stormwater management facilities are being maintained as designed. Any inspection program shall be:

1. Approved by the board prior to implementation;

2. Established in writing;

3. Based on a system of priorities that takes into consideration the purpose and type of the facility, ownership and the existence of a recorded maintenance agreement and inspection schedule where required, the contributing drainage area, and downstream conditions;

4. Demonstrated to be an enforceable inspection program that meets the intent of the regulations and ensures that each stormwater management facility is inspected by the qualifying local program or its designee, not to include the owner, except as provided in subsection subsections C and D of this section, at least every five years; and

5. Documented by inspection records.

E. F. Inspection reports shall be generated and kept on file in accordance with 4VAC50-60-126 for all stormwater management facilities inspected by the qualifying local program.

4VAC50-60-116. Qualifying local program enforcement.

A. A qualifying local program may incorporate the following components:

1. Informal and formal administrative enforcement procedures including:

a. Verbal warnings and inspection reports;

b. Notices of corrective action;

c. Consent special orders and civil charges in accordance with subdivision 7 of § 10.1-603.2:1 and § 10.1-603.14 D 2 of the Code of Virginia;

d. Notices to comply in accordance with § 10.1-603.11 of the Code of Virginia;

e. Special orders in accordance with subdivision 7 of § 10.1-603.2:1 of the Code of Virginia;

f. Emergency special orders in accordance with subdivision 7 of § 10.1-603.2:1 of the Code of Virginia; and

g. Public notice and comment periods pursuant to 4VAC50-60-660.

2. Civil and criminal judicial enforcement procedures including:

a. Schedule of civil penalties set out in subsection D of this section;

b. Criminal penalties in accordance with § 10.1-603.14 B and C of the Code of Virginia; and

c. Injunctions in accordance with §§ 10.1-603.12:4, 10.1-603.2:1 and 10.1-603.14 D 1 of the Code of Virginia.

B. A qualifying local program shall develop policies and procedures that outline the steps to be taken regarding enforcement actions under the Stormwater Management Act and attendant regulations and the local ordinance.

C. A qualifying local program may utilize the department's Stormwater Management Enforcement Manual as guidance in establishing policies and procedures.

D. A court may utilize as guidance the following Schedule of Civil Penalties set by the board in accordance with § 10.1-603.14 A of the Code of Virginia. The range contained within the schedule reflects the degree of harm caused by the violation, which is site-specific and may vary greatly from case to case, as may the economic benefit of noncompliance to the violator. Each day of violation of each requirement shall constitute a separate offense. Assignment of the degree of harm is a qualitative decision subject to the court's discretion. The court has the discretion to impose a maximum penalty of $32,500 per violation per day in accordance with § 10.1-603.14 A of the Code of Virginia.