Title of Regulation: 2VAC5-110. Rules and Regulations Pertaining to a Pound or Enclosure to Be Maintained by Each County or City.

Agency Contact: Richard D. Saunders, Deputy Director, Division of Animal and Food Industry Services, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 102 Governor Street, Room 321, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 692-0601, or email doug.saunders@vdacs.virginia.gov.

FORMS (2VAC5-110)

Pound and Shelter Inspection Form, VDACS-PS-1 (eff. 7/07).

Animal Facility Inspection Form, VDACS AC-10 (eff. 07/09).

Animal Facility Inspection Form – Pound Regulations, VDACS AC-10-A (eff. 07/09).

Animal Facility Inspection Form – Animal Care, VDACS AC-10-B (eff. 07/09).

Animal Facility Inspection Form – Operations, VDACS AC-10-C (eff. 07/09).

Title of Regulation: 2VAC5-150. Rules and Regulations Governing the Transportation of Companion Animals.

Agency Contact: Richard D. Saunders, Deputy Director, Division of Animal and Food Industry Services, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 102 Governor Street, Room 321, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 692-0601, or email doug.saunders@vdacs.virginia.gov.

FORMS (2VAC5-150)

Animal Control Vehicle Review, Form VDACS-03132-2.

Animal Facility Inspection Form, VDACS AC-10 (eff. 07/09).

Animal Facility Inspection Form – Animal Transport, VDACS AC-10-1 (eff. 07/09).

Title of Regulation: 4VAC5-36. Standard Fees for Use of Department of Conservation and Recreation Facilities, Programs, and Services (amending 4VAC5-36-40, 4VAC5-36-50, 4VAC5-36-60, 4VAC5-36-80, 4VAC5-36-90, 4VAC5-36-100, 4VAC5-36-110, 4VAC5-36-115, 4VAC5-36-120, 4VAC5-36-130, 4VAC5-36-140, 4VAC5-36-150, 4VAC5-36-160, 4VAC5-36-170, 4VAC5-36-190, 4VAC5-36-200, 4VAC5-36-210).

Statutory Authority: § 10.1-104 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: January 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:

The amendments include general conditions and criteria concerning the establishment, revision, and revocation of fees (4VAC5-36-40); parking and launch fees (4VAC5-36-50); admission fees (4VAC5-36-60); commercial and nonprofit user fees (4VAC5-36-80); camping fees; (4VAC5-36-90); cabin fees (4VAC5-36-100); picnic shelter fees (4VAC5-36-110); horse arena fees (4VAC5-36-115); amphitheater and gazebo fees (4VAC5-36-120); boat storage fees (4VAC5-36-130); interpretive canoe, boat, and paddleboat fees (4VAC5-36-140); interpretive and educational tours and program fees (4VAC5-36-150); outdoor skill program fees (4VAC5-36-160); hunting fees (4VAC5-36-170); environmental education center fees (4VAC5-36-190); miscellaneous rental fees (4VAC5-36-200); and conference center and meeting facility fees (4VAC5-36-210).

Increases to these rates and prices represent (i) changes to maintain fair market value, (ii) the addition of new facilities and offerings, (iii) updates to ensure consistency with the private sector, and (iv) revisions to reflect private concessionaires' new seasonal prices. Language has been added to 4VAC5-36-40 (General conditions and criteria concerning the establishment, revision, and revocation of fees) allowing the electronic submission of documents and payments where available, including the use of electronic mail, the Reservation Center and the ReserveAmerica system, completing any forms provided online, or any other manner specified by the department.

4VAC5-36-40. General conditions and criteria concerning the establishment, revision, and revocation of fees.

A. The director may establish, revise, or revoke standard or nonstandard fees for facility rentals, programs, festivals, special events, concerts, and services as the need arises according to reasonable and accepted business practices, negotiation with third party providers, and local market conditions. Such fees and prices shall be in effect immediately upon the reasonable availability of information allowing the public to be aware of the most current fee or price. The agency shall publish new, revised or revoked standard fees in accordance with the Virginia Register Act (§ 2.2-4100 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).

B. In the event a nonstandard fee becomes a continuing offering, the director shall publish the fee in accordance with the Virginia Register Act (§ 2.2-4100 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).

C. The submission of the required documents and payments set out in this chapter may be accomplished where available by electronic means, including but not limited to electronic mail and the use of the Reservation Center or ReserveAmerica system, completing any forms provided online, or any other manner specified by the department.

4VAC5-36-50. Parking and launch fees.

PARKING FEES (NONTAXABLE)

Notes on parking fees:

1. Weekend rates apply on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day holidays.

2. No parking fee is required for up to two vehicles per campsite and per cabin at any state park during the period of overnight stay. Vehicles in excess of two shall pay the prevailing daily parking fee for each day that the vehicle is parked in the park.

3. Except as otherwise noted, boat launching shall be free for up to one boat per vehicle per campsite or cabin.

4. Parking fees are waived for any vehicle displaying disabled license plates or temporary disabled parking identification issued by any state or the federal government. However, the fee for any additional types of trailers, the boat launch fee or the portion of any combined parking-launching fee that applies to boat launching shall be collected from such vehicles. Additionally, the price for annual passes and lifetime passes that include boat launching for qualified disabled individuals shall be calculated by subtracting the applicable parking pass fee from the park/launch pass fee.

5. Parking fees are waived for any vehicle occupied solely by students and/or teachers and/or assisting personnel participating in an official activity of a bona fide school, home school, or institution of higher learning. Parks may require that individuals in vehicles other than those marked as a school bus verify their official activity by letter from the school or approved field trip form, or in the case of home school groups, proof of home school status such as current ID card from a state or national home school organization (HEAV, HSLDA, etc.) or a copy of the letter from the school district that acknowledges "Notice of Intent" to home school for that school year.

6. Parking fees are waived for official vehicles of federal, state, and local governments while on official business; vehicles making deliveries to the park; contractor and business vehicles performing work in the park; and emergency vehicles while conducting official business, including training.

7. Parking fees are waived for park employees during time of employment, including family and household members of staff occupying staff residences, visitors to staff residences, and park volunteers entering the park to perform volunteer duties.

8. Parking fees may be waived for vehicles conducting research or collecting activities provided such waiver is included in the language of the Research and Collection Permit as required in 4VAC5-30-50.

9. The period covered by a daily parking fee shall be midnight to midnight. Park guests utilizing overnight parking when and where available (e.g., backpackers, overnight fishermen, etc.) will be required to pay the applicable daily parking fee for each calendar day that their vehicle is in the parking lot (partial days included).

10. Annual permits shall be valid for 12 months from the date of purchase, unless otherwise noted.

11. Parking fees are waived for visitors entering the park for the sole purpose of dining at the park restaurant at Douthat and Hungry Mother State Parks.

12. Parking fees are waived at state parks for participants in Walk for Parks, Fall River Renaissance, Envirothons, March for Parks, Operation Spruce-Up Day, Stewardship Virginia, National Trails Day, and other park-sanctioned public service events as approved by the director.

13. Daily parking fees are reduced to $1.00 for vehicles occupied by participants in fund-raising events sponsored by nonprofit organizations (Walk-A-Thons, etc.) provided the sponsor has obtained a special use permit from the park that contains provisions for the identification of participants in the event.

14. Parking fees shall be waived for persons using park roads to gain legal access to their private residence and guests to such residences; and for vehicles passing through, but not stopping in, a park on a public roadway.

15. Revenue collected from special event parking and/or admission fees may be divided between the park and the event sponsor if so designated and approved in the special event permit following a determination made by the director that the revenue split is in the benefit of the Commonwealth.

16. Annual Park/Launch pass also covers the park entrance or parking fee for horse trailers or other allowable trailers. Annual and Lifetime parking-only passes do not include trailers.

17. Parking fees are waived for service vehicles such as tow trucks when entering the park to service a visitor vehicle.

18. Parking fees are waived for visitors entering the park to attend a performance by a U.S. military band if this is a required condition for the band's performance.

19. Parking fees are included in the rental fees for meeting facilities, up to the capacity of the facility and provided that this waiver of fee is included in the rental agreement for the facility.

20. Parking fees are waived for a period of up to 15 minutes for persons entering the park to deposit materials in community recycling collection containers.

21. Parking fees are waived for vehicles occupied entirely by persons attending fee interpretive programs.

22. Annual parking passes that do not include boat launch require payment of daily launch fee if launching a boat at any park or for all vehicles using Croaker Landing/Pier Area at York River State Park.

23. Annual parking pass holders are not guaranteed the parking privileges of the pass should parking places be unavailable.

24. Parking fees are waived at Mason Neck during the park's annual Elizabeth Hartwell Eagle Festival.

25. The payment of a parking fee at one park shall be applied to parking at any state park on the same day provided that the visitor supplies evidence of the paid parking fee.

4VAC5-36-60. Admission fees.

Notes on admission/entrance fees:

1. Fees are waived at Natural Tunnel for use of the chairlift on one designated "Customer Appreciation Day" per year.

2. Museum entrance fees are waived at the Southwest Virginia Museum during the "Festival of Trees" event for members of groups who submitted trees for the display.

3. For park museums and historic features that charge an entrance fee, visitors participating in the Time Travelers program of the Virginia Association of Museums shall be charged the existing per person group rate for that facility.

4VAC5-36-80. Commercial and nonprofit user fees.

COMMERCIAL AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONAL USERS FEES (NONTAXABLE)

4VAC5-36-90. Camping fees.

CAMPING FEES (TAXABLE, Price here does not include tax)

Notes on camping:

1. Check-out time is 3 p.m. and check-in time is 4 p.m.

2. Camping Transfer/Cancellation/Early Departure Policy.

a. Any fees to be refunded are calculated less the applicable cancellation fee(s).

b. Fees paid to the reservation center by credit card will be refunded to the original credit card charged.

c. Fees paid by check or money order to the reservation center, or by any method at the park, will be refunded by state check.

d. A customer may move a camping reservation to another date or park, referred to as a transfer, through the reservation center only, and prior to 4 p.m. on the scheduled date of arrival. If the reservation center will not be open again prior to the start date of the reservation, transferring is not an option. There is no fee to transfer.

e. A camping reservation may be canceled until 4 p.m. on the scheduled date of arrival but campers will be charged the cancellation fee. This cancellation fee applies to each separate reservation made.

f. Once the 4 p.m. check-in time is reached on the scheduled day of arrival, any adjustment to a reservation is considered an early departure.

g. After the check-in time is reached, the first night is considered used whether the site is occupied or not.

h. There is a one-night penalty, deducted from any amount available for refund, for early departure.

3. Campers are allowed two vehicles per campsite per day without charge of a parking fee. Additional vehicles, beyond two, must pay the prevailing parking fee in effect at the park for each day that the vehicle(s) is parked in the park. The number of vehicles allowed to park on the campsite varies according to site design and size of other camping equipment. No vehicles shall park on a campsite in other than the designated area for this purpose. Camper vehicles that do not fit on the site, whether or not they require the special camper vehicle fee, must park in the designated overflow parking area.

4. Each member of the camping party, except in primitive group areas, up to the maximum allowable per site, may receive an entrance pass to the park's swimming facility on the basis of one pass per night of camping. Passes only issued during days and seasons of operation of the swimming facility and only good during the member's registered stay.

5. Damage to campsites, not considered normal wear and tear, will be billed to the person registered for the campsite on an itemized cost basis.

6. At honor collection sites, the stated camping fees on this list shall be considered as having tax included. Honor collection is defined as the payment of the camping fee on-site at the park at a nonelectronic collection point at which the payment is placed in a box or safe provided for that purpose.

7. Horse stalls may only be rented in conjunction with the rental of a campsite in the equestrian campground and a person must occupy the campsite. All horses brought to the park by overnight guests must be kept in rental stalls except in primitive equestrian areas at New River Trail and James River State Parks.

4VAC5-36-100. Cabin fees.

Notes on Pocahontas Group Cabins:

Pocahontas Group Cabins: Reservations of $200 or more require a 25% prepayment, due within 14 days of making the reservation. Balance of fees is due 60 days prior to the reservation start date. Reservations of less than $200 require payment in full to confirm the reservation, due within 14 days of making the reservation. Cancellations made 30 days or more prior to the first day of the reservation shall receive a refund less a $30 per unit cancellation fee. Cancellations made less than 30 days prior to the first date of the reservation receive no refund unless the units are subsequently rented, in which case the refund shall be full price minus $30 per unit.

Notes on cabins:

1. Seasonal cabin rates shall be in effect according to the following schedule, except for camping cabins, camping lodges, yurts, and travel trailers, which operate on the same schedule and season as the campground at that particular park. In the event that a weekly rental period includes two seasonal rates, the higher rate will apply for the entire weekly rental period.

2. All dates refer to the night of the stay; checkout time is 10 a.m. and check-in time is 3 p.m.

3. The following holiday periods are charged prime season weekend rates: the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday period that includes Thanksgiving Day; and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; and New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

4. Cabin guests are allowed two vehicles per cabin per day without charge of parking fee. Additional vehicles must pay the prevailing parking fee for each day that the vehicle is parked in the park. The number of vehicles allowed to park at the cabin varies according to site design and other factors. All vehicles must park in designated parking areas, either at the cabin or in the designated overflow parking area.

5. Lodge guests are allowed six vehicles per lodge per day without charge of parking fee. Additional vehicles must pay the prevailing vehicle parking fee for each day the vehicle is parked in the park. The number of vehicles allowed to park at the lodge varies according to site design and other factors. All vehicles must park in designated parking areas, either at the lodge or in the designated overflow parking area.

6. Damage to cabins, not considered normal wear and tear, may be billed to the person registered for the cabin on an itemized cost basis.

7. Each member of the cabin rental party, up to the maximum allowable for the rented unit, may receive an entrance pass to the park's swimming facility on the basis of one pass per night of rental. Passes are only issued during days and seasons of operation of the swimming facility and are only good during the member's registered stay.

8. Employees of DCR and the members of committees and boards of DCR shall receive a discount of 50% on applicable cabin rates for any season, when the rental of such cabins is in connection with the official business of DCR or its committees or boards.

Notes on cabin transfer/cancellation/early departure policy:

1. Any fees to be refunded are calculated less the applicable cancellation fees listed below.

2. Fees paid to the reservation center by credit card will be refunded to the original credit card charged.

3. Fees paid by check or money order to the reservation center, or by any method at the park, will be refunded by state check.

4. A customer may move a cabin reservation to another date or park, referred to as a transfer, through the reservation center only, and prior to 5 p.m. on the Monday before the scheduled date of arrival. After 5 p.m. on the Monday before the scheduled date of arrival, cancellation is the only option (see note 5 below) except that transfers to a different cabin for the same rental nights shall be allowed, subject to availability, up to the check in time for the original reservation.

5. Once the reservation is paid for, a customer may cancel in full with payment of the required cancellation fee if there are more than 30 days before the scheduled arrival date. As long as the reservation is not during the one-week minimum stay requirement period, the length of stay may be reduced without a fee as long as there are more than 30 days before the scheduled arrival. However, the length of stay cannot be less than two nights. During the 30 days prior to the scheduled arrival date, the cancellation fee is charged for each night cancelled or reduced from the stay. Once the official check-in time on the scheduled arrival date is reached, the cancellation policy is no longer in effect and the early departure policy applies.

6. Once the 3 p.m. check-in time is reached on the scheduled day of arrival, any adjustment to a reservation is considered an early departure. There is a two night minimum charge associated with all cabin stays. Reducing the total nights stayed will incur a $20 per night fee. If the original reservation was for a week, the weekly discount will no longer be valid and the fee will be adjusted to the nightly rate before any refunds are calculated.

4VAC5-36-110. Picnic shelters fees.

PICNIC SHELTERS (TAXABLE)

4VAC5-36-115. Horse arena fees.

4VAC5-36-120. Amphitheater and gazebo fees.

4VAC5-36-130. Boat storage fees.

BOAT STORAGE (TAXABLE, Price here does not include tax)

4VAC5-36-140. Interpretive canoe, boat, and paddleboat fees.

Notes on Interpretive Canoe, Boat, and Paddleboat Programs:

1. Cancellation Policy for group reservations: Guest must cancel four days prior to the tour date in order to receive a refund. Any guest canceling less than four days before the start of the reservation will not be eligible for a refund. A one-time $10 cancellation fee will apply per reservation regardless of number of boats reserved. In the event of inclement weather where the park must cancel, the guest will be offered either a complete refund or reservation transfer to another date.

2. Additional costs for supplies and materials may apply.

4VAC5-36-150. Interpretive and educational tours and program fees.

Notes on interpretive and educational tours and programs:

Additional costs for supplies and materials may apply.

4VAC5-36-160. Outdoor skill program fees.

OUTDOOR SKILL PROGRAMS (NONTAXABLE)

4VAC5-36-170. Hunting fees.

HUNTING (NONTAXABLE)

Notes on hunting fees:

At parks where there is a "standby" process, no additional daily fee for that hunting season shall be charged if the hunter has already paid at least one previous daily hunting fee for that park's hunting season.

4VAC5-36-190. Environmental education center fees.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION SERVICES AND FACILITIES FEES
(TAXABLE unless otherwise noted)

Note on Environmental Education Center Fees:

Environmental Education Center Cancellation Policy: For day-use E.E.C. cancellation policy, Picnic Shelter cancellation policy shall apply. For overnight-use E.E.C. cancellation policy, cabin cancellation policy shall apply.

4VAC5-36-200. Miscellaneous rental fees.

4VAC5-36-210. Conference center and meeting facility fees.

Notes on conference and meeting facilities fees:

Conference and meeting facilities require a 30% prepayment due 10 days after making reservation, and payment of the full balance prior to or on the first day of the reservation. Cancellations made 14 or more days prior to the first day of the reservation shall be charged the lesser of 10% of the total fee or $100. Cancellations made less that 14 days prior to the first date of the reservation shall be charged 30% of the total fee.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-20. Pertaining to the Licensing of Fixed Fishing Devices (amending 4VAC20-20-20, 4VAC20-20-30).

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

Effective Date: November 1, 2009.

Agency Contact: Jane Warren, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Ave., 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 any fixed fishing device license holder fishing in Virginia tidal waters located east of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to use a modified leader; and makes it the responsibility of the licensee of any fixed fishing device to contact the Virginia Marine Police and the National Marine Fisheries Service at least 72 hours before any modified leader is to be deployed for an inspection of the leader design.

4VAC20-20-20. Definitions.

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

"Fixed fishing device" means any fishing device used for the purpose of catching fish and requiring the use of more than two poles or stakes which have been pushed or pumped into the bottom.

"Fyke net" means a round stationary net distended by a series of hoops or frames, covered by web netting or wire mesh and having one or more internal funnel-shaped throats whose tapered ends are directed away from the mouth of the net. The net, leader or runner is held in place by stakes or poles which have been pushed or pumped into the bottom and has one or two wings and a leader or runner to help guide the fish into the net.

“Modified leader” means a fixed fishing device leader that is affixed to or resting on the sea floor and made of a lower portion of mesh and an upper portion of only vertical lines such that (i) the mesh size is equal to or less than eight inches stretched mesh; (ii) at any particular point along the leader, the height of the mesh, from sea floor to the top of the mesh, is no more than one-third the depth of the water at mean low water directly above that particular point; (iii) the mesh is held in place by vertical lines that extend from the top of the mesh up to the top of the line, which is a line that forms the uppermost part of the fixed fishing device leader; (iv) the vertical lines are equal to or greater than 5/16 inch in diameter and strung vertically at least every two feet; and (v) the vertical lines are hard lay lines with a vertical stiffness equivalent to the stiffness of a 5/16 diameter line composed of polyester wrapped around a blend of polypropylene and polyethylene and containing approximately 42 visible twists of strands per foot of line.

"Officer" means the marine police officer in charge of the district within which the fixed fishing device is located.

"Pound net" means a stationary fishing device supported by stakes or poles that have been pushed or pumped into the bottom consisting of an enclosure identified as the head or pocket with a netting floor, a heart, and a straight wall, leader or runner to help guide the fish into the net.

"Staked gill net" means a fixed fishing device consisting of an upright fence of netting fastened to poles or stakes that have been pushed or pumped into the bottom.

4VAC20-20-30. Location and, measurements, and modified pound net leader requirements.

A. A fixed fishing device shall be perpendicular to the shoreline insofar as possible.

B. In determining compliance with the requirements prescribing minimum distances between fixed fishing devices, measurement shall be made from the center line of each device.

C. An applicant shall state the desired length of the fixed fishing device, which shall not exceed the maximum limit prescribed by law. Such length shall be stated on any license issued by the officer. A licensee may apply for a new license to include a greater length provided such additional length does not make the device exceed the maximum legal length or the legal requirement of a minimum distance between successive fishing structures in the same row. In the event a licensee fishes a length less than that stated on the license, the unfished length shall be subject to the provisions of 4VAC20-20-50 B of this chapter.

D. Any fixed fishing device, including but not limited to pound net and fyke net gear, licensed and fished in Virginia tidal waters located east of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel, shall be equipped with a modified leader as defined in 4VAC20-20-20. In addition, it shall be the responsibility of the licensee of any fixed fishing device licensed in Virginia tidal waters located east of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel to contact the Virginia Marine Police and the National Marine Fisheries Service at least 72 hours before any modified leader is to be deployed for an inspection of the fixed fishing device's leader design, prior to any initial or subsequent deployment of that fixed fishing device within any year.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-490. Pertaining to Sharks (amending 4VAC20-490-20, 4VAC20-490-41; adding 4VAC20-490-44).

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

Effective Date: November 1, 2009.

Agency Contact: Jane Warren, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Ave., 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 "movable gill net"; (ii) establish seasonal at sea processing requirements for smooth dogfish; and (iii) establish a limited entry commercial fishery for spiny dogfish.

4VAC20-490-20. Definitions.

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

"Carcass length" means that length measured in a straight line from the anterior edge of the first dorsal fin to the posterior end of the shark carcass.

"COLREGS Line" means the COLREGS Demarcation lines, as specified in Coastal Pilot, 35th and 36th editions by Lighthouse Press.

"Commercial shark fishermen" means any commercially permitted fisherman who has landed and sold one pound of shark or more (excludes spiny dogfish) in that calendar year (January 1 through December 31).

"Commercially permitted nonsandbar large coastal shark species" means any of the following species:

Blacktip, Carcharhinus limbatus

Bull, Carcharhinus leucas

Great hammerhead, Sphyrna mokarran

Lemon, Negaprion brevirostris

Nurse, Ginglymostoma cirratum

Scalloped hammerhead, Sphyrna lewini

Silky, Carcharhinus falciformis

Smooth hammerhead, Sphyrna zygaena

Spinner, Carcharhinus brevipinna

Tiger, Galeocerdo cuvier

"Commercially permitted pelagic species" means any of the following species:

Blue, Prionace glauca

Oceanic whitetip, Carcharhinus longimanus

Porbeagle, Lamna nasus

Shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus

Thresher, Alopias vulpinus

"Commercially permitted small coastal shark species" means any of the following species:

Atlantic sharpnose, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae

Blacknose, Carcharhinus acronotus

Bonnethead, Sphyrna tiburo

Finetooth, Carcharhinus isodon

"Commercially prohibited species" means any of the following species:

Atlantic angel, Squatina dumeril

Basking, Cetorhinus maximus

Bigeye sand tiger, Odontaspis noronhai

Bigeye sixgill, Hexanchus nakamurai

Bigeye thresher, Alopias superciliosus

Bignose, Carcharhinus altimus

Caribbean reef, Carcharhinus perezii

Caribbean sharpnose, Rhizoprionodon porosus

Dusky, Carcharhinus obscurus

Galapagos, Carcharhinus galapagensis

Longfin mako, Isurus paucus

Narrowtooth, Carcharhinus brachyurus

Night, Carcharhinus signatus

Sand tiger, Carcharias taurus

Sevengill, Heptranchias perlo

Sixgill, Hexanchus griseus

Smalltail, Carcharhinus porosus

Whale, Rhincodon typus

White, Carcharodon carcharias

"Control rule" means a time-certain date, past, present or future, used to establish participation in a limited entry fishery and may or may not include specific past harvest amounts.

"Dressed weight" means the result from processing a fish by removal of head, viscera, and fins, but does not include removal of the backbone, halving, quartering, or otherwise further reducing the carcass.

"Finning" means removing the fins and returning the remainder of the shark to the sea.

"Fork length" means the straight-line measurement of a fish from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail. The measurement is not made along the curve of the body.

"Movable gill net" means any gill net other than a staked gill net.

"Large mesh gill net" means any gill net having a stretched mesh equal to or greater than five inches.

"Longline" means any fishing gear that is set horizontally, either anchored, floating or attached to a vessel, and that consists of a mainline or groundline, greater than 1,000 feet in length, with multiple leaders (gangions) and hooks, whether retrieved by hand or mechanical means.

"Permitted commercial gear" means rod and reel, handlines, shark shortlines, small mesh gill nets, large mesh gill nets, pound nets, and weirs.

"Recreational shore angler" means a person not fishing from a vessel nor transported to or from a fishing location by a vessel.

"Recreational vessel angler" means a person fishing from a vessel or transported to or from a fishing location by a vessel.

"Recreationally permitted species" means any of the following species:

Atlantic sharpnose, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae

Blacknose, Carcharhinus acronotus

Blacktip, Carcharhinus limbatus

Blue, Prionace glauca

Bonnethead, Sphyrna tiburo

Bull, Carcharhinus leucas

Finetooth, Carcharhinus isodon

Great hammerhead, Sphyrna mokarran

Lemon, Negaprion brevirostris

Nurse, Ginglymostoma cirratum

Oceanic whitetip, Carcharhinus longimanus

Porbeagle, Lamna nasus

Scalloped hammerhead, Sphyrna lewini

Shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus

Smooth dogfish, Mustelus canis

Smooth hammerhead, Sphyrna zygaena

Spinner, Carcharhinus brevipinna

Thresher, Alopias vulpinus

Tiger, Galeocerdo cuvier

"Recreationally prohibited species" means any of the following species:

Atlantic angel, Squatina dumeril

Basking, Cetorhinus maximus

Bigeye sand tiger, Odontaspis noronhai

Bigeye sixgill, Hexanchus nakamurai

Bigeye thresher, Alopias superciliosus

Bignose, Carcharhinus altimus

Caribbean reef, Carcharhinus perezii

Caribbean sharpnose, Rhizoprionodon porosus

Dusky, Carcharhinus obscurus

Galapagos, Carcharhinus galapagensis

Longfin mako, Isurus paucus

Narrowtooth, Carcharhinus brachyurus

Night, Carcharhinus signatus

Sand tiger, Carcharias taurus

Sandbar, Carcharhinus plumbeus

Sevengill, Heptranchias perlo

Silky, Carcharhinus falciformis

Sixgill, Hexanchus griseus

Smalltail, Carcharhinus porosus

Whale, Rhincodon typus

White, Carcharodon carcharias

"Research only species" means any of the following species:

Sandbar, Carcharhinus plumbeus

"Shark shortline" means a fish trotline that is set horizontally, either anchored, floating or attached to a vessel, and that consists of a mainline or groundline, 1,000 feet in length or less, with multiple leaders (gangions) and no more than 50 corrodible circle hooks, whether retrieved by hand or mechanical means.

"Small mesh gill net" means any gill net having a stretched mesh less than five inches.

"Smooth dogfish" means any shark of the species Mustelus canis.

"Spiny dogfish" means any shark of the species Squalus acanthias.

4VAC20-490-41. Commercial catch limitations.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess on board a vessel or to land in Virginia more than 33 commercially permitted nonsandbar large coastal sharks in one 24-hour period. The person who owns or operates the vessel is responsible for compliance with the provisions of this subsection.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person to fillet a shark, except smooth dogfish, at sea, except smooth dogfish as provided in subsection C of this section. A licensed commercial fisherman may eviscerate and remove the head of any shark, but the tail and all fins of any shark, except smooth dogfish as provided in subsection C of this section, shall remain naturally attached to the carcass through landing. The fins of any shark, except smooth dogfish, may be partially cut but some portion of the fin shall remain attached, until the shark is landed.

C. From July 1 through the end of February, commercial fishermen may process smooth dogfish at sea, except the first dorsal fin shall remain attached naturally to the carcass until landed. From March 1 through June 30, commercial fishermen may completely process smooth dogfish at sea prior to landing.

D. It shall be unlawful to possess, on board a vessel, or to land in Virginia any species of shark, after NOAA Fisheries has closed the fishery for that species in federal waters.

D. E. There are no commercial trip limits or possession limits for smooth dogfish or sharks on the lists of commercially permitted pelagic species or commercially permitted small coastal species.

E. F. Except as described in this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to take, harvest, land, or possess, in Virginia, any blacktip, bull, great hammerhead, lemon, nurse, scalloped hammerhead, silky, smooth hammerhead, spinner or tiger shark from May 15 through July 15. These sharks may be transported by vessel, in Virginia waters, during the closed season provided the sharks were caught in a legal manner consistent with federal regulations outside Virginia waters and:

1. The vessel does not engage in fishing, in Virginia waters, while possessing the above species; and

2. All fishing gear aboard the vessel is stowed and not available for immediate use.

F. G. It shall be unlawful for any person to retain, possess or purchase any shark described in the commercially prohibited species list.

G. H. All sharks harvested from state waters or federal waters, for commercial purposes, shall be sold to a federally permitted shark dealer.

H. I. The commissioner may grant exemptions from the seasonal closure, quota, possession limit, size limit, gear restrictions and prohibited species restrictions. Exemptions shall only be granted for display or research purposes. The exempted fishermen or owner of the fishing vessel shall report the species, weight, location caught and gear used for each shark collected for research or display within 30 days.

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.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-610. Pertaining to Commercial Fishing and Mandatory Harvest Reporting (amending 4VAC20-610-30).

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

Effective Date: November 1, 2009.

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

Summary:

This amendment prohibits harvesters who have had violations resulting in the loss of their fishing permit from serving as an agent for another harvester.

4VAC20-610-30. Commercial Fisherman Registration License; exceptions and requirements of authorized agents.

A. In accordance with § 28.2-241 C of the Code of Virginia, only persons who hold a valid Commercial Fisherman Registration License may sell, trade, or barter their harvest, or give their harvest to another, in order that it may be sold, traded, or bartered. Only these licensees may sell their harvests from Virginia tidal waters, regardless of the method or manner in which caught. Exceptions to the requirement to register as a commercial fisherman for selling harvest are authorized for the following persons or firms only:

1. Persons taking menhaden under the authority of licenses issued pursuant to § 28.2-402 of the Code of Virginia.

2. Persons independently harvesting and selling, trading, or bartering no more than three gallons of minnows per day who are not part of, hired by, or engaged in a continuing business enterprise.

a. Only minnow pots, a cast net or a minnow seine less than 25 feet in length may be used by persons independently harvesting minnows.

b. All other marine species taken during the process of harvesting minnows shall be returned to the water immediately.

B. Requirements of authorized agents.

1. No person whose Commercial Fisherman Registration License or, fishing gear license, or fishing permit is currently revoked or rescinded by the Marine Resources Commission pursuant to § 28.2-232 of the Code of Virginia is authorized to possess the registration license Commercial Fisherman Registration License, fishing gear license, or fishing permit of a any other registered commercial fisherman in order to serve as an agent for fishing the commercial fisherman's gear and or selling the harvest.

2. No registered commercial fisherman shall use more than one person as an agent at any time.

3. Any person serving as an agent shall possess the registration license Commercial Fisherman Registration License and gear license of the commercial fisherman while fishing.

4. When transporting or selling a registered commercial fisherman's harvest, the agent shall possess either the registration license Commercial Fisherman Registration License of that commercial fisherman or a bill of lading indicating that fisherman's name, address, Commercial Fisherman Registration License number, date and amount of product to be sold.

5. Any person licensed to harvest blue crabs commercially shall not be eligible to also serve as an agent.

6. Any person serving as an agent to harvest blue crabs for another licensed fisherman shall be limited to the use of only one registered commercial fisherman's crab license; however, an agent may fish multiple crab traps licensed and owned by the same person.

7. There shall be no more than one person, per vessel, serving as an agent for a commercial crab licensee.

8. Prior to using an agent in any crab fishery, the licensee shall register that person, with the commission, and shall receive approval for use of that agent, prior to the commencement of any harvesting activity.

9. Failure to abide by any of the provisions of this section shall constitute a violation of this regulation.

C. In accordance with § 28.2-241 H of the Code of Virginia, only persons with a valid Commercial Fisherman Registration License may purchase gear licenses. Beginning with licenses for the 1993 calendar year and for all years thereafter, gear licenses will be sold only upon presentation of evidence of a valid Commercial Fisherman Registration License.

Exceptions to the prerequisite requirement are authorized for the following gears only and under the conditions described below:

1. Menhaden purse seine licenses issued pursuant to § 28.2-402 of the Code of Virginia may be purchased without holding a Commercial Fisherman Registration License.

2. Commercial gear licenses used for recreational purposes and issued pursuant to § 28.2-226.2 of the Code of Virginia may be purchased without holding a Commercial Fisherman Registration License.

D. Exceptions to the two-year delay may be granted by the commissioner if he finds any of the following:

1. The applicant for an exception (i) has demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the commissioner, that the applicant has fished a significant quantity of commercial gear in Virginia waters during at least two of the previous five years; and (ii) can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the commissioner, that a significant hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the applicant's control has prevented the applicant from making timely application for registration. The commissioner may require the applicant to provide such documentation as he deems necessary to verify the existence of hardship.

2. The applicant is purchasing another commercial fisherman's gear, and the seller of the gear holds a Commercial Fisherman Registration License and the seller surrenders that license to the commission at the time the gear is sold.

3. An immediate member of the applicant's family, who holds a current registration, has died or is retiring from the commercial fishery and the applicant intends to continue in the fishery.

Any applicant denied an exception may appeal the decision to the commission. The applicant shall provide a request to appeal to the commission 30 days in advance of the meeting at which the commission will hear the request. The commission will hear requests at their March, June, September, and December meetings.

Under no circumstances will an exception be granted solely on the basis of economic hardship.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-950. Pertaining to Black Sea Bass (amending 4VAC20-950-48).

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

Effective Date: November 1, 2009.

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

Summary:

This amendment requires that any hardship exception quota granted by the commission prior to October 27, 2009, shall be converted to a percentage of the directed fishery quota based on the year in which that hardship exception quota was originally granted.

4VAC20-950-48. Individual fishery quotas; bycatch limit; at sea harvesters; exceptions.

A. Each person possessing a directed fishery permit shall be assigned an individual fishery quota, in pounds, for each calendar year. Except as provided in subsection F of this section, a person's individual fishery quota shall be equal to that person's percentage of the total landings of black sea bass in Virginia from July 1, 1997, through December 31, 2001, multiplied by the directed commercial fishery black sea bass quota for the calendar year. Any directed fishery permittee shall be limited to landings in the amount of his individual fishery quota, in pounds, in any calendar year and it shall be unlawful for any permittee to exceed his individual fishery quota. In addition to the penalties prescribed by law, any overages of an individual's fishery quota shall be deducted from that permittee's individual fishery quota for the following year.

B. In the determination of a person's percentage of total landings, the commission shall use the greater amount of landings from either the National Marine Fisheries Service Dealer Weigh-out Reports or National Marine Fisheries Service Vessel Trip Reports that have been reported and filed as of November 26, 2002. If a person's percentage of the total landings of black sea bass is determined by using the Vessel Trip Reports as the greater amount, then the person shall provide documentation to the Marine Resources Commission to verify the Vessel Trip Reports as accurate. This documentation may include dealer receipts of sales or other pertinent documentation, and such documentation shall be submitted to the commission by December 1, 2004. In the event the commission is not able to verify the full amount of the person's Vessel Trip Reports for the qualifying period, the commission shall use the greater amount of landings, from either the Dealer Weigh-Out Reports or the verified portion of the Vessel Trip Reports to establish that person's share of the quota.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person permitted for the bycatch fishery to possess aboard a vessel, or to land in Virginia, in any one day, more than 200 pounds of black sea bass, except that any person permitted in the bycatch fishery may possess aboard a vessel, or land in Virginia, more than 200 pounds of black sea bass, in any one day, provided the total weight of black sea bass on board the vessel does not exceed 10%, by weight, of the total weight of summer flounder, scup, Loligo squid and Atlantic mackerel on board the vessel. When it is projected and announced that 75% of the bycatch fishery quota has been be taken, it shall be unlawful for any person permitted for the bycatch fishery to possess aboard a vessel, or to land in Virginia, more than 100 pounds of black sea bass.

D. It shall be unlawful for any person to transfer black sea bass from one vessel to another while at sea.

E. The commission sets aside 10,000 pounds of the annual commercial fishery black sea bass quota for distribution to all qualified applicants granted an exception by the commission from the requirements of 4VAC20-950-46 B based upon medical conditions, or other hardship, which limited the applicant's ability to fish for black sea bass during the qualifying period. In granting an exception, the commission will give preference to those applicants who can demonstrate the greater levels of participation in the black sea bass fishery during and after the qualifying period or document an apprenticeship or helper status in the black sea bass fishery. Any applicant who is granted an exception by the commission shall receive a portion of the 10,000 pounds; however, no portion shall exceed the lowest individual fishery quota, in pounds, at the beginning of the season. There shall Any hardship exception quota granted by the commission prior to October 27, 2009, shall be converted to a percentage of the directed fishery quota based on the year in which that hardship exception quota was originally granted. The hardship exception quota shall not be no transfer of quota received by applicants to the exception process transferred for a period of five years after receipt of that quota. Any portion of the 10,000 pounds not allotted by the commission to the qualified applicants as of November 1 shall be added to the annual bycatch quota described in 4VAC20-950-47 B from the date the commission granted that hardship exception quota.

F. An individual fishery quota, as described in subsection A of this section, shall be equal to an individual's current percentage share of the directed fishery quota, as described in 4VAC20-950-47 A. As of May 1, 2009, should the remaining amount of black sea bass bycatch fishery quota exceed 10,000 pounds, that excess quota shall be allocated to commercial black sea bass directed fishery permit holders who have landed at least 500 pounds of black sea bass in at least two of three years, starting in 2005 and ending in 2007. The basis for that allocation shall be the same as used to determine an individual directed fishery quota as described in subsection A of this section.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-1190. Pertaining to Gill Net Control Date (amending 4VAC20-1190-10; adding 4VAC20-1190-15, 4VAC20-1190-30, 4VAC20-1190-40, 4VAC20-1190-50, 4VAC20-1190-60).

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

Effective Date: December 1, 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 amendments (i) define "gill net" as all gill nets up to 600 feet, or all gill nets over 600 feet and up to 1,200 feet, except any stake gill net of 1,200 feet in length or under with a fixed location, and (ii) require a harvester to have either a Class A resident gill net permit, Class A nonresident gill net permit, or Class B gill net permit before purchasing a gill net license.

Sections are added defining qualifications for the Class A resident gill net permit, Class A nonresident gill net permit, and Class B gill net permit as follows:

1. A commercial fisherman is considered qualified for the Class A resident gill net permit if he is a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, possesses a valid Virginia Commercial Fisherman Registration License, and satisfies one of the following conditions:

a. Possessed a valid Virginia gill net license prior to December 31, 2005;

b. Possessed a valid Virginia gill net license and documented on Virginia mandatory reporting forms harvest from legally licensed gill nets for at least 100 days in any one year from 2006 through 2008;

c. Possessed a valid Virginia gill net license and documented on Virginia mandatory reporting forms harvest from legally licensed gill nets for at least 60 days in any two years from 2006 through 2008.

2. A commercial fisherman is considered qualified for the Class A nonresident gill net permit if he is not a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, possesses a valid Virginia Commercial Fisherman Registration License, and satisfies one of the following conditions:

a. Possessed a valid Virginia gill net license prior to December 31, 2005;

b. Possessed a valid Virginia gill net license and documented on Virginia mandatory reporting forms harvest from legally licensed gill nets for at least 100 days in any one year from 2006 through 2008;

c. Possessed a valid Virginia gill net license and documented on Virginia mandatory reporting forms harvest from legally licensed gill nets for at least 60 days in any two years from 2006 through 2008.

3. A harvester is considered qualified for the Class B gill net permit if he does not satisfy the requirements for a Class A resident or Class A nonresident gill net permit.

CHAPTER 1190
PERTAINING TO GILL NET CONTROL DATE, LIMITED ENTRY AND TRANSFERS

4VAC20-1190-10. Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to establish a control date for conservation and management of the gill net fishery through limited entry.

4VAC20-1190-15. Definitions.

The following term when used in this chapter shall have the following meaning unless the context indicates otherwise:

"Gill net" means all gill nets up to 600 feet, or all gill nets over 600 feet and up to 1,200 feet, except any stake gill net of 1,200 feet in length or under with a fixed location.

4VAC20-1190-30. Limited entry and permits.

A. Either a Class A resident gill net permit, a Class A nonresident gill net permit, or a Class B gill net permit shall be required for a harvester before purchasing a gill net license.

B. A commercial fisherman is considered qualified for the Class A resident gill net permit if he is a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, possesses a valid Virginia Commercial Fisherman Registration License, and satisfies one of the following conditions:

1. Possessed a valid Virginia gill net license prior to December 31, 2005;

2. Possessed a valid Virginia gill net license and documented on Virginia mandatory reporting forms harvest from legally licensed gill nets for at least 100 days in any one year from 2006 through 2008;

3. Possessed a valid Virginia gill net license and documented on Virginia mandatory reporting forms harvest from legally licensed gill nets for at least 60 days in any two years from 2006 through 2008.

C. A commercial fisherman is considered qualified for the Class A nonresident gill net permit if he is not a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, possesses a valid Virginia Commercial Fisherman Registration License, and satisfies one of the following conditions:

1. Possessed a valid Virginia gill net license prior to December 31, 2005;

2. Possessed a valid Virginia gill net license and documented on Virginia mandatory reporting forms harvest from legally licensed gill nets for at least 100 days in any one year from 2006 through 2008;

3. Possessed a valid Virginia gill net license and documented on Virginia mandatory reporting forms harvest from legally licensed gill nets for at least 60 days in any two years from 2006 through 2008.

D. A harvester is considered qualified for the Class B gill net permit if he does not satisfy the requirements described in subsection B or C of this section.

4VAC20-1190-40. Permit limitations.

A. Class A resident gill net permittees or Class A nonresident gill net permittees shall be authorized to purchase any number of gill net licenses provided the maximum footage associated with all purchased gill net licenses does not exceed 12,000 feet.

B. Class B gill net permittees shall be authorized to purchase any number of gill net licenses provided the maximum footage associated with all purchased gill net licenses does not exceed 6,000 feet.

C. A person who does not qualify for either a Class A resident gill net permit, Class A nonresident gill net permit or Class B gill net permit shall not be authorized to purchase any gill net license.

4VAC20-1190-50. Permit transfers.

A. Class A resident gill net permittees may only transfer that permit to another registered commercial fisherman who is a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The transferor and the transferee shall have documented all 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 Class A resident permit and the transferor shall lose his eligibility for that Class A resident gill net permit.

B. Class A nonresident gill net permittees may only transfer that permit to another commercial fisherman who is not a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The transferor and the transferee shall have documented all 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 Class A nonresident permit and the transferor shall lose his eligibility for that Class A nonresident gill net permit.

4VAC20-1190-60. Penalty.

As set forth in § 28.2-903 of the Code of Virginia, any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, and a second or subsequent violation of any provision of this chapter committed by the same person within 12 months of a prior violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Title of Regulation: 9VAC25-71. Regulations Governing the Discharge of Sewage and Other Wastes from Boats (amending 9VAC25-71-70).

Statutory Authority: § 62.1-44.33 of the Code of Virginia; 33 USC § 1322.

Effective Date: December 23, 2009.

Agency Contact: David Lazarus, Department of Environmental Quality, 629 East Main Street, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4299, FAX (804) 698-4116, or email david.lazarus@deq.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendment adds a newly designated boating No Discharge Zone in the Broad Creek, Fishing Bay, and Jackson Creek Watersheds in Middlesex County in order to conform to the EPA’s federal designation of those areas as No Discharge Zones.

9VAC25-71-70. Listing of designated no discharge zones in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The following are designated no discharge zones:

1. Smith Mountain Lake in the counties of Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania, Virginia, from Smith Mountain Dam (Gap of Smith Mountain) upstream to the 795.0 foot contour (normal pool elevation) in all tributaries, including waters to above the confluence with Back Creek in the Roanoke River arm, and to the Brooks Mill Bridge (Route 834) on the Blackwater River arm.

2. The Lynnhaven River Watershed in the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia, including all contiguous waters south of the Lesner Bridge at Lynnhaven Inlet (latitude 36°54'27.90" N and longitude 76°05'30.90" W) and north of the watershed break point at the intersection of West Neck Creek and Dam Neck Road (latitude 36°47'17.60" N and longitude 76°04'14.62" W).

3. Broad Creek, Jackson Creek, and Fishing Bay Watersheds in lower Middlesex County, Virginia: the Broad Creek Watershed No Discharge Zone is defined as all contiguous waters south of the line formed between the points formed by latitude 37°33'46.3" N and longitude -76°18'45.9" W and north to latitude 37°33'47.4" N and longitude -76°19'24.7" W. The Jackson Creek Watershed No Discharge Zone is defined as all contiguous waters west of the of the line formed between the points formed by latitude 37°32'40" N and longitude -76°19'40.6" W at Stove Point Neck and latitude 37°32'46.8" N and longitude -76°19'15.6" W at the western point of the entrance to the eastern prong of Jackson Creek. The Fishing Bay Watershed No Discharge Zone is defined as all contiguous waters north of the line formed between the points formed by latitude 37°32'01.9" N and longitude -76°21'43.5" W at the southernmost tip of Bland Point and latitude 37°31'29.4" N and longitude -76°19'53.6" W at the southernmost tip of Stove Point. This area includes all of Fishing Bay and encompasses Moore Creek and Porpoise Cove.

Title of Regulation: 9VAC25-630. Virginia Pollution Abatement General Permit Regulation for Poultry Waste Management (amending 9VAC25-630-10 through 9VAC25-630-60; adding 9VAC25-630-70, 9VAC25-630-80).

Statutory Authority: §§ 62.1-44.15 and 62.1-44.17:1.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: January 1, 2010.

Agency Contact: Betsy Bowles, Department of Environmental Quality, 629 East Main Street, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4059, FAX (804) 698-4116, or email bkbowles@deq.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The State Water Control Board is amending the existing Virginia Pollution Abatement (VPA) Permit Regulation for Poultry Waste Management in order to establish requirements for end-users of poultry waste to ensure that poultry waste is being used in a manner in which state waters are being protected and nutrients losses are being reduced and that these reductions can be measured. The amendments include provisions regarding transferred off-site poultry waste used for land application by another entity other than the poultry grower. These provisions will establish end-user requirements such as land application recordkeeping, poultry waste storage, land application timing and rates, and land application buffer requirements. These provisions will also include the option of coverage under a general permit for a poultry waste end-user or poultry waste broker if noncompliance with the requirements of the proposed technical regulations found in 9VAC25-630-60, 9VAC25-630-70, and 9VAC25-630-80 is determined.

Changes made since the proposal include (i) returning the threshold that triggers recordkeeping to 10 or more tons and (ii) removing certain recordkeeping and annual reporting requirements in 9VAC25-630-50, 9VAC25-630-60, and 9VAC25-630-70.

Concerns have been expressed by the public, legislature, and executive branch that additional safeguards are necessary to ensure that poultry waste that leaves the site and control of the permitted confined poultry feeding operations for land application are managed, applied, and stored in a manner that is protective of water quality. Currently, the VPA General Permit Regulations for Poultry Waste Management (9VAC25-630) require that poultry waste applied on lands owned by the permitted owner/operator of a confined poultry feeding operation be done so in accordance with a nutrient management plan written by a planner certified by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Permitted operations are inspected annually to ensure that poultry waste is stored, applied, and otherwise managed according to the regulations.

However, under the current regulations, poultry waste that is transferred off-site is only required to be accompanied by waste analysis information and a fact sheet (developed by DEQ and DCR) that provides the recipient with general provisions regarding the storage, management, and application of the poultry waste. The end-user must acknowledge receipt of the fact sheet by signing a separate "Poultry Waste Transfer Records" sheet. Maintenance of records, including the date and amount of the transfer, zip code of the location receiving the off-site poultry waste, and nearest stream or waterbody, is the requirement of the owner/operator of the confined poultry feeding operation (or third-part broker if one was involved in the transaction). Records must be made available to DEQ personnel upon inspection of the confined poultry feeding operation. For off-site application of poultry waste, the present regulation does not require records of (i) the amount of waste received by a single farm, (ii) whether or not the poultry waste will be applied in accordance with a nutrient management plan, (iii) soil test levels on receiving fields, (iv) timing of applications, or (v) a description of receiving crops.

9VAC25-630-10. Definitions.

The words and terms used in this chapter shall have the meanings defined in the State Water Control Law (§ 62.1-44.2 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) and the Permit Regulation (9VAC25-32) unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, except that for the purposes of this chapter:

"Agricultural storm water" means storm water that is not the sole result of land application of manure, litter or process wastewater. Where manure, litter or process wastewater has been applied in accordance with a nutrient management plan approved by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and in accordance with site-specific nutrient management practices that ensure appropriate agricultural utilization of the nutrients in the manure, litter or process wastewater, a precipitation-related discharge of manure, litter, or process wastewater from land areas under the control of an animal feeding operation or under the control of a poultry waste end-user or poultry waste broker is an agricultural storm water discharge.

"Animal feeding operation" means a lot or facility (other than an aquatic animal production facility) where both of the following conditions are met:

1. Animals (other than aquatic animals) have been, are, or will be stabled or confined and fed or maintained for a total of 45 days or more in any 12-month period; and

2. Crops, vegetation, forage growth or post-harvest residues are not sustained in the normal growing season over any portion of the operation of the lot or facility.

Two or more animal feeding operations under common ownership are a single animal feeding operation for the purpose of determining the number of animals at an operation if they adjoin each other or if they use a common area or system for the disposal of wastes.

"Confined animal feeding operation," for the purposes of this regulation, has the same meaning as an "animal feeding operation."

"Confined poultry feeding operation" means any confined animal feeding operation with 200 or more animal units of poultry. This equates to 20,000 chickens or 11,000 turkeys. These numbers are established regardless of animal age or sex.

"Department" means the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

"Director" means the Director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality or his designee.

"Fact sheet" means the document that details the requirements regarding utilization, storage, and management of poultry waste by poultry waste end-users and poultry waste brokers. The fact sheet is approved by the department, in consultation with the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

"Nutrient management plan" or "NMP" means a plan developed or approved by the Department of Conservation and Recreation that requires proper storage, treatment and management of poultry waste, including dry litter, and limits accumulation of excess nutrients in soils and leaching or discharge of nutrients into state waters.

"Organic source" means any nutrient source including, but not limited to, manures, biosolids, compost, and waste or sludges from animals, humans, or industrial processes, but for the purposes of this regulation it excludes waste from wildlife.

"Permittee" means the poultry grower whose confined poultry feeding operation is, poultry waste end-user, or poultry waste broker whose poultry waste management activities are covered under the general permit.

"Poultry grower" or "grower" means any person who owns or operates a confined poultry feeding operation.

"Poultry waste" means dry poultry litter and composted dead poultry.

"Poultry waste broker" or "broker" means a person, other than the poultry grower, who possesses more than 10 tons of or controls poultry waste in any 365-day period that is not generated on an animal feeding operation under their operational control and who transfers some or all of the or hauls poultry waste to other persons. If the entity is defined as a broker they cannot be defined as a hauler for the purposes of this regulation.

"Poultry waste end-user" or "end-user" means any recipient of transferred poultry waste who stores or who utilizes the waste as fertilizer, fuel, feedstock, livestock feed, or other beneficial end use for an operation under his control.

"Poultry waste hauler" or "hauler" means a person who provides transportation of transferred poultry waste from one entity to another, and is not otherwise involved in the transfer or transaction of the waste, nor responsible for determining the recipient of the waste. The responsibility of the recordkeeping and reporting remains with the entities to which the service was provided: grower, broker, and end-user.

"Standard rate" means a land application rate for poultry waste approved by the board as specified in this regulation.

"Vegetated buffer" means a permanent strip of dense perennial vegetation established parallel to the contours of and perpendicular to the dominant slope of the field for the purposes of slowing water runoff, enhancing water infiltration, and minimizing the risk of any potential nutrients or pollutants from leaving the field and reaching surface waters.

9VAC25-630-20. Purpose; delegation of authority; effective date of permit.

A. This general permit regulation governs the management of poultry waste at confined poultry feeding operations not covered by a Virginia Pollution Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit and poultry waste utilized or stored by poultry waste end-users or poultry waste brokers. It establishes requirements for proper nutrient management, waste storage, and waste tracking and accounting of poultry waste.

B. The Director of the Department of Environmental Quality, or his designee, may perform any act of the board provided under this chapter, except as limited by § 62.1-44.14 of the Code of Virginia.

C. This general permit will become effective on December 1, 2000. This general permit will expire 10 years from the effective date.

9VAC25-630-30. Authorization to manage pollutants.

A. Poultry grower. Any poultry grower governed by this general permit is hereby authorized to manage pollutants at confined poultry feeding operations provided that the poultry grower files the registration statement of 9VAC25-630-40, complies with the requirements of 9VAC25-630-50, and provided that:

1. The poultry grower has not been required to obtain a Virginia Pollution Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit or an individual permit according to 9VAC25-32-260 B;

2. The activities of the confined poultry feeding operation shall not contravene the Water Quality Standards, as amended and adopted by the board, or any provision of the State Water Control Law. There shall be no point source discharge of wastewater to surface waters of the state except in the case of a storm event greater than the 25-year, 24-hour storm. Agricultural storm water discharges are permitted. Domestic sewage or industrial waste shall not be managed under this general permit;

3. Confined poultry feeding operations that use disposal pits for routine disposal of daily mortalities shall not be covered under this general permit. The use of a disposal pit by a permittee for routine disposal of daily poultry mortalities shall be considered a violation of this permit. This prohibition shall not apply to the emergency disposal of dead poultry done according to regulations adopted pursuant to § 3.1-726 § 3.2-6002 or Chapter 14 (§ 10.1-1400 et seq.) of Title 10.1 of the Code of Virginia;

4. The Department of Conservation and Recreation must approve a nutrient management plan for the confined poultry feeding operation prior to the submittal of the registration statement. The poultry grower shall attach to the registration statement a copy of the approved nutrient management plan and a copy of the letter from the Department of Conservation and Recreation certifying approval of the nutrient management plan, and if the plan was written after December 31, 2005, that the plan was developed by a certified nutrient management planner in accordance with § 10.1-104.2 of the Code of Virginia. The poultry grower shall implement the approved nutrient management plan;

5. Adjoining property notification.

a. When a poultry grower files a general permit registration statement for a confined poultry feeding operation that proposes construction of poultry growing houses after December 1, 2000, the poultry grower shall also give notice to all owners or residents of property that adjoins the property on which the proposed confined poultry feeding operation will be located. Such notice shall include (i) the types and maximum number of poultry which will be maintained at the facility and (ii) the address and phone number of the appropriate department regional office to which comments relevant to the permit may be submitted.

b. Any person may submit written comments on the proposed operation to the department within 30 days of the date of the filing of the registration statement. If, on the basis of such written comments or his review, the director determines that the proposed operation will not be capable of complying with the provisions of the general permit, the director shall require the owner to obtain an individual permit for the operation. Any such determination by the director shall be made in writing and received by the poultry grower not more than 45 days after the filing of the registration statement or, if in the director's sole discretion additional time is necessary to evaluate comments received from the public, not more than 60 days after the filing of the registration statement; and

6. Each poultry grower covered by this general permit shall complete the a training program offered or approved by the Department of Conservation and Recreation department within one year of filing the registration statement for general permit coverage. All poultry growers shall complete a training program at least once every five years.

B. Poultry waste end-user, poultry waste broker. Any poultry waste end-user or poultry waste broker who receives transferred poultry waste shall comply with the requirements outlined in 9VAC25-630-60, 9VAC25-630-70, and 9VAC25-630-80 regarding utilization, storage, tracking, and accounting of poultry waste in his possession or under his control.

1. Any poultry waste end-user or poultry waste broker who does not comply with the requirements of 9VAC25-630-60, 9VAC25-630-70, and 9VAC25-630-80 may be required to obtain coverage under the general permit.

2. Any poultry waste end-user or poultry waste broker governed by this general permit is hereby authorized to manage pollutants relating to the utilization and storage of poultry waste provided that the poultry waste end-user or poultry waste broker files the registration statement of 9VAC25-630-40, complies with the requirements of 9VAC25-630-50, and provided that:

a. The poultry waste end-user or poultry waste broker has not been required to obtain a Virginia Pollution Abatement individual permit according to subdivision 2 b of 9VAC25-32-260;

b. The activities of the poultry waste end-user or poultry waste broker shall not contravene the Water Quality Standards, as amended and adopted by the board, or any provision of the State Water Control Law (§ 62.1-44 et seq. of the Code of Virginia). There shall be no point source discharge of wastewater to surface waters of the state except in the case of a storm event greater than the 25-year, 24-hour storm. Agricultural storm water discharges are permitted. Domestic sewage or industrial waste shall not be managed under this general permit;

c. The Department of Conservation and Recreation must approve a nutrient management plan for land application sites where poultry waste will be utilized or stored and managed by the poultry waste end-user or the poultry waste broker prior to the submittal of the registration statement. The poultry waste end-user or the poultry waste broker shall attach to the registration statement a copy of the approved nutrient management plan and a copy of the letter from the Department of Conservation and Recreation certifying approval of the nutrient management plan, and if the plan was written after December 31, 2005, that the plan was developed by a certified nutrient management planner in accordance with § 10.1-104.2 of the Code of Virginia. The poultry waste end-user or the poultry waste broker shall implement the approved nutrient management plan; and

d. Each poultry waste end-user or poultry waste broker covered by this general permit shall complete a training program offered or approved by the department within one year of filing the registration statement for general permit coverage. All permitted end-users or permitted brokers shall complete a training program at least once every five years.

B. C. Receipt of this general permit does not relieve any poultry grower, poultry waste end-user, or poultry waste broker of the responsibility to comply with any other applicable federal, state or local statute, ordinance or regulation.

9VAC25-630-40. Registration statement.

A. Poultry growers. In order to be covered under the general permit, the poultry grower shall file a complete VPA General Permit Registration Statement. The registration statement shall contain the following information:

1. The poultry grower's name, mailing address and telephone number;

2. The location of the confined poultry feeding operation;

3. The name and telephone number of a contact person or operator other than the poultry grower, if necessary;

4. The best time of day and day of the week to contact the poultry grower or contact person;

5. If the facility has an existing VPA permit, the permit number;

6. The types of poultry and the maximum numbers of each type to be grown at the facility at any one time;

7. Identification of the method of dead bird disposal;

8. An indication of whether new poultry growing houses are under construction or planned for construction;

9. A copy of the nutrient management plan approved by the Department of Conservation and Recreation and a;

10. A copy of the Department of Conservation and Recreation nutrient management plan approval letter certifying approval of the plan; [ ,which that ] also certifies that the plan was developed by a certified nutrient management planner in accordance with § 10.1-104.2 of the Code of Virginia; and

10. 11. The following certification: "I certify that notice of the registration statement for any confined poultry feeding operation that proposes construction of poultry growing houses after December 1, 2000, has been given to all owners or residents of property that adjoins the property on which the confined poultry feeding operation will be located. This notice included the types and numbers of poultry which will be grown at the facility and the address and phone number of the appropriate Department of Environmental Quality regional office to which comments relevant to the permit may be submitted. I certify under penalty of law that all the requirements of the board for the general permit are being met and that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is to the best of my knowledge and belief true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations."

B. Poultry waste end-users or poultry waste brokers. In order to be covered under the general permit, the poultry waste end-user or poultry waste broker shall file a complete VPA General Permit Registration Statement. The registration statement shall contain the following information:

1. The poultry waste end-user's or poultry waste broker's name, mailing address, and telephone number;

2. The location of the operation where the poultry waste will be utilized, stored, or managed;

3. The best time of day and day of the week to contact the poultry waste end-user or poultry waste broker;

4. If the facility has an existing VPA permit, the permit number;

5. If confined poultry are located at the facility, indicate the number of confined poultry;

6. A copy of the nutrient management plan approved by the Department of Conservation and Recreation;

7. A copy of the Department of Conservation and Recreation nutrient management plan approval letter that also certifies that the plan was developed by a certified nutrient management planner in accordance with § 10.1-104.2 of the Code of Virginia; and

8. The following certification: "I certify under penalty of law that all the requirements of the board for the general permit are being met and that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is to the best of my knowledge and belief true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations."

B. C. The registration statement shall be signed in accordance with 9VAC25-32-50.

9VAC25-630-50. Contents of the general permit.

Any poultry grower, poultry waste end-user, or poultry waste broker whose registration statement is accepted by the board will receive the following general permit and shall comply with the requirements therein and be subject to the VPA Permit Regulation, 9VAC25-32.