Title of Regulation: 9VAC5-140. Regulation for Emissions Trading Programs (amending 9VAC5-140-6020, 9VAC5-140-6040, 9VAC5-140-6050, 9VAC5-140-6150, 9VAC5-140-6170, 9VAC5-140-6190, 9VAC5-140-6200, 9VAC5-140-6210, 9VAC5-140-6220, 9VAC5-140-6230, 9VAC5-140-6250, 9VAC5-140-6260, 9VAC5-140-6330, 9VAC5-140-6380, 9VAC5-140-6420; adding 9VAC5-140-6325; repealing 9VAC5-140-6045, 9VAC5-140-6211, 9VAC5-140-6215, 9VAC5-140-6430, 9VAC5-140-6435).

Statutory Authority: §§ 10.1-1308 and 10.1-1322.3 of the Code of Virginia; Clean Air Act (§§ 108, 109, 110, and 302); 40 CFR Part 51.

Effective Date: July 10, 2020.

Agency Contact: Karen G. Sabasteanski, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4423, FAX (804) 698-4178, or email karen.sabasteanski@deq.virginia.gov.

Summary:

Chapters 1219 and 1280 of the 2020 Acts of Assembly establish the Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act (§ 10.1-1329 et seq. of the Code of Virginia). Subsection A of § 10.1-1330 of the Code of Virginia requires the Department of Environmental Quality, without further action by the State Air Pollution Control Board, amend Part VII of 9VAC5-140, Regulation for Emissions Trading Program, to comport with the full Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative CO₂ emissions trading program and associated auction. The amendments fulfill this requirement.

9VAC5-140-6020. Definitions.

A. As used in this part, all words or terms not defined here shall have the meanings given them in 9VAC5-10 (General Definitions), unless otherwise required by the context.

B. For the purpose of this part and any related use, the words or terms shall have the meanings given them in this section.

C. Terms defined.

"Account number" means the identification number given by the department or its agent to each COATS account.

"Acid rain Rain emission limitation" means, as defined in 40 CFR 72.2, a limitation on emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) or nitrogen oxides (NO_X) under the Acid Rain Program under Title IV of the CAA.

"Acid Rain Program" means a multistate SO₂ and NO_X air pollution control and emission reduction program established by the administrator under Title IV of the CAA and 40 CFR Parts 72 through 78.

"Adjustment for banked allowances" means an adjustment applied to the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget for allocation years 2021 through 2025 to address allowances held in general and compliance accounts, including compliance accounts established pursuant to the CO₂ Budget Trading Program, but not including accounts opened by participating states, that are in addition to the aggregate quantity of emissions from all CO₂ budget sources in all of the participating states at the end of the initial control period in 2020 and as reflected in the CO₂ Allowance Tracking System on March 15, 2021.

"Administrator" means the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the administrator's authorized representative.

"Allocate" or "allocation" means the determination by the department of the number of conditional CO₂ allowances recorded in the conditional CO₂ allowance account of a CO₂ budget unit or to the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) pursuant to 9VAC5-140-6211.

"Allocation year" means a calendar year for which the department allocates conditional CO₂ allowances pursuant to Article 5 (9VAC5-140-6190 et seq.) of this part. The allocation year of each conditional CO₂ allowance is reflected in the unique identification number given to the allowance pursuant to 9VAC5-140-6250 C.

"Allowance auction" or "auction" means an auction in which the department or its agent offers conditional CO₂ allowances for sale.

"Attribute" means a characteristic associated with electricity generated using a particular renewable fuel, such as its generation date, facility geographic location, unit vintage, emissions output, fuel, state program eligibility, or other characteristic that can be identified, accounted for, and tracked.

"Attribute credit" means a credit that represents the attributes related to one megawatt-hour of electricity generation.

"Automated Data Acquisition and Handling System" or "DAHS" means that component of the Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS), or other emissions monitoring system approved for use under Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part, designed to interpret and convert individual output signals from pollutant concentration monitors, flow monitors, diluent gas monitors, and other component parts of the monitoring system to produce a continuous record of the measured parameters in the measurement units required by Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part.

"Billing meter" means a measurement device used to measure electric or thermal output for commercial billing under a contract. The facility selling the electric or thermal output shall have different owners from the owners of the party purchasing the electric or thermal output.

"Boiler" means an enclosed fossil or other fuel-fired combustion device used to produce heat and to transfer heat to recirculating water, steam, or other medium.

"CO₂ allowance" means a limited authorization by the department or another participating state under the CO₂ Budget Trading Program to emit up to one ton of CO₂, subject to all applicable limitations contained in this part. CO₂ offset allowances generated by other participating states will be recognized by the department.

"CO₂ allowance deduction" or "deduct CO₂ allowances" means the permanent withdrawal of CO₂ allowances by the department or its agent from a COATS compliance account to account for the number of tons of CO₂ emitted from a CO₂ budget source for the initial control period, a control period, or an interim control period determined in accordance with Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part, or for the forfeit or retirement of CO₂ allowances as provided by this part.

"CO₂ Allowance Tracking System" or "COATS" means the system by which the department or its agent records allocations, deductions, and transfers of CO₂ allowances under the CO₂ Budget Trading Program. The tracking system may also be used to track CO₂ allowance prices and emissions from affected sources.

"CO₂ Allowance Tracking System account" means an account in COATS established by the department or its agent for purposes of recording the allocation, holding, transferring, or deducting of CO₂ allowances.

"CO₂ allowance transfer deadline" means midnight of March 1 occurring after the end of the initial relevant control period, the control period, and each relevant interim control period, or if that March 1 is not a business day, midnight of the first business day thereafter and is the deadline by which CO₂ allowances shall be submitted for recordation in a CO₂ budget source's compliance account for the source to meet the CO₂ requirements of 9VAC5-140-6050 C for the initial control period, a control period, and each interim control period immediately preceding such deadline.

"CO₂ allowances held" or "hold CO₂ allowances" means the CO₂ allowances recorded by the department or its agent, or submitted to the department or its agent for recordation, in accordance with Article 6 (9VAC5-140-6220 et seq.) and Article 7 (9VAC5-140-6300 et seq.) of this part, in a COATS account.

"CO₂ authorized account representative" means, for a CO₂ budget source and each CO₂ budget unit at the source, the natural person who is authorized by the owners and operators of the source and all CO₂ budget units at the source, in accordance with Article 2 (9VAC5-140-6080 et seq.) of this part, to represent and legally bind each owner and operator in matters pertaining to the CO₂ Budget Trading Program or, for a general account, the natural person who is authorized, under Article 6 (9VAC5-140-6220 et seq.) of this part, to transfer or otherwise dispose of CO₂ allowances held in the general account. If the CO₂ budget source is also subject to the Acid Rain Program, CSAPR NO_X Annual Trading Program, CSAPR NO_X Ozone Season Trading Program, CSAPR SO₂ Group 1 Trading Program, or CSAPR SO₂ Group 2 Trading Program, then for a CO₂ Budget Trading Program compliance account, this natural person shall be the same person as the designated representative as defined in the respective program.

"CO₂ authorized alternate account representative" means, for a CO₂ budget source and each CO₂ budget unit at the source, the alternate natural person who is authorized by the owners and operators of the source and all CO₂ budget units at the source, in accordance with Article 2 (9VAC5-140-6080 et seq.) of this part, to represent and legally bind each owner and operator in matters pertaining to the CO₂ Budget Trading Program or, for a general account, the alternate natural person who is authorized, under Article 6 (9VAC5-140-6220 et seq.) of this part, to transfer or otherwise dispose of CO₂ allowances held in the general account. If the CO₂ budget source is also subject to the Acid Rain Program, CSAPR NO_X Annual Trading Program, CSAPR NO_X Ozone Season Trading Program, CSAPR SO₂ Group 1 Trading Program, or CSAPR SO₂ Group 2 Trading Program then, for a CO₂ Budget Trading Program compliance account, this alternate natural person shall be the same person as the alternate designated representative as defined in the respective program.

"CO₂ budget emissions limitation" means, for a CO₂ budget source, the tonnage equivalent, in CO₂ emissions in the initial control period, a control period, or an interim control period of the CO₂ allowances available for compliance deduction for the source for a control period or an interim control period.

"CO₂ budget permit" means the portion of the legally binding permit issued by the department pursuant to 9VAC5-85 (Permits for Stationary Sources of Pollutants Subject to Regulation) to a CO₂ budget source or CO₂ budget unit that specifies the CO₂ Budget Trading Program requirements applicable to the CO₂ budget source, to each CO₂ budget unit at the CO₂ budget source, and to the owners and operators and the CO₂ authorized account representative of the CO₂ budget source and each CO₂ budget unit.

"CO₂ budget source" means a source that includes one or more CO₂ budget units.

"CO₂ Budget Trading Program" means a multistate CO₂ air pollution control and emissions reduction program established according to this part and corresponding regulations in other states as a means of reducing emissions of CO₂ from CO₂ budget sources.

"CO₂ budget unit" means a unit that is subject to the CO₂ Budget Trading Program requirements under 9VAC5-140-6040.

"CO₂ cost containment reserve allowance" or "CO₂ CCR allowance" means an allowance that has been sold at an auction for the purpose of containing the cost of CO₂ allowances. CO₂ CCR allowances offered for sale at an auction are separate from and additional to CO₂ allowances allocated from the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base and adjusted budgets. CO₂ CCR allowances are subject to all applicable limitations contained in this part.

"CO₂ cost containment reserve trigger price" or "CCR trigger price" means the minimum price at which CO₂ CCR allowances are offered for sale by the department or its agent at an auction. The CCR trigger price in calendar year 2020 2021 shall be $10.77 $13. The CCR trigger price in calendar year 2021 2022 shall be $13 $13.91. Each calendar year thereafter, the CCR trigger price shall be 1.07 multiplied by the CCR trigger price from the previous calendar year, rounded to the nearest whole cent, as shown in Table 140-1A.

"CO₂ emissions containment reserve allowance" or "CO₂ ECR allowance" means a conditional CO₂ allowance that is withheld from sale at an auction by the department for the purpose of additional emission reduction in the event of lower than anticipated emission reduction costs.

"CO₂ emissions containment reserve trigger price" or "ECR trigger price" means the price below which conditional CO₂ allowances will be withheld from sale by the department or its agent at an auction. The ECR trigger price in calendar year 2021 shall be $6.00. Each calendar year thereafter, the ECR trigger price shall be 1.07 multiplied by the ECR trigger price from the previous calendar year, rounded to the nearest whole cent, as shown in Table 140-1B.

"CO₂ offset allowance" means a CO₂ allowance that is awarded to the sponsor of a CO₂ emissions offset project by a participating state and is subject to the relevant compliance deduction limitations of the participating state's corresponding offset regulations as a means of reducing CO₂ from CO₂ budget sources.

"Combined cycle system" means a system comprised of one or more combustion turbines, heat recovery steam generators, and steam turbines configured to improve overall efficiency of electricity generation or steam production.

"Combustion turbine" means an enclosed fossil or other fuel-fired device that is comprised of a compressor (if applicable), a combustor, and a turbine, and in which the flue gas resulting from the combustion of fuel in the combustor passes through the turbine, rotating the turbine.

"Commence commercial operation" means, with regard to a unit that serves a generator, to have begun to produce steam, gas, or other heated medium used to generate electricity for sale or use, including test generation. For a unit that is a CO₂ budget unit under 9VAC5-140-6040 on the date the unit commences commercial operation, such date shall remain the unit's date of commencement of commercial operation even if the unit is subsequently modified, reconstructed, or repowered. For a unit that is not a CO₂ budget unit under 9VAC5-140-6040 on the date the unit commences commercial operation, the date the unit becomes a CO₂ budget unit under 9VAC5-140-6040 shall be the unit's date of commencement of commercial operation.

"Commence operation" means to begin any mechanical, chemical, or electronic process, including, with regard to a unit, start-up of a unit's combustion chamber. For a unit that is a CO₂ budget unit under 9VAC5-140-6040 on the date of commencement of operation, such date shall remain the unit's date of commencement of operation even if the unit is subsequently modified, reconstructed, or repowered. For a unit that is not a CO₂ budget unit under 9VAC5-140-6040 on the date of commencement of operation, the date the unit becomes a CO₂ budget unit under 9VAC5-140-6040 shall be the unit's date of commencement of operation.

"Compliance account" means a COATS account, established by the department or its agent for a CO₂ budget source under Article 6 (9VAC5-140-6220 et seq.) of this part, in which CO₂ allowances available for use by the source for the initial control period, a control period, and each interim control period are held for the purpose of meeting the CO₂ requirements of 9VAC5-140-6050 C.

"Conditional allowance" means an allowance allocated by the department to a CO₂ budget source or to DMME. Such conditional allowance shall be consigned by the entity to whom it is allocated to the consignment auction as specified under Article 9 (9VAC5-140-6410 et seq.) of this part, after which the conditional allowance becomes a CO₂ allowance once it is sold to an auction participant.

"Conditional allowance account" means a general COATS account established by the department for CO₂ budget sources and DMME or its contractor where conditional allowances allocated to CO₂ budget sources and DMME are held until auction.

"Conditional cost containment reserve allowance" or "conditional CCR allowance" means an allowance that may be offered for sale when the CCR is triggered. If any conditional CCR allowances are unsold, they may be offered for sale in future auctions during the same year. Conditional CCR allowances offered for sale at an auction are separate from and additional to conditional allowances allocated from the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base and adjusted budgets. Conditional CCR allowances are subject to all applicable limitations contained in this part.

"Consignment auction" or "auction" means the CO₂ auction conducted on a quarterly basis bythe CO₂ Budget Trading Program, in which CO₂ budget sources and DMME are allocated a share of allowances by the department that CO₂ budget sources and the holder of a public contract with DMME consign into the auction, and auction revenue is returned to CO₂ budget sources and the holder of a public contract with DMME in accordance with procedures established by the department.

"Continuous Emissions Monitoring System" or "CEMS" means the equipment required under Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part to sample, analyze, measure, and provide, by means of readings recorded at least once every 15 minutes (using an automated DAHS), a permanent record of stack gas volumetric flow rate, stack gas moisture content, and oxygen or carbon dioxide concentration (as applicable), in a manner consistent with 40 CFR Part 75 and Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part. The following systems are types of CEMS required under Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part:

a. A flow monitoring system, consisting of a stack flow rate monitor and an automated DAHS and providing a permanent, continuous record of stack gas volumetric flow rate, in standard cubic feet per hour;

b. A NO_X emissions rate (or NO_X-diluent) monitoring system, consisting of a NO_X pollutant concentration monitor, a diluent gas (CO₂ or O₂) monitor, and an automated DAHS and providing a permanent, continuous record of NO_X concentration, in parts per million (ppm), diluent gas concentration, in percent CO₂ or O₂, and NO_X emissions rate, in pounds per million British thermal units (lb/MMBtu);

c. A moisture monitoring system, as defined in 40 CFR 75.11(b)(2) and providing a permanent, continuous record of the stack gas moisture content, in percent H₂O;

d. A CO₂ monitoring system, consisting of a CO₂ pollutant concentration monitor (or an O₂ monitor plus suitable mathematical equations from which the CO₂ concentration is derived) and an automated DAHS and providing a permanent, continuous record of CO₂ emissions, in percent CO₂; and

e. An O₂ monitoring system, consisting of an O₂ concentration monitor and an automated DAHS and providing a permanent, continuous record of O₂, in percent O₂.

"Control period" means a three-calendar-year time period. The fifth control period is from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2023, inclusive, which is the first control period of Virginia's participation in the CO₂ Budget Trading Program. The first two calendar years of each control period are each defined as an interim control period, beginning on January 1, 2021.

"Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) NO_X Annual Trading Program" means a multistate NO_X air pollution control and emission reduction program established in accordance with Subpart AAAAA of 40 CFR Part 97 and 40 CFR 52.38(a), including such a program that is revised in a SIP revision approved by the administrator under 40 CFR 52.38(a)(3) or (4) or that is established in a SIP revision approved by the administrator under 40 CFR 52.38(a)(5), as a means of mitigating interstate transport of fine particulates and NO_X.

"Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) NO_X Ozone Season Trading Program" means a multistate NO_X air pollution control and emission reduction program established in accordance with Subpart BBBBB of 40 CFR Part 97 and 40 CFR 52.38(b), including such a program that is revised in a SIP revision approved by the administrator under 40 CFR 52.38(b)(3) or (4) or that is established in a SIP revision approved by the administrator under 40 CFR 52.38(b)(5), as a means of mitigating interstate transport of ozone and NO_X.

"Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) SO₂ Group 1 Trading Program" means a multistate SO₂ air pollution control and emission reduction program established in accordance with Subpart CCCCC of 40 CFR Part 97 and 40 CFR 52.39(a), (b), (d) through (f), (j), and (k), including such a program that is revised in a SIP revision approved by the administrator under 40 CFR 52.39(d) or (e) or that is established in a SIP revision approved by the administrator under 40 CFR 52.39(f), as a means of mitigating interstate transport of fine particulates and SO₂.

"Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) SO₂ Group 2 Trading Program" means a multistate SO₂ air pollution control and emission reduction program established in accordance with Subpart DDDDD of 40 CFR Part 97 and 40 CFR 52.39(a), (c), and (g) through (k), including such a program that is revised in a SIP revision approved by the administrator under 40 CFR 52.39(g) or (h) or that is established in a SIP revision approved by the administrator under 40 CFR 52.39(i), as a means of mitigating interstate transport of fine particulates and SO₂.

"Department" means the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

"DMME" means the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.

"Excess emissions" means any tonnage of CO₂ emitted by a CO₂ budget source during the initial an interim control period or a control period that exceeds the CO₂ budget emissions limitation for the source.

"Excess interim emissions" means any tonnage of CO₂ emitted by a CO₂ budget source during an interim control period multiplied by 0.50 that exceeds the CO₂ budget emissions limitation for the source.

"Fossil fuel" means natural gas, petroleum, coal, or any form of solid, liquid, or gaseous fuel derived from such material.

"Fossil fuel-fired" means the combustion of fossil fuel, alone or in combination with any other fuel, where the fossil fuel combusted comprises, or is projected to comprise, more than 5.0% of the annual heat input on a Btu basis during any year.

"General account" means a COATS account established under Article 6 (9VAC5-140-6220 et seq.) of this part that is not a compliance account.

"Gross generation" means the electrical output in MWe at the terminals of the generator.

"Initial control period" means the period beginning January 1, 2020, and ending December 31, 2020.

"Interim control period" means a one-calendar-year time period during each of the first and second calendar years of each three-year control period. The first interim control period starts January 1, 2021, and ends December 31, 2021, inclusive. The second interim control period starts January 1, 2022, and ends December 31, 2022, inclusive. Each successive three-year control period will have two interim control periods, comprised of each of the first two calendar years of that control period.

"Life-of-the-unit contractual arrangement" means a either:

a. A unit participation power sales agreement under which a customer reserves, or is entitled to receive, a specified amount or percentage of nameplate capacity or associated energy from any specified unit pursuant to a contract:

a. (1) For the life of the unit;

b. (2) For a cumulative term of no less than 30 years, including contracts that permit an election for early termination; or

c. (3) For a period equal to or greater than 25 years or 70% of the economic useful life of the unit determined as of the time the unit is built, with option rights to purchase or release some portion of the nameplate capacity and associated energy generated by the unit at the end of the period; or

b. Any energy conversion or energy tolling agreement that has a primary term of 20 years or more and pursuant to which the purchaser is required to deliver fuel to the CO₂ budget source or CO₂ budget unit and is entitled to receive all of the nameplate capacity and associated energy generated by such source or unit for the entire contractual period. Such agreements shall be subject to 9VAC5-140-6325. Such purchaser shall not be considered an "owner" as defined under this section.

"Maximum potential hourly heat input" means an hourly heat input used for reporting purposes when a unit lacks certified monitors to report heat input. If the unit intends to use Appendix D of 40 CFR Part 75 to report heat input, this value shall be calculated, in accordance with 40 CFR Part 75, using the maximum fuel flow rate and the maximum gross calorific value. If the unit intends to use a flow monitor and a diluent gas monitor, this value shall be reported, in accordance with 40 CFR Part 75, using the maximum potential flow rate and either the maximum CO₂ concentration in percent CO₂ or the minimum O₂ concentration in percent O₂.

"Minimum reserve price" means, in calendar year 2020, $2.32 2021, $2.38. Each calendar year thereafter, the minimum reserve price shall be 1.025 multiplied by the minimum reserve price from the previous calendar year, rounded to the nearest whole cent.

"Monitoring system" means any monitoring system that meets the requirements of Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part, including a CEMS, an excepted monitoring system, or an alternative monitoring system.

"Nameplate capacity" means the maximum electrical output in MWe that a generator can sustain over a specified period of time when not restricted by seasonal or other deratings as measured in accordance with the U.S. Department of Energy standards.

"Net-electric output" means the amount of gross generation in MWh the generators produce, including output from steam turbines, combustion turbines, and gas expanders, as measured at the generator terminals, less the electricity used to operate the plant (i.e., auxiliary loads); such uses include fuel handling equipment, pumps, fans, pollution control equipment, other electricity needs, and transformer losses as measured at the transmission side of the step up transformer (e.g., the point of sale).

"Non-CO₂ budget unit" means a unit that does not meet the applicability criteria of 9VAC5-140-6040.

"Operator" means any person who operates, controls, or supervises a CO₂ budget unit or a CO₂ budget source and shall include any holding company, utility system, or plant manager of such a unit or source.

"Owner" means any of the following persons:

a. Any holder of any portion of the legal or equitable title in a CO₂ budget unit;

b. Any holder of a leasehold interest in a CO₂ budget unit, other than a passive lessor, or a person who has an equitable interest through such lessor, whose rental payments are not based, either directly or indirectly, upon the revenues or income from the CO₂ budget unit;

c. Any purchaser of power from a CO₂ budget unit under a life-of-the-unit contractual arrangement in which the purchaser controls the dispatch of the unit; or

d. With respect to any general account, any person who has an ownership interest with respect to the CO₂ allowances held in the general account and who is subject to the binding agreement for the CO₂ authorized account representative to represent that person's ownership interest with respect to the CO₂ allowances.

"Participating state" means a state that participates in has established a corresponding regulation as part of the CO₂ Budget Trading Program.

"Receive" or "receipt of" means, when referring to the department or its agent, to come into possession of a document, information, or correspondence (whether sent in writing or by authorized electronic transmission) as indicated in an official correspondence log, or by a notation made on the document, information, or correspondence by the department or its agent in the regular course of business.

"Recordation," "record," or "recorded" means, with regard to CO₂ allowances, the movement of CO₂ allowances by the department or its agent from one COATS account to another, for purposes of allocation, transfer, or deduction.

"Reserve price" means the minimum acceptable price for each conditional CO₂ allowance in a specific auction. The reserve price at an auction is either the minimum reserve price or the CCR trigger price, as specified in Article 9 (9VAC5-140-6410 et seq.) of this part.

"Serial number" means, when referring to CO₂ allowances, the unique identification number assigned to each CO₂ allowance by the department or its agent under 9VAC5-140-6250 C.

"Source" means any governmental, institutional, commercial, or industrial structure, installation, plant, building, or facility that emits or has the potential to emit any air pollutant. A source, including a source with multiple units, shall be considered a single facility.

"Submit" or "serve" means to send or transmit a document, information, or correspondence to the person specified in accordance with the applicable regulation:

a. In person;

b. By United States Postal Service; or

c. By other means of dispatch or transmission and delivery.

Compliance with any "submission," "service," or "mailing" deadline shall be determined by the date of dispatch, transmission, or mailing and not the date of receipt.

"Ton" or "tonnage" means any short ton, or 2,000 pounds. For the purpose of determining compliance with the CO₂ requirements of 9VAC5-140-6050 C, total tons for the initial control period, an interim control period, or a control period shall be calculated as the sum of all recorded hourly emissions, or the tonnage equivalent of the recorded hourly emissions rates, in accordance with Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part, with any remaining fraction of a ton equal to or greater than 0.50 ton deemed to equal one ton and any fraction of a ton less than 0.50 ton deemed to equal zero tons. A short ton is equal to 0.9072 metric tons.

"Total useful energy" means the sum of gross electrical generation and useful net thermal energy.

"Undistributed conditional CO₂ allowances" means conditional CO₂ allowances originally allocated to a set aside account as pursuant to 9VAC5-140-6210 that were not distributed.

"Unit" means a fossil fuel-fired stationary boiler, combustion turbine, or combined cycle system.

"Unit operating day" means a calendar day in which a unit combusts any fuel.

"Unsold conditional CO₂ allowances" means conditional CO₂ allowances that have been made available for sale in an auction conducted by the department or its agent, but not sold.

"Useful net thermal energy" means energy:

1. a. In the form of direct heat, steam, hot water, or other thermal form that is used in the production and beneficial measures for heating, cooling, humidity control, process use, or other thermal end use energy requirements, excluding thermal energy used in the power production process (e.g., house loads and parasitic loads); and

2. b. For which fuel or electricity would otherwise be consumed.

"Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program adjusted budget" means an adjusted budget determined in accordance with 9VAC5-140-6210 and is the annual amount of CO₂ tons available in Virginia for allocation in a given allocation year, in accordance with the CO₂ Budget Trading Program. Conditional CO₂ CCR allowances offered for sale at an auction are separate from and additional to conditional CO₂ allowances allocated from the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program adjusted budget.

"Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget" means the budget specified in 9VAC5-140-6190. Conditional CO₂ CCR allowances offered for sale at an auction are separate from and additional to conditional CO₂ allowances allocated from the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget.

9VAC5-140-6040. Applicability.

A. Any fossil fuel-fired unit that serves an electricity generator with a nameplate capacity equal to or greater than 25 MWe shall be a CO₂ budget unit, and any source that includes one or more such units shall be a CO₂ budget source, subject to the requirements of this part.

B. Exempt from the requirements of this part is any fossil fuel CO₂ budget source located at or adjacent to and physically interconnected with a manufacturing facility that, prior to January 1, 2019 2020, and in every subsequent calendar year, met either of the following requirements:

1. Supplies less than or equal to 10% of its annual net electrical generation to the electric grid; or

2. Supplies less than or equal to 15% of its annual total useful energy to any entity other than the manufacturing facility to which the CO₂ budget source is interconnected.

For the purpose of subdivision 1 of this subsection, annual net electrical generation shall be determined as follows:

(ES – EP) / EG x 100

Where:

ES = electricity sales to the grid from the CO₂ budget source

EP = electricity purchases from the grid by the CO₂ budget source and the manufacturing facility to which the CO₂ budget source is interconnected

EG = electricity generation

Such exempt CO₂ budget source shall have an operating permit containing the applicable restrictions under this subsection. An application for such operating permit shall be submitted to the department no later than January 1, 2022.

9VAC5-140-6045. CO₂ Budget Trading Program implementation. (Repealed.)

In the event the allocation of conditional allowances by the department as required by 9VAC5-140-6190 B has not occurred by January 1, 2020, the program will be considered to be operating and effective as of the calendar year following the date on which the department allocates the conditional allowances as it corresponds to the schedule of 9VAC5-140-6190 A. Permitting and compliance dates, including the due date for a permit as required by 9VAC5-140-6150, shall be adjusted to be in force six months after the date the department allocates the conditional allowances. Any excess emissions tonnage identified by the new program implementation date may be addressed through program review and regulatory action as necessary to ensure compliance with the final compliance date. The department will notify the board and each affected CO₂ budget source accordingly.

9VAC5-140-6050. Standard requirements.

A. Permit requirements shall be as follows.

1. The CO₂ authorized account representative of each CO₂ budget source required to have an operating permit pursuant to 9VAC5-85 (Permits for Stationary Sources of Pollutants Subject to Regulation) and each CO₂ budget unit required to have an operating permit pursuant to 9VAC5-85 shall:

a. Submit to the department a complete CO₂ budget permit application under 9VAC5-140-6160 in accordance with the deadlines specified in 9VAC5-140-6150; and

b. Submit in a timely manner any supplemental information that the department determines is necessary in order to review the CO₂ budget permit application and issue or deny a CO₂ budget permit.

2. The owners and operators of each CO₂ budget source required to have an operating permit pursuant to 9VAC5-85 (Permits for Stationary Sources of Pollutants Subject to Regulation) and each CO₂ budget unit required to have an operating permit pursuant to 9VAC5-85 for the source shall have a CO₂ budget permit and operate the CO₂ budget source and the CO₂ budget unit at the source in compliance with such CO₂ budget permit.

B. Monitoring requirements shall be as follows.

1. The owners and operators and, to the extent applicable, the CO₂ authorized account representative of each CO₂ budget source and each CO₂ budget unit at the source shall comply with the monitoring requirements of Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part.

2. The emissions measurements recorded and reported in accordance with Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part shall be used to determine compliance by the unit with the CO₂ requirements under subsection C of this section.

C. CO₂ requirements shall be as follows.

1. The owners and operators of each CO₂ budget source and each CO₂ budget unit at the source shall hold CO₂ allowances available for compliance deductions under 9VAC5-140-6260, as of the CO₂ allowance transfer deadline, in the source's compliance account in an amount not less than the total CO₂ emissions that have been generated as a result of combusting fossil fuel for the initial control period, an interim control period, or control period from all CO₂ budget units at the source, less the CO₂ allowances deducted to meet the requirements of subdivision 2 of this subsection, with respect to the previous two interim control periods as determined in accordance with Article 6 (9VAC5-140-6220 et seq.) and Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part.

2. The owners and operators of each CO₂ budget source and each CO₂ budget unit at the source shall hold CO₂ allowances available for compliance deductions under 9VAC5-140-6260, as of the CO₂ allowance transfer deadline, in the source's compliance account in an amount not less than the total CO₂ emissions that have been generated as a result of combusting fossil fuel for the initial control period, an interim control period , or for the interim control period from all CO₂ budget units at the source multiplied by 0.50, as determined in accordance with Article 6 (9VAC5-140-6220 et seq.) and Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part.

3. Each ton of CO₂ emitted in excess of the CO₂ budget emissions limitation for the initial control period or a control period shall constitute a separate violation of this part and applicable state law.

4. Each ton of excess interim emissions shall constitute a separate violation of this part and applicable state law.

5. A CO₂ budget unit shall be subject to the requirements under subdivision 1 of this subsection starting on the later of January 1, 2020 2021, or the date on which the unit commences operation.

6. CO₂ allowances shall be held in, deducted from, or transferred among COATS accounts in accordance with Article 5 (9VAC5-140-6190 et seq.), Article 6 (9VAC5-140-6220 et seq.), and Article 7 (9VAC5-140-6300 et seq.) of this part.

7. A CO₂ allowance shall not be deducted, to comply with the requirements under subdivision 1 or 2 of this subsection, for a control period that ends prior to the year for which the CO₂ allowance was allocated.

8. A CO₂ allowance under the CO₂ Budget Trading Program is a limited authorization by the department to emit one ton of CO₂ in accordance with the CO₂ Budget Trading Program. No provision of the CO₂ Budget Trading Program, the CO₂ budget permit application, or the CO₂ budget permit or any provision of law shall be construed to limit the authority of the department or a participating state to terminate or limit such authorization.

9. A CO₂ allowance under the CO₂ Budget Trading Program does not constitute a property right.

D. The owners and operators of a CO₂ budget source that has excess emissions in an initial control period or a control period shall:

1. Forfeit the CO₂ allowances required for deduction under 9VAC5-140-6260 D 1; and

2. Pay any fine, penalty, or assessment or comply with any other remedy imposed under 9VAC5-140-6260 D 2.

E. Recordkeeping and reporting requirements shall be as follows:

1. Unless otherwise provided, the owners and operators of the CO₂ budget source and each CO₂ budget unit at the source shall keep on site at the source each of the following documents for a period of 10 years from the date the document is created. This period may be extended for cause, at any time prior to the end of 10 years, in writing by the department.

a. The account certificate of representation for the CO₂ authorized account representative for the source and each CO₂ budget unit at the source and all documents that demonstrate the truth of the statements in the account certificate of representation, in accordance with 9VAC5-140-6110, provided that the certificate and documents shall be retained on site at the source beyond such 10-year period until such documents are superseded because of the submission of a new account certificate of representation changing the CO₂ authorized account representative.

b. All emissions monitoring information, in accordance with Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part and 40 CFR 75.57.

c. Copies of all reports, compliance certifications, and other submissions and all records made or required under the CO₂ Budget Trading Program.

d. Copies of all documents used to complete a CO₂ budget permit application and any other submission under the CO₂ Budget Trading Program or to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the CO₂ Budget Trading Program.

2. The CO₂ authorized account representative of a CO₂ budget source and each CO₂ budget unit at the source shall submit the reports and compliance certifications required under the CO₂ Budget Trading Program, including those under Article 4 (9VAC5-140-6170 et seq.) of this part.

F. Liability requirements shall be as follows.

1. No permit revision shall excuse any violation of the requirements of the CO₂ Budget Trading Program that occurs prior to the date that the revision takes effect.

2. Any provision of the CO₂ Budget Trading Program that applies to a CO₂ budget source, including a provision applicable to the CO₂ authorized account representative of a CO₂ budget source, shall also apply to the owners and operators of such source and of the CO₂ budget units at the source.

3. Any provision of the CO₂ Budget Trading Program that applies to a CO₂ budget unit, including a provision applicable to the CO₂ authorized account representative of a CO₂ budget unit, shall also apply to the owners and operators of such unit.

G. No provision of the CO₂ Budget Trading Program, a CO₂ budget permit application, or a CO₂ budget permit shall be construed as exempting or excluding the owners and operators and, to the extent applicable, the CO₂ authorized account representative of the CO₂ budget source or CO₂ budget unit from compliance with any other provisions of applicable state and federal law or regulations.

9VAC5-140-6150. Submission of CO₂ budget permit applications.

For any CO₂ budget source, the CO₂ authorized account representative shall submit a complete CO₂ budget permit application under 9VAC5-140-6160 covering such CO₂ budget source to the department by the later of January 1, 2020 2021, or 12 months before the date on which the CO₂ budget source, or a new unit at the source, commences operation.

Article 4
Compliance Certification

9VAC5-140-6170. Compliance certification report.

A. For the initial control period and each control period in which a CO₂ budget source is subject to the CO₂ requirements of 9VAC5-140-6050 C, the CO₂ authorized account representative of the source shall submit to the department by March 1 following the relevant control period, a compliance certification report. A compliance certification report is not required as part of the compliance obligation during an interim control period.

B. The CO₂ authorized account representative shall include in the compliance certification report under subsection A of this section the following elements, in a format prescribed by the department:

1. Identification of the source and each CO₂ budget unit at the source;

2. At the CO₂ authorized account representative's option, the serial numbers of the CO₂ allowances that are to be deducted from the source's compliance account under 9VAC5-140-6260 for the control period; and

3. The compliance certification under subsection C of this section.

C. In the compliance certification report under subsection A of this section, the CO₂ authorized account representative shall certify, based on reasonable inquiry of those persons with primary responsibility for operating the source and the CO₂ budget units at the source in compliance with the CO₂ Budget Trading Program, whether the source and each CO₂ budget unit at the source for which the compliance certification is submitted was operated during the calendar years covered by the report in compliance with the requirements of the CO₂ Budget Trading Program, including:

1. Whether the source was operated in compliance with the CO₂ requirements of 9VAC5-140-6050 C;

2. Whether the monitoring plan applicable to each unit at the source has been maintained to reflect the actual operation and monitoring of the unit, and contains all information necessary to attribute CO₂ emissions to the unit, in accordance with Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part;

3. Whether all the CO₂ emissions from the units at the source were monitored or accounted for through the missing data procedures and reported in the quarterly monitoring reports, including whether conditional data were reported in the quarterly reports in accordance with Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part. If conditional data were reported, the owner or operator shall indicate whether the status of all conditional data has been resolved and all necessary quarterly report resubmissions have been made;

4. Whether the facts that form the basis for certification under Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part of each monitor at each unit at the source, or for using an excepted monitoring method or alternative monitoring method approved under Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part, if any, have changed; and

5. If a change is required to be reported under subdivision 4 of this subsection, specify the nature of the change, the reason for the change, when the change occurred, and how the unit's compliance status was determined subsequent to the change, including what method was used to determine emissions when a change mandated the need for monitor recertification.

Article 5
CO₂ Allowance Allocations

9VAC5-140-6190. Base budgets.

A. The Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget shall be as follows:

1. For 2020, the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget is 28 million tons.

2. For 2021, the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget is 27.16 million tons.

3. 2. For 2022, the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget is 26.32 million tons.

4. 3. For 2023, the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget is 25.48 million tons.

5. 4. For 2024, the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget is 24.64 million tons.

6. 5. For 2025, the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget is 23.80 million tons.

7. 6. For 2026, the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget is 22.96 million tons.

8. 7. For 2027, the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget is 22.12 million tons.

9. 8. For 2028, the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget is 21.28 million tons.

10. 9. For 2029, the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget is 20.44 million tons.

11. 10. For 2030, the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget is 19.60 million tons.

B. The department will allocate conditional allowances to CO₂ budget units and to DMME. After a conditional allowance has been consigned in an auction by a CO₂ budget unit or the holder of a public contract with DMME as specified under Article 9 (9VAC5-140-6410 et seq.) of this part, the conditional allowance becomes a CO₂ allowance once it is sold to an auction participant.

C. For 2031 and each succeeding calendar year, the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget is 19.60 million tons unless modified as a result of a program review and future regulatory action.

9VAC5-140-6200. Undistributed and unsold conditional CO₂ allowances.

A. The department will retire undistributed conditional CO₂ allowances at the end of the initial control period and each subsequent control period.

B. The department will retire unsold conditional CO₂ allowances at the end of the initial control period and each subsequent control period.

9VAC5-140-6210. Conditional CO₂ allowance allocations.

A. The department will allocate the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget conditional CO₂ allowances to CO₂ budget sources to be consigned to auction to the Virginia Consignment Auction Account.

B. For allocation years 2020 2021 through 2031 2030, the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program adjusted budget shall be the maximum number of allowances available for allocation in a given allocation year, except for conditional CO₂ CCR allowances.

C. Conditional allowances allocated for a calendar year will be automatically transferred to the Virginia Consignment Auction Account to be consigned to auction. Following each auction, all conditional allowances sold at the auction will be transferred from the Virginia Consignment Auction Account to winning bidders' accounts as CO₂ allowances.

D. The cost containment reserve (CCR) allocation shall be managed as follows. The In the event that the CCR is triggered during an auction, the department will allocate conditional CO₂ CCR allowances, separate from and additional to the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget set forth in 9VAC5-140-6190 to the Virginia Consignment Auction Account. The CCR allocation is for the purpose of containing the cost of CO₂ allowances. The department will allocate conditional CO₂ CCR allowances as follows:

1. Beginning in calendar year 2020, the department will initially allocate, on a pro rata basis to CO₂ budget sources, 2.8 million conditional CO₂ CCR allowances.

2. On or before January 1, 2021, and each year thereafter, the department will allocate, on a pro rata basis to CO₂ budget sources, current vintage year conditional CO₂ CCR allowances equal to the quantity in Table 140-5A.

3. The pro rata calculation to be used for the distribution of conditional CO₂ CCR allowances is as follows:

SAA/TAA * CCR = SCCR

Where:

SAA = source adjusted allocation

TAA = total adjusted allocation

SCCR = source CCR

4. Conditional 2. CCR allowances allocated for a calendar year will be automatically transferred to the Virginia Consignment Auction Account to be consigned to auction auctioned. Following each auction, all conditional CO₂ CCR allowances sold at auction will be transferred to winning bidders' accounts as CO₂ CCR allowances.

5. 3. Unsold conditional CO₂ CCR allowances will remain in the Virginia Consignment Auction Account to be re-offered for sale at auction within the same calendar year. Conditional CO₂ CCR allowances remaining unsold at the end of the calendar year in which they were originated will be made unavailable for sale at future auctions.

E. D. In the event that the ECR is triggered during an auction, the department will authorize its agent to withhold conditional CO₂ allowances as needed. The department will further authorize its agent to convert and transfer any conditional CO₂ allowances that have been withheld from any auction into the Virginia ECR account. The ECR withholding is for the purpose of additional emission reduction in the event of lower than anticipated emission reduction costs. The department's agent will withhold CO₂ ECR allowances as follows:

1. If the condition in 9VAC5-140-6420 D C 1 is met at an auction, then the maximum number of CO₂ ECR allowances that will be withheld from that auction will be equal to the quantity shown in Table 140-5B minus the total quantity of CO₂ ECR allowances that have been withheld from any prior auction in that calendar year. Any CO₂ ECR allowances withheld from an auction will be transferred into the Virginia ECR account.

2. Allowances that have been transferred into the Virginia ECR account shall not be withdrawn.

F. E. The adjustment for banked allowances will be as follows. On March 15, 2021, the department may determine the adjustment for banked allowances quantity for allocation years 2021 through 2025 through the application of the following formula:

TABA = ((TA – TAE)/5) x RS%

Where:

TABA is the adjustment for banked allowances quantity in tons.

TA, adjustment, is the total quantity of allowances of vintage years prior to 2021 held in general and compliance accounts, including compliance accounts established pursuant to the CO₂ Budget Trading Program but not including accounts opened by participating states, as reflected in the CO₂ Allowance Tracking System on March 15, 2021.

TAE, adjustment emissions, is the total quantity of 2018, 2019, and 2020 emissions from all CO₂ budget sources in all participating states, reported pursuant to CO₂ Budget Trading Program as reflected in the CO₂ Allowance Tracking System on March 15, 2021.

RS% is Virginia budget divided by the regional budget.

G. F. CO₂ Budget Trading Program adjusted budgets for 2021 through 2025 shall be determined as follows: on April 15, 2021, the department will determine the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program adjusted budgets for the 2021 through 2025 allocation years by the following formula:

AB = BB – TABA

Where:

AB is the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program adjusted budget.

BB is the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base budget.

TABA is the adjustment for banked allowances quantity in tons.

H. G. The department or its agent will publish the CO₂ trading program adjusted budgets for the 2021 through 2025 allocation years.

I. Timing requirements for conditional allowance allocations shall be as follows:

1. By August 25, 2019, the department will submit to its agent the conditional allowance allocations in accordance with 9VAC5-140-6215 A and B, for the initial control period, 2020.

2. By the month and day established by subdivision 1 of this subsection, 2020, the department will submit to its agent 50% of the conditional allowance allocations in accordance with 9VAC5-140-6215 A and B, for the 2021 control period. By the month and day one month before the date established by subdivision 1 of this subsection, 2021, the department will submit to its agent the remainder of the conditional allowance allocations in accordance with 9VAC5-140-6215 A and B, for 2021.

3. By the month and day established by subdivision 1 of this subsection, 2021, and the month and day established by subdivision 1 of this subsection of every subsequent year thereafter, the department will submit to its agent the conditional allowance allocations for the applicable control period in accordance with 9VAC5-140-6215 A and B.

J. Implementation of the CCR (subsection C of this section), the ECR (subsection D of this section) and the banking adjustment (subsection E of this section) shall be determined based on the extent of the CO₂ trading program.

K. Conditional allowances and conditional CCR allowances allocated for a calendar year will be automatically transferred to the Virginia Consignment Auction Account to be consigned to auction. Following each auction, all conditional allowances sold at the auction will be transferred from the Virginia Consignment Auction Account to winning bidders' accounts as CO₂ allowances. Conditional CCR allowances sold at auction will be transferred to winning bidders' accounts as CO₂ CCR allowances. Unsold conditional CCR allowances will remain in the Virginia Consignment Auction Account to be re-offered for sale at auction within the same calendar year. Conditional CCR allowances remaining unsold at the end of the calendar year in which they were originated will be made unavailable for sale at future auctions.

9VAC5-140-6211. Conditional allowance allocations, DMME allowances. (Repealed.)

Notwithstanding 9VAC5-140-6210, the department will allocate 5.0% of the Virginia CO₂ Budget Trading Program base or adjusted budget allowances, as applicable, to DMME to be consigned to auction by the holder of a public contract with DMME to assist the department for the abatement and control of air pollution, specifically CO₂, by the implementation of programs that lower base and peak electricity demand and reduce the cost of the program to consumers and budget sources.

9VAC5-140-6215. Conditional allocation methodology. (Repealed.)

A. The net-electric output in MWh used with respect to conditional allowance allocations under subsection B of this section for each CO₂ budget unit shall be:

1. For units operating on or before January 1, 2020, the average of the three amounts of the unit's net-electric output during 2016, 2017, and 2018 to determine allocations for the initial control period.

2. For all units operating in each control period after 2020, the average of the three amounts of the unit's total net-electric output during the three most recent years for which data are available prior to the start of the control period.

B. 1. For each control period beginning in 2020 and thereafter, the department will allocate to all CO₂ budget units that have a net-electric output, as determined under subsection A of this section, a total amount of conditional allowances equal to the CO₂ base budget.

2. The department will allocate conditional allowances to each conditional budget unit under subdivision 1 of this subsection in an amount determined by multiplying the total amount of CO₂ allowances allocated under subdivision 1 of this subsection by the ratio of the baseline electrical output of such CO₂ budget unit to the total amount of baseline electrical output of all such CO₂ budget units and rounding to the nearest whole allowance as appropriate.

3. New CO₂ budget units will be allocated conditional allowances once they have established electrical output data to be used in the conditional allowance allocation process.

C. For the purpose of the allocation process as described in subsections A and B of this section, CO₂ budget units shall report the unit's net-electric output to the department on a yearly basis as follows:

1. By August 25, 2019, each CO₂ budget unit shall report yearly net-electric output data during 2016, 2017, and 2018.

2. By the month and day established by subdivision 1 of this subsection, 2020, and each year thereafter, each CO₂ budget unit shall report yearly net-electric output data for the previous year.

Article 6
CO₂ Allowance Tracking System

9VAC5-140-6220. CO₂ Allowance Tracking System accounts.

A. Consistent with 9VAC5-140-6230 A, the department or its agent will establish one compliance account for each CO₂ budget source. Allocations of conditional CO₂ allowances pursuant to Article 5 (9VAC5-140-6190 et seq.) of this part and deductions or transfers of conditional CO₂ allowances pursuant to 9VAC5-140-6180, 9VAC5-140-6260, 9VAC5-140-6280, or Article 7 (9VAC5-140-6300 et seq.) of this part will be recorded in the compliance accounts in accordance with this section.

B. Consistent with 9VAC5-140-6230 B, the department or its agent will establish, upon request, a general account for any person. Transfers of CO₂ allowances pursuant to Article 7 (9VAC5-140-6300 et seq.) of this part will be recorded in the general account in accordance with this article.

9VAC5-140-6230. Establishment of accounts.

A. Upon receipt of a complete account certificate of representation under 9VAC5-140-6110, the department or its agent will establish a conditional an allowance account and a compliance account for each CO₂ budget source for which an account certificate of representation was submitted and a conditional allowance account for DMME.

B. General accounts shall operate as follows.

1. Any person may apply to open a general account for the purpose of holding and transferring CO₂ allowances. An application for a general account may designate one and only one CO₂ authorized account representative and one and only one CO₂ authorized alternate account representative who may act on behalf of the CO₂ authorized account representative. The agreement by which the CO₂ authorized alternate account representative is selected shall include a procedure for authorizing the CO₂ authorized alternate account representative to act in lieu of the CO₂ authorized account representative. A complete application for a general account shall be submitted to the department or its agent and shall include the following elements in a format prescribed by the department or its agent:

a. Name, address, email address, telephone number, and facsimile transmission number of the CO₂ authorized account representative and any CO₂ authorized alternate account representative;

b. At the option of the CO₂ authorized account representative, organization name and type of organization;

c. A list of all persons subject to a binding agreement for the CO₂ authorized account representative or any CO₂ authorized alternate account representative to represent their ownership interest with respect to the CO₂ allowances held in the general account;

d. The following certification statement by the CO₂ authorized account representative and any CO₂ authorized alternate account representative: "I certify that I was selected as the CO₂ authorized account representative or the CO₂ authorized alternate account representative, as applicable, by an agreement that is binding on all persons who have an ownership interest with respect to CO₂ allowances held in the general account. I certify that I have all the necessary authority to carry out my duties and responsibilities under the CO₂ Budget Trading Program on behalf of such persons and that each such person shall be fully bound by my representations, actions, inactions, or submissions and by any order or decision issued to me by the department or its agent or a court regarding the general account.";

e. The signature of the CO₂ authorized account representative and any CO₂ authorized alternate account representative and the dates signed; and

f. Unless otherwise required by the department or its agent, documents of agreement referred to in the application for a general account shall not be submitted to the department or its agent. Neither the department nor its agent shall be under any obligation to review or evaluate the sufficiency of such documents, if submitted.

2. Authorization of the CO₂ authorized account representative shall be as follows:

a. Upon receipt by the department or its agent of a complete application for a general account under subdivision 1 of this subsection:

(1) The department or its agent will establish a general account for the person for whom the application is submitted.

(2) The CO₂ authorized account representative and any CO₂ authorized alternate account representative for the general account shall represent and, by his representations, actions, inactions, or submissions, legally bind each person who has an ownership interest with respect to CO₂ allowances held in the general account in all matters pertaining to the CO₂ Budget Trading Program, notwithstanding any agreement between the CO₂ authorized account representative or any CO₂ authorized alternate account representative and such person. Any such person shall be bound by any order or decision issued to the CO₂ authorized account representative or any CO₂ authorized alternate account representative by the department or its agent or a court regarding the general account.

(3) Any representation, action, inaction, or submission by any CO₂ authorized alternate account representative shall be deemed to be a representation, action, inaction, or submission by the CO₂ authorized account representative.

b. Each submission concerning the general account shall be submitted, signed, and certified by the CO₂ authorized account representative or any CO₂ authorized alternate account representative for the persons having an ownership interest with respect to CO₂ allowances held in the general account. Each such submission shall include the following certification statement by the CO₂ authorized account representative or any CO₂ authorized alternate account representative: "I am authorized to make this submission on behalf of the persons having an ownership interest with respect to the CO₂ allowances held in the general account. I certify under penalty of law that I have personally examined, and am familiar with, the statements and information submitted in this document and all its attachments. Based on my inquiry of those individuals with primary responsibility for obtaining the information, I certify that the statements and information are to the best of my knowledge and belief true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false statements and information or omitting required statements and information, including the possibility of fine or imprisonment."

c. The department or its agent will accept or act on a submission concerning the general account only if the submission has been made, signed, and certified in accordance with subdivision 2 b of this subsection.

3. Changing CO₂ authorized account representative and CO₂ authorized alternate account representative, and changes in persons with ownership interest, shall be accomplished as follows:

a. The CO₂ authorized account representative for a general account may be changed at any time upon receipt by the department or its agent of a superseding complete application for a general account under subdivision 1 of this subsection. Notwithstanding any such change, all representations, actions, inactions, and submissions by the previous CO₂ authorized account representative, or the previous CO₂ authorized alternate account representative, prior to the time and date when the department or its agent receives the superseding application for a general account shall be binding on the new CO₂ authorized account representative and the persons with an ownership interest with respect to the CO₂ allowances in the general account.

b. The CO₂ authorized alternate account representative for a general account may be changed at any time upon receipt by the department or its agent of a superseding complete application for a general account under subdivision 1 of this subsection. Notwithstanding any such change, all representations, actions, inactions, and submissions by the previous CO₂ authorized account representative, or the previous CO₂ authorized alternate account representative, prior to the time and date when the department or its agent receives the superseding application for a general account shall be binding on the new alternate CO₂ authorized account representative and the persons with an ownership interest with respect to the CO₂ allowances in the general account.

c. In the event a new person having an ownership interest with respect to CO₂ allowances in the general account is not included in the list of such persons in the application for a general account, such new person shall be deemed to be subject to and bound by the application for a general account, the representations, actions, inactions, and submissions of the CO₂ authorized account representative and any CO₂ authorized alternate account representative, and the decisions, orders, actions, and inactions of the department or its agent, as if the new person were included in such list.

d. Within 30 days following any change in the persons having an ownership interest with respect to CO₂ allowances in the general account, including the addition or deletion of persons, the CO₂ authorized account representative or any CO₂ authorized alternate account representative shall submit a revision to the application for a general account amending the list of persons having an ownership interest with respect to the CO₂ allowances in the general account to include the change.

4. Objections concerning CO₂ authorized account representative shall be governed as follows:

a. Once a complete application for a general account under subdivision 1 of this subsection has been submitted and received, the department or its agent will rely on the application unless and until a superseding complete application for a general account under subdivision 1 of this subsection is received by the department or its agent.

b. Except as provided in subdivisions 3 a and 3 b of this subsection, no objection or other communication submitted to the department or its agent concerning the authorization, or any representation, action, inaction, or submission of the CO₂ authorized account representative or any CO₂ authorized alternate account representative for a general account shall affect any representation, action, inaction, or submission of the CO₂ authorized account representative or any CO₂ authorized alternate account representative or the finality of any decision or order by the department or its agent under the CO₂ Budget Trading Program.

c. Neither the department nor its agent will adjudicate any private legal dispute concerning the authorization or any representation, action, inaction, or submission of the CO₂ authorized account representative or any CO₂ authorized alternate account representative for a general account, including private legal disputes concerning the proceeds of CO₂ allowance transfers.

5. Delegation by CO₂ authorized account representative and CO₂ authorized alternate account representative shall be accomplished as follows:

a. A CO₂ authorized account representative may delegate, to one or more natural persons, his authority to make an electronic submission to the department or its agent provided for under this article and Article 7 (9VAC5-140-6300 et seq.) of this part.

b. A CO₂ authorized alternate account representative may delegate, to one or more natural persons, his authority to make an electronic submission to the department or its agent provided for under this article and Article 7 (9VAC5-140-6300 et seq.) of this part.

c. To delegate authority to make an electronic submission to the department or its agent in accordance with subdivisions 5 a and 5 b of this subsection, the CO₂ authorized account representative or CO₂ authorized alternate account representative, as appropriate, shall submit to the department or its agent a notice of delegation, in a format prescribed by the department that includes the following elements:

(1) The name, address, email address, telephone number, and facsimile transmission number of such CO₂ authorized account representative or CO₂ authorized alternate account representative;

(2) The name, address, email address, telephone number, and facsimile transmission number of each such natural person, referred to as "electronic submission agent";

(3) For each such natural person, a list of the type of electronic submissions under subdivision 5 c (1) or 5 c (2) of this subsection for which authority is delegated to him; and

(4) The following certification statement by such CO₂ authorized account representative or CO₂ authorized alternate account representative: "I agree that any electronic submission to the department or its agent that is by a natural person identified in this notice of delegation and of a type listed for such electronic submission agent in this notice of delegation and that is made when I am a CO₂ authorized account representative or CO₂ authorized alternate account representative, as appropriate, and before this notice of delegation is superseded by another notice of delegation under 9VAC5-140-6230 B 5 d shall be deemed to be an electronic submission by me. Until this notice of delegation is superseded by another notice of delegation under 9VAC5-140-6230 B 5 d, I agree to maintain an email account and to notify the department or its agent immediately of any change in my email address unless all delegation authority by me under 9VAC5-140-6230 B 5 is terminated."

d. A notice of delegation submitted under subdivision 5 c of this subsection shall be effective, with regard to the CO₂ authorized account representative or CO₂ authorized alternate account representative identified in such notice, upon receipt of such notice by the department or its agent and until receipt by the department or its agent of a superseding notice of delegation by such CO₂ authorized account representative or CO₂ authorized alternate account representative as appropriate. The superseding notice of delegation may replace any previously identified electronic submission agent, add a new electronic submission agent, or eliminate entirely any delegation of authority.

e. Any electronic submission covered by the certification in subdivision 5 c (4) of this subsection and made in accordance with a notice of delegation effective under subdivision 5 d of this subsection shall be deemed to be an electronic submission by the CO₂ authorized account representative or CO₂ authorized alternate account representative submitting such notice of delegation.

C. The department or its agent will assign a unique identifying number to each account established under subsection A or B of this section.

9VAC5-140-6250. Recordation of conditional CO₂ allowance allocations.

A. By January 1 of each calendar year, the department or its agent will record in the following accounts:

1. In each CO₂ budget source's and DMME's conditional allowance account, the conditional CO₂ allowances allocated to those sources and DMME by the department prior to being consigned to auction auctioned; and

2. In each CO₂ budget source's compliance account, the CO₂ allowances purchased at auction by CO₂ budget units at the source under 9VAC5-140-6210 A.

B. Each year the department or its agent will record conditional CO₂ allowances, as allocated to the unit under Article 5 (9VAC5-140-6190 et seq.) of this part, in the compliance account for the year after the last year for which conditional CO₂ allowances were previously allocated to the compliance account. Each year, the department or its agent will also record conditional CO₂ allowances, as allocated under Article 5 (9VAC5-140-6190 et seq.) of this part, in an allocation set-aside for the year after the last year for which conditional CO₂ allowances were previously allocated to an allocation set-aside.

C. Serial numbers for allocated conditional CO₂ allowances shall be managed as follows. When allocating conditional CO₂ allowances to and recording them in an account, the department or its agent will assign each conditional CO₂ allowance a unique identification number that will include digits identifying the year for which the conditional CO₂ allowance is allocated.

9VAC5-140-6260. Compliance.

A. CO₂ allowances that meet the following criteria are available to be deducted for a CO₂ budget source to comply with the CO₂ requirements of 9VAC5-140-6050 C for the initial control period, a control period, or an interim control period.

1. The CO₂ allowances are of allocation years that fall within an initial control period, a prior control period, the same control period, or the same interim control period for which the allowances will be deducted.

2. The CO₂ allowances are held in the CO₂ budget source's compliance account as of the CO₂ allowance transfer deadline for that initial control period, control period, or interim control period or are transferred into the compliance account by a CO₂ allowance transfer correctly submitted for recordation under 9VAC5-140-6300 by the CO₂ allowance transfer deadline for that initial control period, control period, or interim control period.

3. For CO₂ offset allowances generated by other participating states, the number of CO₂ offset allowances that are available to be deducted in order for a CO₂ budget source to comply with the CO₂ requirements of 9VAC5-140-6050 C for a control period or an initial interim control period shall not exceed 3.3% of the CO₂ budget source's CO₂ emissions for that control period, or may not exceed 3.3% of 0.50 times the CO₂ budget source's CO₂ emissions for an interim control period, as determined in accordance with this article and Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part.

4. The CO₂ allowances are not necessary for deductions for excess emissions for a prior initial control period or a control period under subsection D of this section.

B. Following the recordation, in accordance with 9VAC5-140-6310, of CO₂ allowance transfers submitted for recordation in the CO₂ budget source's compliance account by the CO₂ allowance transfer deadline for the initial control period, a control period , or an interim control period, the department or its agent will deduct CO₂ allowances available under subsection A of this section to cover the source's CO₂ emissions, as determined in accordance with Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part, for the initial control period, control period, or interim control period, as follows:

1. Until the amount of CO₂ allowances deducted equals the number of tons of total CO₂ emissions, or 0.50 times the number of tons of total CO₂ emissions for an interim control period, determined in accordance with Article 8 (9VAC5-140-6330 et seq.) of this part, from all CO₂ budget units at the CO₂ budget source for the initial control period, control period, or interim control period; or

2. If there are insufficient CO₂ allowances to complete the deductions in subdivision 1 of this subsection, until no more CO₂ allowances available under subsection A of this section remain in the compliance account.

C. Identification of available CO₂ allowances by serial number and default compliance deductions shall be managed as follows:

1. The CO₂ authorized account representative for a source's compliance account may request that specific CO₂ allowances, identified by serial number, in the compliance account be deducted for emissions or excess emissions for the initial control period, a control period, or interim control period in accordance with subsection B or D of this section. Such identification shall be made in the compliance certification report submitted in accordance with 9VAC5-140-6170.

2. The department or its agent will deduct CO₂ allowances for the initial control period, an interim control period, or a control period from the CO₂ budget source's compliance account, in the absence of an identification or in the case of a partial identification of available CO₂ allowances by serial number under subdivision 1 of this subsection, as follows: Any CO₂ allowances that are available for deduction under subdivision 1 of this subsection. CO₂ allowances shall be deducted in chronological order (i.e., CO₂ allowances from earlier allocation years shall be deducted before CO₂ allowances from later allocation years). In the event that some, but not all, CO₂ allowances from a particular allocation year are to be deducted, CO₂ allowances shall be deducted by serial number, with lower serial number allowances deducted before higher serial number allowances.

D. Deductions for excess emissions shall be managed as follows.

1. After making the deductions for compliance under subsection B of this section, the department or its agent will deduct from the CO₂ budget source's compliance account a number of CO₂ allowances equal to three times the number of the source's excess emissions. In the event that a source has insufficient CO₂ allowances to cover three times the number of the source's excess emissions, the source shall be required to immediately transfer sufficient allowances into its compliance account.

2. Any CO₂ allowance deduction required under subdivision 1 of this subsection shall not affect the liability of the owners and operators of the CO₂ budget source or the CO₂ budget units at the source for any fine, penalty, or assessment, or their obligation to comply with any other remedy, for the same violation, as ordered under applicable state law. The following guidelines will be followed in assessing fines, penalties, or other obligations:

a. For purposes of determining the number of days of violation, if a CO₂ budget source has excess emissions for a control period, each day in the control period constitutes a day in violation unless the owners and operators of the unit demonstrate that a lesser number of days should be considered.

b. Each ton of excess emissions is a separate violation.

c. For purposes of determining the number of days of violation, if a CO₂ budget source has excess interim emissions for an interim control period, each day in the interim control period constitutes a day in violation unless the owners and operators of the unit demonstrate that a lesser number of days should be considered.

d. Each ton of excess interim emissions is a separate violation.

3. The propriety of the department's determination that a CO₂ budget source had excess emissions and the concomitant deduction of CO₂ allowances from that CO₂ budget source's account may be later challenged in the context of the initial administrative enforcement, or any civil or criminal judicial action arising from or encompassing that excess emissions violation. The commencement or pendency of any administrative enforcement, or civil or criminal judicial action arising from or encompassing that excess emissions violation will not act to prevent the department or its agent from initially deducting the CO₂ allowances resulting from the department's original determination that the relevant CO₂ budget source has had excess emissions. Should the department's determination of the existence or extent of the CO₂ budget source's excess emissions be revised either by a settlement or final conclusion of any administrative or judicial action, the department will act as follows:

a. In any instance where the department's determination of the extent of excess emissions was too low, the department will take further action under subdivisions 1 and 2 of this subsection to address the expanded violation.

b. In any instance where the department's determination of the extent of excess emissions was too high, the department will distribute to the relevant CO₂ budget source a number of CO₂ allowances equaling the number of CO₂ allowances deducted which are attributable to the difference between the original and final quantity of excess emissions. Should such CO₂ budget source's compliance account no longer exist, the CO₂ allowances will be provided to a general account selected by the owner or operator of the CO₂ budget source from which they were originally deducted.

E. The department or its agent will record in the appropriate compliance account all deductions from such an account pursuant to subsections B and D of this section.

F. Action by the department on submissions shall be as follows:

1. The department may review and conduct independent audits concerning any submission under the CO₂ Budget Trading Program and make appropriate adjustments of the information in the submissions.

2. The department may deduct CO₂ allowances from or transfer CO₂ allowances to a source's compliance account based on information in the submissions, as adjusted under subdivision 1 of this subsection.

9VAC5-140-6325. Life-of-the-unit contractual arrangements.

A. A power purchaser entered into a life-of-the-unit contractual arrangement as described in subdivision b of the definition of "life-of-the-unit contractual arrangement" with a CO₂ budget source or unit shall be responsible for acquiring and transferring all allowances to the CO₂ budget source or unit that are necessary for demonstrating compliance with the CO₂ budget trading program.

B. The CO₂ budget source or unit shall provide a copy of the energy conversion or energy tolling agreement to the department within six months of July 10, 2020. If such agreement is subject to third-party disclosure restrictions, the CO₂ budget source or unit shall provide purchaser within 10 days prior written notice of its intention to disclose the agreement to the department and request confidential treatment from the public disclosure of such agreement. The department will grant a request for confidential treatment pursuant to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements addressing confidential information.

C. The CO₂ budget source or unit shall be responsible for compliance with and otherwise be subject to all other requirements of this part and the CO₂ budget trading program.

Article 8
Monitoring, Reporting, and Recordkeeping

9VAC5-140-6330. General requirements.

A. The owners and operators, and to the extent applicable, the CO₂ authorized account representative of a CO₂ budget unit shall comply with the monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements as provided in this section and all applicable sections of 40 CFR Part 75. Where referenced in this article, the monitoring requirements of 40 CFR Part 75 shall be adhered to in a manner consistent with the purpose of monitoring and reporting CO₂ mass emissions pursuant to this part. For purposes of complying with such requirements, the definitions in 9VAC5-140-6020 and in 40 CFR 72.2 shall apply, and the terms "affected unit," "designated representative," and "CEMS" in 40 CFR Part 75 shall be replaced by the terms "CO₂ budget unit," "CO₂ authorized account representative," and "CEMS," respectively, as defined in 9VAC5-140-6020. For units not subject to an acid rain Acid Rain emissions limitation, the term "administrator" in 40 CFR Part 75 shall be replaced with "the department or its agent." Owners or operators of a CO₂ budget unit who monitor a non-CO₂ budget unit pursuant to the common, multiple, or bypass stack procedures in 40 CFR 75.72(b)(2)(ii), or 40 CFR 75.16 (b)(2)(ii)(B) pursuant to 40 CFR 75.13, for purposes of complying with this part, shall monitor and report CO₂ mass emissions from such non-CO₂ budget units according to the procedures for CO₂ budget units established in this article.

B. The owner or operator of each CO₂ budget unit shall meet the following general requirements for installation, certification, and data accounting.

1. Install all monitoring systems necessary to monitor CO₂ mass emissions in accordance with 40 CFR Part 75, except for equation G-1. Equation G-1 in Appendix G shall not be used to determine CO₂ emissions under this part. This may require systems to monitor CO₂ concentration, stack gas flow rate, O₂ concentration, heat input, and fuel flow rate.

2. Successfully complete all certification tests required under 9VAC5-140-6340 and meet all other requirements of this section and 40 CFR Part 75 applicable to the monitoring systems under subdivision 1 of this subsection.

3. Record, report, and quality-assure the data from the monitoring systems under subdivision 1 of this subsection.

C. The owner or operator shall meet the monitoring system certification and other requirements of subsection B of this section on or before the following dates. The owner or operator shall record, report, and quality-assure the data from the monitoring systems under subdivision B 1 of this section on and after the following dates:

1. The owner or operator of a CO₂ budget unit, except for a CO₂ budget unit under subdivision 2 of this subsection, shall comply with the requirements of this section by January 1, 2020 2021.

2. The owner or operator of a CO₂ budget unit that commences commercial operation July 1, 2020 2021, shall comply with the requirements of this section by (i) January 1, 2021 2022, or (ii) the earlier of 90 unit operating days after the date on which the unit commences commercial operation or 180 calendar days after the date on which the unit commences commercial operation.

3. For the owner or operator of a CO₂ budget unit for which construction of a new stack or flue installation is completed after the applicable deadline under subdivision 1 or 2 of this subsection by the earlier of (i) 90 unit operating days after the date on which emissions first exit to the atmosphere through the new stack or flue or (ii) 180 calendar days after the date on which emissions first exit to the atmosphere through the new stack or flue.

D. Data shall be reported as follows:

1. Except as provided in subdivision 2 of this subsection, the owner or operator of a CO₂ budget unit that does not meet the applicable compliance date set forth in subsection C of this section for any monitoring system under subdivision B 1 of this section shall, for each such monitoring system, determine, record, and report maximum potential, or as appropriate minimum potential, values for CO₂ concentration, CO₂ emissions rate, stack gas moisture content, fuel flow rate, heat input, and any other parameter required to determine CO₂ mass emissions in accordance with 40 CFR 75.31(b)(2) or (c)(3) or Section 2.4 of Appendix D of 40 CFR Part 75 as applicable.

2. The owner or operator of a CO₂ budget unit that does not meet the applicable compliance date set forth in subdivision C 3 of this section for any monitoring system under subdivision B 1 of this section shall, for each such monitoring system, determine, record, and report substitute data using the applicable missing data procedures in Subpart D, or Appendix D of 40 CFR Part 75, in lieu of the maximum potential, or as appropriate minimum potential, values for a parameter if the owner or operator demonstrates that there is continuity between the data streams for that parameter before and after the construction or installation under subdivision C 3 of this section.

a. CO₂ budget units subject to an acid rain Acid Rain emissions limitation or CSAPR NO_X Ozone Season Trading Program that qualify for the optional SO₂, NO_X, and CO₂ (for acid rain) Acid Rain) or NO_X (for CSAPR NO_X Ozone Season Trading Program) emissions calculations for low mass emissions (LME) units under 40 CFR 75.19 and report emissions for such programs using the calculations under 40 CFR 75.19, shall also use the CO₂ emissions calculations for LME units under 40 CFR 75.19 for purposes of compliance with these regulations.

b. CO₂ budget units subject to an acid rain Acid Rain emissions limitation that do not qualify for the optional SO₂, NO_X, and CO₂ (for acid rain) Acid Rain) or NO_X (for CSAPR NO_X Ozone Season Trading Program) emissions calculations for LME units under 40 CFR 75.19 shall not use the CO₂ emissions calculations for LME units under 40 CFR 75.19 for purposes of compliance with these regulations.

c. CO₂ budget units not subject to an acid rain Acid Rain emissions limitation shall qualify for the optional CO₂ emissions calculation for LME units under 40 CFR 75.19, provided that they emit less than 100 tons of NO_X annually and no more than 25 tons of SO₂ annually.

3. The owner or operator of a CO₂ budget unit shall report net-electric output data to the department as required by Article 5 (9VAC5-140-6190 et seq.) of this part.

E. Prohibitions shall be as follows.

1. No owner or operator of a CO₂ budget unit shall use any alternative monitoring system, alternative reference method, or any other alternative for the required CEMS without having obtained prior written approval in accordance with 9VAC5-140-6380.

2. No owner or operator of a CO₂ budget unit shall operate the unit so as to discharge, or allow to be discharged, CO₂ emissions to the atmosphere without accounting for all such emissions in accordance with the applicable provisions of this article and 40 CFR Part 75.

3. No owner or operator of a CO₂ budget unit shall disrupt the CEMS, any portion thereof, or any other approved emissions monitoring method, and thereby avoid monitoring and recording CO₂ mass emissions discharged into the atmosphere, except for periods of recertification or periods when calibration, quality assurance testing, or maintenance is performed in accordance with the applicable provisions of this article and 40 CFR Part 75.

4. No owner or operator of a CO₂ budget unit shall retire or permanently discontinue use of the CEMS, any component thereof, or any other approved emissions monitoring system under this article, except under any one of the following circumstances:

a. The owner or operator is monitoring emissions from the unit with another certified monitoring system approved, in accordance with the applicable provisions of this article and 40 CFR Part 75, by the department for use at that unit that provides emissions data for the same pollutant or parameter as the retired or discontinued monitoring system; or

b. The CO₂ authorized account representative submits notification of the date of certification testing of a replacement monitoring system in accordance with 9VAC5-140-6340 D 3 a.

9VAC5-140-6380. Petitions.

A. Except as provided in subsection C of this section, the CO₂ authorized account representative of a CO₂ budget unit that is subject to an acid rain Acid Rain emissions limitation may submit a petition to the administrator under 40 CFR 75.66 and to the department requesting approval to apply an alternative to any requirement of 40 CFR Part 75. Application of an alternative to any requirement of 40 CFR Part 75 is in accordance with this article only to the extent that the petition is approved in writing by the administrator, and subsequently approved in writing by the department.

B. Petitions for a CO₂ budget unit that is not subject to an acid rain Acid Rain emissions limitation shall meet the following requirements.

1. The CO₂ authorized account representative of a CO₂ budget unit that is not subject to an acid rain Acid Rain emissions limitation may submit a petition to the administrator under 40 CFR 75.66 and to the department requesting approval to apply an alternative to any requirement of 40 CFR Part 75. Application of an alternative to any requirement of 40 CFR Part 75 is in accordance with this article only to the extent that the petition is approved in writing by the administrator and subsequently approved in writing by the department.

2. In the event that the administrator declines to review a petition under subdivision 1 of this subsection, the CO₂ authorized account representative of a CO₂ budget unit that is not subject to an acid rain Acid Rain emissions limitation may submit a petition to the department requesting approval to apply an alternative to any requirement of this article. That petition shall contain all of the relevant information specified in 40 CFR 75.66. Application of an alternative to any requirement of this article is in accordance with this article only to the extent that the petition is approved in writing by the department.

C. The CO₂ authorized account representative of a CO₂ budget unit that is subject to an acid rain Acid Rain emissions limitation may submit a petition to the administrator under 40 CFR 75.66 and to the department requesting approval to apply an alternative to a requirement concerning any additional CEMS required under the common stack provisions of 40 CFR 75.72 or a CO₂ concentration CEMS used under 40 CFR 75.71(a)(2). Application of an alternative to any such requirement is in accordance with this article only to the extent the petition is approved in writing by the administrator and subsequently approved in writing by the department.

9VAC5-140-6420. General requirements.

A. The department's agent will include the following information in the auction notice for each auction:

1. The number of conditional CO₂ allowances offered for sale at the auction, not including any conditional CO₂ CCR allowances;

2. The number of conditional CO₂ CCR allowances that will be offered for sale at the auction if the condition of subdivision B 1 of this section is met;

3. The minimum reserve price for the auction;

4. The CCR trigger price for the auction;

5. The maximum number of conditional CO₂ allowances that may be withheld from sale at the auction if the condition of subdivision D 1 of this section is met; and

6. The ECR trigger price for the auction.

B. The department's agent will follow these rules for the sale of conditional CO₂ CCR allowances.

1. Conditional CO₂ CCR allowances shall only be sold at an auction in which total demand for allowances, above the CCR trigger price, exceeds the number of conditional CO₂ allowances available for purchase at the auction, not including any conditional CO₂ CCR allowances.

2. If the condition of subdivision 1 of this subsection is met at an auction, then the number of conditional CO₂ CCR allowances offered for sale by the department or its agent at the auction shall be equal to the number of conditional CO₂ CCR allowances in the Virginia Consignment Auction Account at the time of the auction.

3. After all of the conditional CO₂ CCR allowances in the Virginia Consignment Auction Account have been sold in a given calendar year, no additional conditional CO₂ CCR allowances will be sold at any auction for the remainder of that calendar year, even if the condition of subdivision 1 of this subsection is met at an auction.

4. At an auction in which conditional CO₂ CCR allowances are sold, the reserve price for the auction shall be the CCR trigger price.

5. If the condition of subdivision 1 of this subsection is not satisfied, no conditional CO₂ CCR allowances shall be offered for sale at the auction, and the reserve price for the auction shall be equal to the minimum reserve price.

C. The department's agent shall implement the reserve price as follows: (i) no allowances shall be sold at any auction for a price below the reserve price for that auction and (ii) if the total demand for allowances at an auction is less than or equal to the total number of allowances made available for sale in that auction, then the auction clearing price for the auction shall be the reserve price.

D. The department's agent will meet the following rules for the withholding of CO₂ ECR allowances from an auction.

1. CO₂ ECR allowances shall only be withheld from an auction if the demand for allowances would result in an auction clearing price that is less than the ECR trigger price prior to the withholding from the auction of any ECR allowances.

2. If the condition in subdivision 1 of this subsection is met at an auction, then the maximum number of CO₂ ECR allowances that may be withheld from that auction will be equal to the quantity shown in Table 140-5B of 9VAC5-140-6210 E minus the total quantity of CO₂ ECR allowances that have been withheld from any prior auction in that calendar year. Any CO₂ ECR allowances withheld from an auction will be transferred into the Virginia ECR Account.

9VAC5-140-6430. Consignment auction. (Repealed.)

In accordance with Article 5 (9VAC5-140-6190 et seq.) of this part, one quarter of the annual conditional allowance allocation shall be consigned by the CO₂ budget source to whom they are allocated or the holder of a public contract with DMME to each auction in accordance with procedures specified by the department. At the completion of the consignment auction, a conditional allowance sold at auction shall become a CO₂ allowance.

9VAC5-140-6435. Other auction. (Repealed.)

Notwithstanding the requirements of 9VAC5-140-6430, the department may participate in a direct auction of allowances without consignment in accordance with requirements established by the Virginia General Assembly. A "direct auction" means a CO₂ auction conducted by a CO₂ Budget Trading Program in which Virginia is a participating state.

Title of Regulation: 9VAC25-110. Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit for Domestic Sewage Discharges of Less Than or Equal to 1,000 Gallons Per Day (amending 9VAC25-110-10 through 9VAC25-110-80).

Statutory Authority: § 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia; § 402 of the Clean Water Act; 40 CFR Parts 122, 123, and 124.

Public Hearing Information:

September 9, 2020 - 10:00 am - GoToWebinar - Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register /74261423508106255. If a determination is made to provide an in person option, it will be announced on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall and the Department of Environmental Quality website.

Public Comment Deadline: October 3, 2020.

Agency Contact: Peter Sherman, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4044, FAX (804) 698-4032, or email peter.sherman@deq.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The proposed amendments to the general permit include (i) clarifying the definition of "individual single family dwelling"; (ii) revising the term of the general permit to August 2, 2021, through July 1, 2026; (iii) requiring that the owner of an individual single family dwelling must submit a combined application; (iv) making certain language more generic so that dates do not have to be changed each reissuance; (v) adding language regarding continuation of permit coverage to address automatic renewal; (vi) adding latitude and longitude data requirement to the registration statement; (vii) adding State Corporation Commission entity identification data requirement to the registration statement for non-single-family homes (NSFHs); (viii) clarifying the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) notification and documentation necessary for the registration statement that an onsite system is not available; (ix) revising the discharge limits for E. coli and enterococci to reflect revised water quality standards that became effective October 21, 2019; (x) changing the operation and maintenance (O&M) requirements for NSFHs to be consistent with VDH requirements for single family homes to require NSFHs to engage a licensed operator, specify that persons who perform maintenance on discharging systems must hold a Class IV or higher wastewater work operator license or an alternative onsite sewage system operator license, require the licensed operator to visit the system two times per year, remove the requirement for NSFHs to have a maintenance contract, and remove the alternative for NSFHs to conduct O&M under an approved O&M plan; (xi) adding signature requirements for the combined application; (xii) adding conditional requirements for the electronic submission of registration statements; and (xiii) adding conditional requirements for the electronic submission of discharge monitoring reports. The general permit is being amended in order to reissue it.

CHAPTER 110
VIRGINIA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (VPDES) GENERAL PERMIT REGULATION FOR DOMESTIC SEWAGE DISCHARGES OF LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 1,000 GALLONS PER DAY

9VAC25-110-10. Definitions.

The words and terms used in this chapter shall have the same meanings as given in the State Water Control Law, Chapter 3.1 (§ 62.1-44.2 et seq.) of Title 62.1 of the Code of Virginia and the VPDES Permit Regulation (9VAC25-31), unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, except that for the purposes of this chapter:

"7Q10" means the lowest flow averaged over a period of seven consecutive days that can be statistically expected to occur once every 10 years.

"Board" or "State Water Control Board" means the Virginia State Water Control Board.

"Combined application" means the Virginia Department of Health Discharging System Application for Single Family Dwellings Discharging Sewage Less Than or Equal to 1,000 Gallons per Day and State Water Control Board Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit Registration Statement for Domestic Sewage Discharges Less Than or Equal to 1,000 Gallons per Day. This application combines the VDH Alternative Discharging Sewage Treatment Regulations for Individual Single Family Dwellings (12VAC5-640) requirements with the board's registration statement requirements.

"Department" or "DEQ" means the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

"Domestic sewage" means the water-carried human wastes from residences, buildings, industrial establishments, or other places.

"Individual single family dwelling" means a residence housing one family or household structure, including any accessory structure such as a garage or pool house, housing one family or household or one that is designed for one family only. When a treatment works serving an individual single family dwelling has additional unused connections, it remains a treatment works serving an individual single family dwelling until such time that an additional single family dwelling is connected to the treatment works.

"Receiving water" means a creek, stream, river, lake, estuary, groundwater formation, or other body of water into which treated waste or untreated waste is discharged.

"Total maximum daily load" or "TMDL" means a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards, and an allocation of that amount to the pollutant's sources. A TMDL includes wasteload allocations (WLAs) for point source discharges, and load allocations (LAs) for nonpoint sources or natural background or both, and must include a margin of safety (MOS) and account for seasonal variations.

"VDH" means the Virginia Department of Health.

9VAC25-110-15. Applicability of incorporated references based on the dates that they became effective.

Except as noted, when a regulation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency set forth in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is referenced and incorporated herein, that regulation shall be as it exists and has been published as of July 1, 2015 2021.

9VAC25-110-20. Purpose; delegation of authority; effective date of permit.

A. This general permit regulation governs domestic sewage discharges to surface waters from treatment works with a design discharge flow of less than or equal to 1,000 gallons per day on a monthly average.

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 VPDES permit will become effective on August 2, 2016 2021, and it expires on August 1, 2021 July 31, 2026. With respect to a particular dwelling, building, or site served, this general permit shall become effective upon the dwelling, building, or site served owner's compliance with the provisions of 9VAC25-110-60.

9VAC25-110-60. Authorization to discharge.

A. Any owner of a treatment works governed by this general permit is hereby authorized to discharge treated domestic sewage to surface waters of the Commonwealth of Virginia provided that:

1. The owner submits a registration statement, if required to do so, in accordance with 9VAC25-110-70 and that registration statement is accepted by the board. For an individual single family dwelling, the owner may shall submit a combined application in place of a registration statement;

2. The owner complies with the effluent limitations and other requirements of 9VAC25-110-80; and

3. The board has not notified the owner, in accordance with subsection B of this section, that the discharge is not eligible for coverage under this permit.

B. The board will notify an owner that the discharge is not eligible for coverage under this permit in the event of any of the following:

1. The owner is required to obtain an individual VPDES permit in accordance with 9VAC25-31-170 B 3 of the VPDES Permit Regulation;

2. The owner is proposing to discharge to surface waters specifically named in other board regulations that prohibit such discharges;

3. The owner is proposing to discharge to surface waters in an area where there are central sewage facilities reasonably available, as determined by the board;

4. The owner of any proposed treatment works or any treatment works that has not previously been issued a VPDES permit has applied to the Virginia Department of Health for an onsite sewage disposal system permit, and the Virginia Department of Health has determined that an onsite system is available to serve that parcel of land in accordance with the criteria in 12VAC5-640;

5. The discharge would violate the antidegradation policy stated in 9VAC25-260-30 of the Virginia Water Quality Standards; or

6. The discharge is not consistent with the assumptions and requirements of an approved TMDL.

C. Compliance with this general permit constitutes compliance, for purposes of enforcement, with the federal Clean Water Act §§ 301, 302, 306, 307, 318, 403, and 405 (a) through (b), and the State Water Control Law, with the exceptions stated in 9VAC25-31-60 of the VPDES Permit Regulation. Approval for coverage under this general VPDES permit does not relieve any owner of the responsibility to comply with any other applicable federal, state or local statute, ordinance or regulation, including, for owners of sewage treatment works that serve individual single family dwellings, the Alternative Discharging Sewage Treatment Regulations for Individual Single Family Dwellings (12VAC5-640) of the Virginia Department of Health adopted pursuant to §§ 32.1-12, 32.1-163, and 32.1-164 of the Code of Virginia and, for owners of sewage treatment works that serve buildings or dwellings other than individual single family dwellings, the Sewage Collection and Treatment Regulations (9VAC25-790) adopted by the State Water Control Board pursuant to § 62.1-44.19 of the Code of Virginia.

D. Continuation of permit coverage.

1. Any owner that was authorized to discharge under the domestic sewage discharges general permit issued in 2011 and who is required to and submits a complete registration statement, or for an individual single family dwelling a combined application, on or before August 1, 2016, is authorized to continue to discharge treated domestic sewage under the terms of the 2011 general permit Permit coverage shall expire at the end of the applicable permit term. However, expiring permit coverages are continued if the owner has submitted a complete registration statement or, for an individual single family dwelling, a combined application, at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of the permit, or a later submittal date established by the board, which cannot extend beyond the expiration date of the permit. Where the expiring permit coverage was originally based on automatic renewal as found in 9VAC25-110-70 A 2 b, such coverage is continued provided the owner continues to meet the automatic renewal criteria. The permittee is authorized to continue to discharge until such time as the board either:

a. Issues coverage to the owner under this general permit; or

b. Notifies the owner that the discharge is not eligible for coverage under this general permit.

2. When the owner that was covered under the expiring or expired general permit has violated or is violating the conditions of that permit, the board may choose to do any or all of the following:

a. Initiate enforcement action based upon the 2011 general permit coverage that has been continued;

b. Issue a notice of intent to deny coverage under the reissued general permit. If the general permit coverage is denied, the owner would then be required to cease the discharges authorized by the administratively continued coverage under the terms of the 2011 general permit or be subject to enforcement action for operating without a permit;

c. Issue an individual permit with appropriate conditions; or

d. Take other actions authorized by the VPDES Permit Regulation (9VAC25-31).

9VAC25-110-70. Registration statement.

A. Deadlines for submitting registration statement. Any owner seeking coverage under this general permit, and who is required to submit a registration statement, shall submit a complete VPDES general VPDES permit registration statement in accordance with this section, which shall serve as a notice of intent for coverage under the VPDES General VPDES Permit for Domestic Sewage Discharges of Less Than or Equal to 1,000 Gallons per Day. For an individual single family dwelling, the owner may shall submit a combined application in place of the registration statement.

1. New treatment works. Any owner proposing a new discharge shall submit a complete registration statement, or for an individual single family dwelling a combined application, to the department at least 60 days prior to the date planned for commencing operation of the treatment works or a later submittal date established by the board.

2. Existing treatment works.

a. Any owner of an existing treatment works covered by an VPDES individual VPDES permit who is proposing to be covered by this general permit shall notify the department and submit a complete registration statement, or for an individual single family dwelling a combined application, at least 240 days prior to the expiration date of the individual VPDES permit or a later submittal date established by the board.

b. Any owner of a treatment works that was authorized to discharge under the expiring general permit issued in 2011, and who intends to continue coverage under this general permit, is automatically covered by this general permit and is not required to submit a registration statement, or for an individual single family dwelling a combined application, if:

(1) The ownership of the treatment works has not changed since the registration statement or combined application for coverage under the 2011 expiring general permit was submitted, or, if the ownership has changed (i) a new registration statement or combined application or (ii) VPDES Change of Ownership form was submitted to the department by the new owner at the time of the title transfer;

(2) There has been no change in the design or operation, or both, of the treatment works since the registration statement or combined application for coverage under the 2011 expiring general permit was submitted;

(3) For treatment works serving individual single family dwellings, VDH has no objection to the automatic permit coverage renewal for this treatment works based on system performance issues, enforcement issues, or other issues sufficient to the board. If VDH objects to the automatic renewal for this treatment works, the owner will be notified by the board in writing; and

(4) For treatment works serving buildings or dwellings other than individual single family dwellings, the board has no objection to the automatic permit coverage renewal for this treatment works based on system performance issues, enforcement issues, or other issues sufficient to the board. If the board objects to the automatic renewal for this treatment works, the owner will be notified by the board in writing.

c. Any owner of a treatment works that was authorized to discharge under the expiring general permit issued in 2011 that does not qualify for automatic permit coverage renewal shall submit a complete registration statement, or for an individual single family dwelling a combined application, to the department on or before June 2, 2016 at least 60 days prior to the expiration of the existing general permit or a later submittal date established by the board.

3. Late registration statements. Registration statements, or for individual single family dwellings combined applications, for existing treatment works covered under subdivision 2 b of this subsection will be accepted after August 1, 2016, but authorization to discharge will not be retroactive. Owners described in subdivision 2 b of this subsection that submit registration statements or combined applications after June 2, 2016, are authorized to discharge under the provisions of 9VAC25-110-60 D if a complete registration statement, or combined application, is submitted before August 2, 2016 the expiration date of this permit.

B. Registration statement. The registration statement shall contain the following information:

1. a. Indicate if the building served by the treatment works is an individual single family dwelling. (If it is an individual single family dwelling, see the requirement to submit a combined application in 9VAC25-110-60 A 1.) If the building is not an individual single family dwelling, describe the use of the building or site served.

b. Name and street address of the building or site served by the treatment works.

2. a. Name, mailing address, email address (where available), and telephone number of the owner of the treatment works. Indicate if the owner is or will be the occupant of the dwelling or building served by the treatment works.

b. If the owner is not or will not be the occupant of the dwelling or building, provide an alternate contact name, mailing address, email address (where available), and telephone number of the dwelling or building, if available.

3. Name of the water body receiving the discharge. Outfall latitude and longitude. Indicate if the discharge point is on a stream that usually flows during dry weather.

4. The amount of discharge from the treatment works, in gallons per day, on a monthly average, and the design flow of the treatment works, in gallons per day.

5. A description of any pollutants, other than domestic sewage, to be discharged.

6. For a proposed treatment works, indicate if there are central sewage facilities available to serve the building or site.

7. If the treatment works currently has a VPDES permit, provide the permit number. Indicate if the treatment works has been built and begun discharging.

8. For the owner of any proposed treatment works or any treatment works that has not previously been issued a VPDES permit:

a. A 7.5 minute U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic map or equivalent (e.g., a computer generated map) that indicates the discharge point, the location of the property to be served by the treatment works, and the location of any wells, springs, other water bodies, and any residences within 1/2 mile downstream from the discharge point;

b. A site diagram of the existing or proposed treatment works; to include the property boundaries, the location of the dwelling, building, or site served, the individual sewage treatment units, the receiving water body, and the discharge line location; and

c. A copy of the notification from the Virginia Department of Health that an onsite sewage disposal system permit has been was applied for and that the Virginia Department of Health has determined that there is no an onsite system available cannot be constructed to serve that parcel of land.

9. Operation and maintenance.

a. For the owner of a treatment works serving an individual single family dwelling, operation and maintenance requirements are specified in VDH regulations at 12VAC5-640-500 12VAC5-640;

b. For the owner of a treatment works serving a building or dwelling other than an individual single family dwelling, indicate if a valid maintenance contract has been obtained, or if an exception to the maintenance contract requirement has been requested and granted in accordance with subdivision 10 of this subsection. Provide the name of the individual or company contracted to perform the treatment works maintenance and the expiration date of the current contract, if applicable. If the treatment works has not been constructed yet, provide the name after the certificate to construct (CTC) is issued, and prior to requesting a certificate to operate (CTO) operation and maintenance must be consistent with Part I D 2 b, which requires that such owners engage a licensed operator.

10. The owner of a treatment works serving a building or dwelling other than an individual single family dwelling may request an exception to the maintenance contract requirement by submitting an operation and maintenance plan to the board for review and approval. If an operation and maintenance plan has been approved by the board previously and remains current and complete, then it does not need to be resubmitted. In such cases, the owner shall provide the date of approval of the operation and maintenance plan and identify any changes that have been made to the approved plan State Corporation Commission entity identification number for dwellings other than individual single family dwellings if the facility is required to obtain an entity identification number by law.

11. The following certification: "I hereby grant to duly authorized agents of the Department of Environmental Quality, upon presentation of credentials, permission to enter the property where the treatment works is located for the purpose of determining compliance with or the suitability of coverage under the General Permit. I certify under penalty of law that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is to the best of my knowledge and belief true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations."

C. The registration statement or combined application shall be signed in accordance with 9VAC25-31-110 A of the VPDES Permit Regulation.

D. The registration statement may be or combined application shall be delivered to the department department's regional office serving the area where the treatment facility is located by either postal or electronic mail and shall be submitted to the DEQ regional office serving the area where the treatment works is located. Following notification from the department of the start date for the required electronic submission of Notices of Intent to discharge forms (i.e., registration statements or combined applications), as provided for in 9VAC25-31-1020, such forms submitted after that date shall be electronically submitted to the department in compliance with this section and 9VAC25-31-1020. There shall be at least three months' notice provided between the notification from the department and the date after which such forms must be submitted electronically.

9VAC25-110-80. General permit.

Any owner whose registration statement is accepted by the board, or whose permit coverage is automatically renewed, shall comply with the requirements contained herein and be subject to all requirements of 9VAC25-31-170.

General Permit No.: VAG40
Effective Date: August 2, 2016 2021
Expiration Date: August 1 July 31, 2021 2026

GENERAL PERMIT FOR DOMESTIC SEWAGE DISCHARGES OF LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 1,000 GALLONS PER DAY

AUTHORIZATION TO DISCHARGE UNDER THE VIRGINIA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM AND THE VIRGINIA STATE WATER CONTROL LAW

In compliance with the provisions of the Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1251 et seq.), as amended, and pursuant to the State Water Control Law and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, owners of treatment works with domestic sewage discharges of a design flow of less than or equal to 1,000 gallons per day on a monthly average are authorized to discharge to surface waters within the boundaries of the Commonwealth of Virginia, except those waters specifically named in board regulations that prohibit such discharges.

The authorized discharge shall be in accordance with the information submitted with the registration statement or combined application, this cover page, Part I-Effluent Limitations, Monitoring Requirements and Special Conditions, and Part II-Conditions Applicable to All VPDES Permits, as set forth herein.

Part I
Effluent Limitations, Monitoring Requirements and Special Conditions

A. Effluent limitations and monitoring requirements - receiving waters where the 7Q10 flows are less than 0.2 MGD.

1. During the period beginning with the permit's effective date and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge from outfall number 001 to receiving waters where the 7Q10 flows are less than 0.2 MGD.

The discharge shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below in the following table:

2. All monitoring data required by Part I A 1 shall be maintained on site in accordance with Part II B. Monitoring results for treatment works serving buildings or dwellings other than individual single family dwellings shall be submitted to the department on a Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) no later than the 10th of September following the monitoring period. The monitoring period is September 1 through August 31. A copy of the maintenance log required by Part I D 2 b (4) (2) (e) shall also be submitted with the DMR. Monitoring results for treatment works serving individual single family dwellings are submitted to the Virginia Department of Health in accordance with 12VAC5-640.

3. The 30-day average percent removal for BOD₅ and total suspended solids shall not be less than 85%.

B. Effluent limitations and monitoring requirements - receiving waters where the 7Q10 flows are equal to or greater than 0.2 MGD.

1. During the period beginning with the permit's effective date and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge from outfall number 001 to receiving waters where the 7Q10 flows are equal to or greater than 0.2 MGD.

The discharge shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below in the following table:

2. All monitoring data required by Part I B 1 shall be maintained on site in accordance with Part II B. Monitoring results for treatment works serving buildings or dwellings other than individual single family dwellings shall be submitted to the department on a Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) no later than the 10th of September following the monitoring period. The monitoring period is September 1 through August 31. A copy of the maintenance log required by Part I D 2 b (4) (2) (e) shall also be submitted with the DMR. Monitoring results for treatment works serving individual single family dwellings are submitted to the Virginia Department of Health in accordance with 12VAC5-640.

3. The 30-day average percent removal for BOD₅ and total suspended solids shall not be less than 85%.

C. Effluent limitations and monitoring requirements - discharges to receiving waters subject to the Policy for the Potomac River Embayments (9VAC25-415).

1. During the period beginning with the permit's effective date and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge from outfall number 001 to receiving waters subject to the Policy for the Potomac River Embayments (9VAC25-415).

The discharge Discharges subject to the requirements in 9VAC25-415-40⁽¹⁾ shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below in the following table:

2. All monitoring data required by Part I C 1 shall be maintained on site in accordance with Part II B. Monitoring results shall be submitted to the department on a Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) no later than the 10th day of the month following the monitoring period. The quarterly monitoring periods shall be January through March, April through June, July through September, and October through December. A copy of the maintenance log required by Part I D 2 b (4) (2) (e) shall also be submitted with the DMR. Monitoring results for treatment works serving individual single family dwellings shall also be submitted to the Virginia Department of Health in accordance with 12VAC5-640.

3. The 30-day average percent removal for BOD₅ and total suspended solids shall not be less than 85%.

D. Special conditions.

1. There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.

2. Operation and maintenance.

a. Treatment works serving individual single family dwellings. Operation and maintenance requirements for treatment works serving individual single family dwellings are specified in the Virginia Department of Health regulations at 12VAC5-640-500 12VAC5-640.

b. Treatment works serving buildings or dwellings other than individual single family dwellings.

(1) For existing treatment works, the permittee shall keep a maintenance contract in force during the permit term, unless an exception to the maintenance contract requirement has been requested and granted in accordance with Part I D 3. A copy of the maintenance contract, if applicable, shall be kept at the site of the treatment works and made available to DEQ for examination upon request To ensure the treatment works is operated, maintained, monitored, and reported properly, the permittee shall engage a licensed operator as defined in subdivision D 3 of this section.

(2) For proposed treatment works, the permittee shall submit a certification that the permittee has a valid maintenance contract to DEQ prior to operation of the treatment works, unless an exception to the maintenance contract requirement has been requested and granted in accordance with Part I D 3. A maintenance contract shall be kept in force during the permit term. A copy of the maintenance contract shall be kept at the site of the treatment works, and shall be made available to DEQ for examination upon request. The permittee shall:

(a) Have the system operated and maintained by a licensed operator, including the responsibilities specified in Part I D 2 b (3);

(b) Have a licensed operator visit the system at least semiannually;

(c) Have a licensed operator collect, analyze, and submit to the department any samples required under Part I A, Part I B, or Part I C, as appropriate, of this general permit;

(d) Provide prompt maintenance and repair of the treatment works once notified by the operator that repair or maintenance is necessary. The owner is responsible for all costs associated with the maintenance or repair. Immediately upon receipt of notice that repair or maintenance is required, the owner shall begin emergency pump and haul of all sewage generated from the building or dwelling or otherwise ensure that no discharge occurs if full and complete repairs cannot be accomplished within 48 hours;

(e) Maintain a copy of the log provided by the operator on the property where the system is located in electronic or hard copy form, make the log available to the department upon request, and make a reasonable effort to transfer the log to any future owner;

(f) Follow the treatment works operation and maintenance (O&M) manual (where available) and keep a copy of the O&M manual in electronic or hard copy form on the property where the system is located, make the O&M manual available to the department upon request, and make a reasonable effort to transfer the O&M manual to any future owner;

(3) At a minimum, the maintenance contract shall provide for the following The licensed operator has the following responsibilities:

(a) Performance of Perform all testing monitoring required in accordance with either Part I A, Part I B, or Part I C, as appropriate, and periodic (at least annual) semiannually) inspections of the treatment works. Note: Discharges from the treatment works should to the maximum extent feasible be sampled during normal discharging operations or normal discharging conditions (i.e., operations that are normal for that treatment works). The owner or maintenance provider should not force a discharge in order to collect a sample;

(b) During visits required by this subsection, fulfill the operator responsibilities specified in this subsection through observing the system and through laboratory or field tests required by this permit or that the operator deems appropriate. In performing a required visit, the operator is responsible for the entire system and, where applicable, shall follow the O&M manual;

(b) A (c) Provide a written or electronic notification to the owner within 24 hours whenever the contract provider operator becomes aware that maintenance or repair of the owner's treatment works is necessary. The owner is responsible for prompt maintenance and repair of the treatment works including all costs associated with the maintenance or repair. Immediately upon receipt of notice that repair or maintenance is required, the owner shall begin emergency pump and haul of all sewage generated from the building or dwelling or otherwise ensure that no discharge occurs if full and complete repairs cannot be accomplished within 48 hours;

(c) A log of the following items shall be maintained at the treatment works by the contract provider: (d) Report monitoring results to DEQ as required in Part I A 2, Part I B 2, and Part I C 2, as applicable, as well as Part II C, and maintain at the treatment works and provide to the permittee a log of the following items:

(i) Results of all tests and sampling. Note: If sampling is attempted, but no sample was taken or possible, the log shall show all sampling attempts and document and explain why no sample was taken or possible;

(ii) Alarm activation incidents, including the date and time of equipment failure and return to service;

(iii) Maintenance, corrective, including the date and amount of disinfection chemicals added to the chlorinator, the date and amount of dechlorination chemicals added if applicable, the date and approximate volume of sludge removed, and date receipts for chemicals and equipment purchased and maintenance performed;

(iv) Corrective or repair activities performed;

(iv) (v) Recommended repair or replacement items; and

(v) (vi) Copies of all reports prepared by the contract provider operator; and

(d) An (vii) Sludge or solids removal; and

(e) Conduct an inspection shall be conducted by the contract provider within 48 hours after notification by the owner that a problem may be occurring.

(4) The permittee shall keep a log of all maintenance performed on the treatment works including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) The date and amount of disinfection chemicals added to the chlorinator.

(b) If dechlorination is used, the date and amount of any dechlorination chemicals that are added.

(c) The date and time of equipment failure and the date and time the equipment was restored to service.

(d) The date and approximate volume of sludge removed.

(e) Dated receipts for chemicals purchased, equipment purchased, and maintenance performed.

3. Operation and maintenance plan. The owner of any treatment works serving a building or dwelling other than an individual single family dwelling may request an exception to the maintenance contract requirement by submitting an operation and maintenance plan to the board for review and approval. At a minimum, the operation and maintenance plan shall contain the following information:

a. An up-to-date operation and maintenance manual for the treatment works;

b. A log of all maintenance performed on the treatment works including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) The date and amount of disinfection chemicals added to the chlorinator (if applicable).

(2) If dechlorination is used, the date and amount of any dechlorination chemicals that are added.

(3) The date and time of equipment failure and the date and time the equipment was restored to service.

(4) The date and approximate volume of sludge removed.

(5) Results of all tests and sampling. Note: If sampling is attempted, but no sample was taken or possible, the log shall show all sampling attempts and document and explain why no sample was taken or possible;

c. Dated receipts for chemicals purchased, equipment purchased, and maintenance performed; and

d. An effluent monitoring plan to conform with the requirements of Part I A, Part I B, or Part I C, as appropriate, including all sample collection, preservation, and analysis procedures. Note: Discharges from the treatment works should be sampled during normal discharging operations or normal discharging conditions (i.e., operations that are normal for that treatment works). The owner or maintenance provider should not force a discharge in order to collect a sample.

Should the permittee fail to implement the approved operation and maintenance plan, or if there are violations of effluent limitations, the board reserves the right to require the permittee to obtain a maintenance contract.

3. All individuals who perform maintenance on discharging systems pursuant to this general permit are required to hold a valid Class IV or higher wastewater works operator license or an alternative onsite sewage system operator license issued by the Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals. For purposes of this general permit, this requirement is satisfied where an individual is directly supervised by and under the direction of a licensed operator who remains responsible for such maintenance.

4. Compliance recordkeeping under Part I A, Part I B, and Part I C.

a. The quantification levels (QL) shall be less than or equal to the following concentrations:

The QL is defined as the lowest concentration used to calibrate a measurement system in accordance with the procedures published for the test method.

b. Recording results. Any concentration data below the QL used in the analysis shall be recorded as "<QL" if it is less than the QL in subdivision 4 a of this subsection. Otherwise the numerical value shall be recorded.

c. Monitoring results shall be recorded using the same number of significant digits as listed in the permit. Regardless of the rounding convention used by the permittee (e.g., 5 always rounding up or to the nearest even number), the permittee shall use the convention consistently, and shall ensure that consulting laboratories employed by the permittee use the same convention.

5. The discharges authorized by this permit shall be controlled as necessary to meet water quality standards.

Part II
Conditions Applicable to All VPDES Permits

A. Monitoring.

1. Samples and measurements taken as required by this permit shall be representative of the monitored activity.

2. Monitoring shall be conducted according to procedures approved under 40 CFR Part 136 or alternative methods approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, unless other procedures have been specified in this permit.

3. The permittee shall periodically calibrate and perform maintenance procedures on all monitoring and analytical instrumentation at intervals that will ensure accuracy of measurements.

4. Samples taken as required by this permit shall be analyzed in accordance with 1VAC30-45 (Certification for Noncommercial Environmental Laboratories) or 1VAC30-46 (Accreditation for Commercial Environmental Laboratories).

B. Records.

1. Records of monitoring information shall include:

a. The date, exact place, and time of sampling or measurements;

b. The individual(s) individuals who performed the sampling or measurements;

c. The date(s) dates and time(s) times analyses were performed;

d. The individual(s) individuals who performed the analyses;

e. The analytical techniques or methods used; and

f. The results of such analyses.

2. Except for records of monitoring information required by this permit related to the permittee's sewage sludge use and disposal activities, which shall be retained for a period of at least five years, the permittee shall retain records of all monitoring information, including all calibration and maintenance records and all original strip chart recordings for continuous monitoring instrumentation, copies of all reports required by this permit, and records of all data used to complete the registration statement for this permit, for a period of at least three years from the date of the sample, measurement, report, or request for coverage. This period of retention shall be extended automatically during the course of any unresolved litigation regarding the regulated activity or regarding control standards applicable to the permittee, or as requested by the board.

C. Reporting monitoring results. Monitoring results under this permit are not required to be submitted to the department must be submitted consistent with the requirements in Part I A 2, Part I B 2, and Part I C 2, as applicable. However, should the board request that the permittee submit monitoring results, the following subsections would apply.

1. The permittee shall submit the results of the monitoring required by this permit not later than the 10th day of the month after monitoring takes place, unless another reporting schedule is specified elsewhere in this permit. Monitoring results shall be submitted to the department's regional office.

2. 1. Monitoring results submitted to the department shall be reported on a Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) or on forms provided, approved or specified by the department. Following notification from the department of the start date for the required electronic submission of monitoring reports, as provided for in 9VAC25-31-1020, such forms and reports submitted after that date shall be electronically submitted to the department in compliance with this section and 9VAC25-31-1020. There shall be at least three months' notice provided between the notification from the department and the date after which such forms and reports must be submitted electronically.

3. 2. If the permittee monitors any pollutant specifically addressed by this permit more frequently than required by this permit using test procedures approved under 40 CFR Part 136 or using other test procedures approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or using procedures specified in this permit, the results of this monitoring shall be included in the calculation and reporting of the data submitted on the DMR or reporting form specified by the department.

4. 3. Calculations for all limitations that require averaging of measurements shall utilize an arithmetic mean unless otherwise specified in this permit.

D. Duty to provide information. The permittee shall furnish to the department, within a reasonable time, any information that the board may request to determine whether cause exists for modifying, revoking and reissuing, or terminating coverage under this permit or to determine compliance with this permit. The board may require the permittee to furnish, upon request, such plans, specifications, and other pertinent information as may be necessary to determine the effect of the wastes from the discharge on the quality of state waters, or such other information as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of the State Water Control Law. The permittee shall also furnish to the department, upon request, copies of records required to be kept by this permit.

E. Compliance schedule reports. Reports of compliance or noncompliance with, or any progress reports on, interim and final requirements contained in any compliance schedule of this permit shall be submitted no later than 14 days following each schedule date.

F. Unauthorized discharges. Except in compliance with this permit, or another permit issued by the board, it shall be unlawful for any person to:

1. Discharge into state waters sewage, industrial wastes, other wastes, or any noxious or deleterious substances; or

2. Otherwise alter the physical, chemical or biological properties of such state waters and make them detrimental to the public health, to animal or aquatic life, to the use of such waters for domestic or industrial consumption, for recreation, or for other uses.

G. Reports of unauthorized discharges. Any permittee who that discharges or causes or allows a discharge of sewage, industrial waste, other wastes or any noxious or deleterious substance into or upon state waters in violation of Part II F, or who that discharges or causes or allows a discharge that may reasonably be expected to enter state waters in violation of Part II F, shall notify the department of the discharge immediately upon discovery of the discharge, but in no case later than 24 hours after said discovery. A written report of the unauthorized discharge shall be submitted to the department within five days of discovery of the discharge. The written report shall contain:

1. A description of the nature and location of the discharge;

2. The cause of the discharge;

3. The date on which the discharge occurred;

4. The length of time that the discharge continued;

5. The volume of the discharge;

6. If the discharge is continuing, how long it is expected to continue;

7. If the discharge is continuing, what the expected total volume of the discharge will be; and

8. Any steps planned or taken to reduce, eliminate, and prevent a recurrence of the present discharge or any future discharges not authorized by this permit.

Discharges reportable to the department under the immediate reporting requirements of other regulations are exempted from this requirement.

H. Reports of unusual or extraordinary discharges. If any unusual or extraordinary discharge including a bypass or upset should occur from a treatment works and the discharge enters or could be expected to enter state waters, the permittee shall promptly notify, in no case later than 24 hours, the department by telephone after the discovery of the discharge. This notification shall provide all available details of the incident, including any adverse effects on aquatic life and the known number of fish killed. The permittee shall reduce the report to writing and shall submit it to the department within five days of discovery of the discharge in accordance with Part II I 2. Unusual and extraordinary discharges include, but are not limited to, any discharge resulting from:

1. Unusual spillage of materials resulting directly or indirectly from processing operations;

2. Breakdown of processing or accessory equipment;

3. Failure or taking out of service some or all of the treatment works; and

4. Flooding or other acts of nature.

I. Reports of noncompliance.

1. The permittee shall report any noncompliance that may adversely affect state waters or may endanger public health.

1. a. An oral report shall be provided within 24 hours from the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances. The following shall be included as information that shall be reported within 24 hours under this paragraph:

a. (1) Any unanticipated bypass; and

b. (2) Any upset that causes a discharge to surface waters.

2. b. A written report shall be submitted within five days and shall contain:

a. (1) A description of the noncompliance and its cause;

b. (2) The period of noncompliance, including exact dates and times, and if the noncompliance has not been corrected, the anticipated time it is expected to continue; and

c. (3) Steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate, and prevent reoccurrence of the noncompliance.

The board may waive the written report on a case-by-case basis for reports of noncompliance under Part II I if the oral report has been received within 24 hours and no adverse impact on state waters has been reported.

3. 2. The permittee shall report all instances of noncompliance not reported under Part II I 1 or 2, in writing, at the time the next monitoring reports are submitted. The reports shall contain the information listed in Part II I 2.

3. Where the permittee becomes aware that it failed to submit any relevant facts in a permit registration statement or submitted incorrect information in a permit registration statement or in any report to the department, it shall promptly submit such facts or information.

NOTE: The immediate (within 24 hours) reports required in Parts II G, H, and I may be made to the department's regional office. Reports may be made by telephone, FAX, or online at http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/PollutionResponsePreparedness/MakingaReport.aspx. For reports outside normal working hours, a message may be left and this shall fulfill the immediate reporting requirement. For emergencies, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management maintains a 24-hour telephone service at 1-800-468-8892.

J. Notice of planned changes.

1. The permittee shall give notice to the department as soon as possible of any planned physical alterations or additions to the permitted facility. Notice is required only when:

a. The permittee plans alteration or addition to 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 Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1251 et seq.) that are applicable to such source; or

(2) After proposal of standards of performance in accordance with § 306 of the Clean Water Act that are applicable to such source, but only if the standards are promulgated in accordance with § 306 within 120 days of their proposal;

b. The alteration or addition could significantly change the nature or increase the quantity of pollutants discharged. This notification applies to pollutants that are subject neither to effluent limitations nor to notification requirements specified elsewhere in this permit; or

c. The alteration or addition results in a significant change in the permittee's sludge use or disposal practices, and such alteration, addition, or change may justify the application of permit conditions that are different from or absent in the existing permit, including notification of additional use or of disposal sites not reported during the permit application process or not reported pursuant to an approved land application plan.

2. The permittee shall give advance notice to the department of any planned changes in the permitted facility or activity that may result in noncompliance with permit requirements.

K. Signatory requirements.

1. Registration statement. All registration statements shall be signed as follows:

a. For a corporation: by a responsible corporate officer. For the purpose of this section, a responsible corporate officer means: (i) a president, secretary, treasurer, or vice-president of the corporation in charge of a principal business function, or any other person who performs similar policy-making or decision-making functions for the corporation,; or (ii) the manager of one or more manufacturing, production, or operating facilities, provided the manager is authorized to make management decisions which govern the operation of the regulated facility including having the explicit or implicit duty of making major capital investment recommendations, and initiating and directing other comprehensive measures to assure long term environmental compliance with environmental laws and regulations; the manager can ensure that the necessary systems are established or other actions taken to gather complete and accurate information for permit registration requirements; and where authority to sign documents has been assigned or delegated to the manager in accordance with corporate procedures;

b. For a partnership or sole proprietorship: by a general partner or the proprietor, respectively; or

c. For a municipality, state, federal, or other public agency: by either a principal executive officer or ranking elected official. For purposes of this section, a principal executive officer of a public agency includes: (i) the chief executive officer of the agency or (ii) a senior executive officer having responsibility for the overall operations of a principal geographic unit of the agency.

2. Reports, etc. All reports required by permits and other information requested by the board shall be signed by a person described in Part II K 1 or by a duly authorized representative of that person. A person is a duly authorized representative only if:

a. The authorization is made in writing by a person described in Part II K 1;

b. The authorization specifies either an individual or a position having responsibility for the overall operation of the regulated facility or activity such as the position of plant manager, operator of a well or a well field, superintendent, position of equivalent responsibility, or an individual or position having overall responsibility for environmental matters for the company. A duly authorized representative may thus be either a named individual or any individual occupying a named position; and

c. The written authorization is submitted to the department.

3. Changes to authorization. If an authorization under Part II K 2 is no longer accurate because a different individual or position has responsibility for the overall operation of the facility, a new authorization satisfying the requirements of Part II K 2 shall be submitted to the department prior to or together with any reports or information to be signed by an authorized representative.

4. Certification. Any person signing a document under Part II K 1 or 2 shall make the following certification:

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

L. Duty to comply. The permittee shall comply with all conditions of this permit. Any permit noncompliance constitutes a violation of the State Water Control Law and the Clean Water Act, except that noncompliance with certain provisions of this permit may constitute a violation of the State Water Control Law but not the Clean Water Act. Permit noncompliance is grounds for enforcement action; or for permit coverage termination, revocation and reissuance, or modification; or for denial of a permit coverage renewal application.

The permittee shall comply with effluent standards or prohibitions established under § 307(a) of the Clean Water Act for toxic pollutants and with standards for sewage sludge use or disposal established under § 405(d) of the Clean Water Act within the time provided in the regulations that establish these standards or prohibitions or standards for sewage sludge use or disposal, even if this permit has not yet been modified to incorporate the requirement.

M. Duty to reapply.

1. If the permittee wishes to continue an activity regulated by this permit after the expiration date of this permit, and the permittee does not qualify for automatic permit coverage renewal, the permittee shall submit a new registration statement, or for an individual single family dwelling a combined application, at least 60 days before the expiration date of the existing permit, unless permission for a later date has been granted by the board. The board shall not grant permission for registration statements or combined applications to be submitted later than the expiration date of the existing permit.

2. A permittee qualifies for automatic permit coverage renewal and is not required to submit a registration statement, or for an individual single family dwelling a combined application, if:

a. The ownership of the treatment works has not changed since this general permit went into effect on August 2, 2016, or, if the ownership has changed, (i) a new registration statement or for an individual single family dwelling a combined application or (ii) a VPDES Change of Ownership form was submitted to the department by the new owner at the time of the title transfer;

b. There has been no change in the design or operation, or both, of the treatment works since this general permit went into effect on August 2, 2016;

c. For treatment works serving individual single family dwellings, the Virginia Department of Health does not object to the automatic permit coverage renewal for this treatment works based on system performance issues, enforcement issues, or other issues sufficient to the board. If the Virginia Department of Health objects to the automatic renewal for this treatment works, the permittee will be notified by the board in writing; and

d. For treatment works serving buildings or dwellings other than single family dwellings, the board has no objection to the automatic permit coverage renewal for this treatment works based on system performance issues, enforcement issues, or other issues sufficient to the board. If the board objects to the automatic renewal for this treatment works, the permittee will be notified by the board in writing.

3. Any permittee that does not qualify for automatic permit coverage renewal shall submit a new registration statement, or for an individual single family dwelling a combined application, in accordance with Part II M 1.

N. Effect of a permit. This permit does not convey any property rights in either real or personal property or any exclusive privileges, nor does it authorize any injury to private property or invasion of personal rights, or any infringement of federal, state, or local law or regulations.

O. State law. Nothing in this permit shall be construed to preclude the institution of any legal action under, or relieve the permittee from any responsibilities, liabilities, or penalties established pursuant to, any other state law or regulation or under authority preserved by § 510 of the Clean Water Act. Except as provided in permit conditions on "bypassing" (Part II U) and "upset" (Part II V) nothing in this permit shall be construed to relieve the permittee from civil and criminal penalties for noncompliance.

P. Oil and hazardous substance liability. Nothing in this permit shall be construed to preclude the institution of any legal action or relieve the permittee from any responsibilities, liabilities, or penalties to which the permittee is or may be subject under §§ 62.1-44.34:14 through 62.1-44.34:23 of the State Water Control Law.

Q. Proper operation and maintenance. The permittee shall at all times properly operate and maintain all facilities and systems of treatment and control (and related appurtenances) that are installed or used by the permittee to achieve compliance with the conditions of this permit. Proper operation and maintenance also include effective plant performance, adequate funding, adequate staffing, and adequate laboratory and process controls, including appropriate quality assurance procedures. This provision requires the operation of back-up or auxiliary facilities or similar systems that are installed by the permittee only when the operation is necessary to achieve compliance with the conditions of this permit.

R. Disposal of solids or sludges. Solids, sludges, or other pollutants removed in the course of treatment or management of pollutants shall be disposed of in a manner so as to prevent any pollutant from such materials from entering state waters.

S. Duty to mitigate. The permittee shall take all reasonable steps to minimize or prevent any discharge or sludge use or disposal in violation of this permit that has a reasonable likelihood of adversely affecting human health or the environment.

T. Need to halt or reduce activity not a defense. It shall not be a defense for a permittee in an enforcement action that it would have been necessary to halt or reduce the permitted activity in order to maintain compliance with the conditions of this permit.

U. Bypass.

1. "Bypass" means the intentional diversion of waste streams from any portion of a treatment facility. The permittee may allow any bypass to occur that does not cause effluent limitations to be exceeded, but only if it also is for essential maintenance to ensure efficient operation. These bypasses are not subject to the provisions of Parts Part II U 2 and 3.

2. Notice.

a. Anticipated bypass. If the permittee knows in advance of the need for a bypass, prior notice shall be submitted, if possible, at least 10 days before the date of the bypass.

b. Unanticipated bypass. The permittee shall submit notice of an unanticipated bypass as required in Part II I.

3. Prohibition of bypass.

a. Bypass is prohibited, and the board may take enforcement action against a permittee for bypass, unless:

(1) Bypass was unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage;

(2) There were no feasible alternatives to the bypass, such as the use of auxiliary treatment facilities, retention of untreated wastes, or maintenance during normal periods of equipment downtime. This condition is not satisfied if adequate back-up equipment should have been installed in the exercise of reasonable engineering judgment to prevent a bypass that occurred during normal periods of equipment downtime or preventive maintenance; and

(3) The permittee submitted notices as required under Part II U 2.

b. The board may approve an anticipated bypass after considering its adverse effects if the board determines that it will meet the three conditions listed in Part II U 3 a.

V. Upset.

1. An upset, defined in 9VAC25-31-10, constitutes an affirmative defense to an action brought for noncompliance with technology-based permit effluent limitations if the requirements of Part II V 2 are met. A determination made during administrative review of claims that noncompliance was caused by upset, and before an action for noncompliance, is not a final administrative action subject to judicial review.

2. A permittee who wishes to establish the affirmative defense of upset shall demonstrate through properly signed, contemporaneous operating logs, or other relevant evidence that:

a. An upset occurred and that the permittee can identify the cause(s) cause of the upset;

b. The permitted facility was at the time being properly operated;

c. The permittee submitted notice of the upset as required in Part II I; and

d. The permittee complied with any remedial measures required under Part II S.

3. In any enforcement proceeding the permittee seeking to establish the occurrence of an upset has the burden of proof.

W. Inspection and entry. The permittee shall allow the director, or an authorized representative (including an authorized contractor acting as a representative of the administrator), upon presentation of credentials and other documents as may be required by law, to:

1. Enter upon the permittee's premises where a regulated facility or activity is located or conducted, or where records must be kept under the conditions of this permit;

2. Have access to and copy, at reasonable times, any records that must be kept under the conditions of this permit;

3. Inspect at reasonable times any facilities, equipment (including monitoring and control equipment), practices, or operations regulated or required under this permit; and

4. Sample or monitor at reasonable times, for the purposes of assuring permit compliance or as otherwise authorized by the Clean Water Act and the State Water Control Law, any substances or parameters at any location.

For purposes of this section, the time for inspection shall be deemed reasonable during regular business hours, and whenever the facility is discharging. Nothing contained herein shall make an inspection unreasonable during an emergency.

X. Permit actions. Permits may be modified, revoked and reissued, or terminated for cause. The filing of a request by the permittee for a permit modification, revocation and reissuance, termination, or notification of planned changes or anticipated noncompliance does not stay any permit condition.

Y. Transfer of permits permit coverage. Permits are Permit coverage is not transferable to any person except after notice to the department. Coverage under this permit may be automatically transferred to a new permittee if:

1. The current permittee notifies the department within 30 days of the transfer of the title to the facility or property, unless permission for a later date has been granted by the board;

2. The notice includes a written agreement between the existing and new permittees containing a specific date for transfer of permit responsibility, coverage, and liability between them; and

3. The board does not notify the existing permittee and the proposed new permittee of its intent to deny the new permittee coverage under the permit. If this notice is not received, the transfer is effective on the date specified in the agreement mentioned in Part II Y 2.

Z. Severability. The provisions of this permit are severable, and if any provision of this permit or the application of any provision of this permit to any circumstance is held invalid, the application of such provision to other circumstances, and the remainder of this permit, shall not be affected thereby.

Title of Regulation: 9VAC25-115. General Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit for Seafood Processing Facilities (amending 9VAC25-115-10 through 9VAC25-115-50).

Statutory Authority: § 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia; § 402 of the Clean Water Act; 40 CFR Parts 122, 123, and 124.

Public Hearing Information:

September 9, 2020 - 2:00 pm - GoToWebinar - Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7580128128055952399. If a determination is made to provide an in-person option, it will be announced through the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall and the Department of Environmental Quality website.

Public Comment Deadline: October 2, 2020.

Agency Contact: Elleanore M. Daub, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4111, FAX (804) 698-4032, or email elleanore.daub@deq.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The proposed amendments (i) update the industrial stormwater requirements to be consistent with other industries subject to stormwater permitting and to be consistent with other VPDES general permits, including adding quarterly visual monitoring and annual inspections for nonstormwater discharges; (ii) exclude aquaculture from the requirements of the permit; and (iii) update definitions, including the definition of "seafood processing" to exclude shellfish aquaculture and to include NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) codes. The general permit is being amended in order to reissue it.

GENERAL VIRGINIA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (VPDES) GENERAL PERMIT REGULATION FOR SEAFOOD PROCESSING FACILITIES

9VAC25-115-10. Definitions.

The words and terms used in this chapter shall have the meanings defined in the State Water Control Law, Chapter 3.1 (§ 62.1-44.2 et seq.) of Title 62.1 of the Code of Virginia and the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit Regulation (9VAC25-31) unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Additionally, for the purposes of this chapter:

"Best management practices" or "BMPs" means schedules of activities, practices, prohibitions of practices, structures, vegetation, maintenance procedures, and other management practices, including both structural and nonstructural practices, to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants to surface waters.

"Control measure" means any best management practice or other method, including effluent limitations, used to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants to surface waters.

"Corrective action" means any action to (i) repair, modify, or replace any stormwater control used at the facility; (ii) clean up and properly dispose of spills, releases, or other deposits at the facility; or (iii) return to compliance with permit requirements.

"Industrial activity" means the facilities classified under NAICS 311710 and SIC Code 2091 or 2092.

"Minimize" means reduce or eliminate to the extent achievable using control measures, including best management practices, that are technologically available and economically practicable and achievable in light of best industry practice.

"NAICS" means North American Industry Classification System from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, 2017 edition.

"No exposure" means all industrial materials or activities are protected by a storm-resistant shelter to prevent exposure to rain, snow, snowmelt, or runoff.

"Seafood" includes crabs, oysters, hand-shucked clams, scallops, squid, eels, turtles, fish, conchs, and crayfish.

"Seafood processing facility" means any facility classified under SIC Code 2091, 2092, 5142, or 5146, which that processes or handles seafood intended for human consumption or as bait, except a mechanized clam facility. Seafood includes but is not limited to crabs, oysters, hand-shucked clams, scallops, squid, eels, turtles, fish, conchs and crayfish., where the primary purpose is classified under the following NAICS and SIC codes:

1. NAICS Code 311710 – Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging and SIC Code 2091 – Canned and Cured Fish and Seafoods, 2092 – Prepared Fresh or Frozen Fish and Seafoods;

2. NAICS Code 424420 – Packaged Frozen Food Merchant Wholesalers and SIC Code 5142 – Packaged Frozen Foods; and

3. NAICS Code 424460 – Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers and SIC Code 5146 – Fish and Seafoods.

This definition does not include aquaculture facilities (including hatcheries) classified under SIC Code 0272 or 0921 and NAICS Code 112512.

"SIC" means the Standard Industrial Classification Code or Industrial Grouping from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1987 edition.

"Significant materials" includes, 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 (except oyster, clam or scallop shells); hazardous substances designated under § 101(14) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) (42 USC § 9601); any chemical the facility is required to report pursuant to § 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) (42 USC § 11023); fertilizers; pesticides; and waste products such as ashes, slag, and sludge that have the potential to be released with stormwater discharges.

"Stormwater discharge associated with industrial activity" means the discharge from any conveyance that is used for collecting and conveying stormwater and that is directly related to manufacturing, processing, or raw materials storage areas at an industrial plant. The term does not include discharges from facilities or activities excluded from the VPDES program under 9VAC25-31. For the categories of industries identified in the "industrial activity" definition, the term includes, but is not limited to, stormwater discharges from industrial plant yards; immediate access roads and rail lines used or traveled by carriers of raw materials, manufactured products, waste material, or byproducts (except for oyster, clam or scallop shells) used or created by the facility; material handling sites; refuse sites; sites used for the application or disposal of process wastewaters; sites used for the storage and maintenance of material handling equipment; sites used for residual treatment, storage, or disposal; shipping and receiving areas; manufacturing buildings; storage area (including tank farms) for raw materials and intermediate and finished final products; and areas where industrial activity has taken place in the past and significant materials remain and are exposed to stormwater. For the purposes of this paragraph definition, material handling activities include the storage, loading and unloading, transportation, or conveyance of any raw material, intermediate product, finished final product, byproduct, or waste product (except for oyster, clam or scallop shells). The term excludes areas located on plant lands separate from the plant's industrial activities, such as office buildings and accompanying parking lots, as long as the drainage from the excluded areas is not mixed with stormwater drained from the above described areas. Industrial facilities, including industrial facilities that are federally, state, or municipally owned or operated that meet the description of the facilities listed in the "industrial activity" definition, include those facilities designated under the provisions of 9VAC25-31-120 A 1 c or A 7 a (1) or (2) of the VPDES Permit Regulation.

"Total maximum daily load" or "TMDL" means a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards, and an allocation of that amount to the pollutant's sources. A TMDL includes wasteload allocations (WLAs) for point source discharges, and load allocations (LAs) for nonpoint sources or natural background, or both, and must include a margin of safety (MOS) and account for seasonal variations.

"Virginia Environmental Excellence Program" or "VEEP" means a voluntary program established by the department to provide public recognition and regulatory incentives to encourage higher levels of environmental performance for program participants that develop and implement environmental management systems (EMSs). The program is based on the use of EMSs that improve compliance, prevent pollution, and utilize other measures to improve environmental performance.

9VAC25-115-15. Applicability of incorporated references based on the dates that they became effective.

Except as noted, when a regulation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency set forth in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations is referenced or adopted in this chapter and incorporated by reference, that regulation shall be as it exists and has been published as of July 1, 2015 2020.

9VAC25-115-20. Purpose; delegation of authority; effective date of permit.

A. This general permit regulation governs the discharge of wastewater from seafood processing facilities and stormwater associated with industrial activity from seafood processing facilities classified NAICS Code 311710 and as SIC Code Codes 2091 and 2092.

B. The director, or an authorized representative, may perform any act of the board provided under this regulation, except as limited by § 62.1-44.14 of the Code of Virginia.

C. This general permit will become effective on July 24, 2016 2021, and will expire on July 23, 2021 June 30, 2026. For any covered owner, this general permit is effective upon compliance with all the provisions of 9VAC25-115-30.

9VAC25-115-30. Authorization to discharge.

A. Any owner governed by this general permit is hereby authorized to discharge process wastewater and stormwater as described in 9VAC25-115-20 A to surface waters of the Commonwealth of Virginia provided that:

1. The owner files a registration statement, in accordance with 9VAC25-115-40, and that registration statement is accepted by the board;

2. The owner submits the required permit fee;

3. The owner complies with the applicable effluent limitations and other requirements of 9VAC25-115-50; and

4. The owner has not been notified by the board that the discharge is not eligible for coverage under this permit in accordance with subsection B of this section.

B. The board will notify an owner that the discharge is not eligible for coverage under this permit in the event of any of the following:

1. The owner is required to obtain an individual permit in accordance with 9VAC25-31-170 B 3 of the VPDES Permit Regulation;

2. The owner is proposing to discharge to state waters specifically named in other board regulations that prohibit such discharges;

3. The owner is proposing to discharge annual mass loadings of total nitrogen in excess of 2,300 pounds per year or of total phosphorus in excess of 300 pounds per year;

4. The discharge would violate the antidegradation policy stated in 9VAC25-260-30 of the Virginia Water Quality Standards; or

5. The discharge is not consistent with the assumptions and requirements of an approved TMDL.

C. Conditional exclusion for no exposure to stormwater. Any owner covered by this permit that becomes eligible for a no exposure exclusion from stormwater permitting under 9VAC25-31-120 E may file a no exposure certification. Upon submission and acceptance by the board of a complete and accurate no exposure certification, the permit requirements for stormwater no longer apply. A no exposure certification must be submitted to the board once every five years.

D. Compliance with this general permit constitutes compliance, for purposes of enforcement, with the federal Clean Water Act §§ 301, 302, 306, 307, 318, 403, and 405 (a) through (b) and the State Water Control Law, with the exceptions stated in 9VAC25-31-60 of the VPDES Permit Regulation. Approval for coverage under this general permit does not relieve any owner of the responsibility to comply with any other applicable federal, state or local statute, ordinance or regulation.

D. E. Continuation of permit coverage.

1. Any owner that was authorized to discharge under the seafood processing facilities general permit issued in 2011, and who submits a complete registration statement on or before July 23, 2016, is authorized to continue to discharge under the terms of the 2011 general permit Permit coverage shall expire at the end of the applicable permit term. However, expiring permit coverages are automatically continued if the owner has submitted a complete registration statement at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of the permit or a later submittal date established by the board, which cannot extend beyond the expiration date of the permit. The permittee is authorized to continue to discharge until such time as the board either:

a. Issues coverage to the owner under this general permit; or

b. Notifies the owner that the discharge is not eligible for coverage under this general permit.

2. When the owner that was covered under the expiring or expired general permit has violated or is violating the conditions of that permit, the board may choose to do any or all of the following:

a. Initiate enforcement action based upon the 2011 general permit coverage that has been continued;

b. Issue a notice of intent to deny coverage under the reissued amended general permit. If the general permit coverage is denied, the owner would then be required to cease the discharges authorized by coverage under the 2011 the continued general permit coverage or be subject to enforcement action for discharging without a permit;

c. Issue an individual permit with appropriate conditions; or

d. Take other actions authorized by the VPDES Permit Regulation (9VAC25-31).

9VAC25-115-40. Registration statement.

A. Deadlines for submitting registration statement. Any owner seeking coverage under this general permit shall submit a complete general VPDES permit registration statement in accordance with this chapter, which shall serve as a notice of intent for coverage under the general VPDES general permit regulation for seafood processing facilities.

1. New facilities. Any owner proposing a new discharge shall submit a complete registration statement to the board at least 30 60 days prior to the date planned for commencement of the discharge.

2. Existing facilities.

a. Any owner of an existing seafood processing facility covered by an individual VPDES permit that is proposing to be covered by this general permit shall submit a complete registration statement at least 240 days prior to the expiration date of the individual VPDES permit or a later submittal established by the board.

b. Any owner that was authorized to discharge under the general an expiring or expired VPDES general permit for seafood processing facilities that became effective on July 24, 2011, and that intends to continue coverage under this general permit shall submit a complete registration statement to the board on or before June 24, 2016 at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of the existing permit or a later submittal established by the board.

c. Any owner of an existing seafood processing facility adding a new process after coverage under the general permit is obtained shall submit an amended registration statement to the board at least 30 60 days prior to commencing operation of the new process or a later submittal established by the board.

3. Late registration statements. Registration statements for existing facilities covered under subdivision 2 b of this subsection will be accepted after July 23, 2016 the expiration date of the permit, but authorization to discharge will not be retroactive. Owners described in subdivision 2 b of this subsection that submit registration statements after June 24, 2016, are authorized to discharge under the provisions of 9VAC25-115-30 D if a complete registration statement is submitted before July 24, 2016.

B. The registration statement shall contain the following information:

1. Facility name, owner name, mailing address, email address (where available), and telephone number;

2. Facility street address (if different from mailing address);

3. Facility operator name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number if different than owner;

4. Does the facility discharge to surface waters? Name of receiving stream or streams if yes and, if no, describe the discharge or discharges;

5. Does the facility have a current VPDES Permit? Include the permit number if yes;

6. The original date of construction of the seafood processing facility building and dates and description of all subsequent facility construction;

7. A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5 minute topographic map or other equivalent computer generated map with sufficient resolution to clearly show the facility location, the discharge location or locations, and the receiving water body;

8. Facility SIC code or codes;

9. Nature of business at the facility;

10. Discharge outfall information including latitude and longitude, seafood process, receiving stream, discharge flow, and days per year of discharge for each outfall;

11. Facility maximum production information;

12. Facility line (water balance) drawing;

13. Discharge and outfall descriptions for different seafood processes that operate simultaneously;

14. Treatment and solid waste disposal information;

15. Information on use of chemicals at the facility; and

16. State Corporation Commission entity identification number if the facility is required to obtain an entity identification number by law; and

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

The registration statement shall be signed in accordance with 9VAC25-31-110 of the VPDES Permit Regulation.

C. The registration statement may shall be delivered to the department department's regional office where the seafood processing facility is located by either postal or electronic mail and shall be submitted to the DEQ regional office serving the area where the seafood processing facility is located. Following notification from the department of the start date for the required electronic submission of Notices of Intent to discharge forms (i.e., registration statements) as provided for in 9VAC25-31-1020, such forms submitted after that date shall be electronically submitted to the department in compliance with this section and 9VAC25-31-1020. There shall be at least three months' notice provided between the notification from the department and the date after which such forms must be submitted electronically.

9VAC25-115-50. General permit.

Any owner whose registration statement is accepted by the board shall comply with the requirements of the general permit and be subject to all requirements of 9VAC25-31-170 of the VPDES Permit Regulation.

General Permit No.: VAG52
Effective Date: July 24, 2016 2021
Expiration Date: July 23, 2021 June 30, 2026

GENERAL PERMIT FOR SEAFOOD PROCESSING FACILITIES

AUTHORIZATION TO DISCHARGE UNDER THE VIRGINIA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM AND THE VIRGINIA STATE WATER CONTROL LAW

In compliance with the provisions of the Clean Water Act, as amended, and pursuant to the State Water Control Law and regulations adopted pursuant to it, owners of seafood processing facilities, other than mechanized clam processing facilities, are authorized to discharge to surface waters within the boundaries of the Commonwealth of Virginia, except those specifically named in board regulations that prohibit such discharges.

The authorized discharge shall be in accordance with the information submitted with the registration statement, this cover page, Part I-Effluent Limitations and, Monitoring Requirements, and Special Conditions, and Part II-Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans, and Part III-Conditions Applicable to All VPDES Permits, as set forth in this general permit.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

1. SEAFOOD PROCESSING NOT LIMITED ELSEWHERE IN PART I. A.— SIC 2091, 2092, 5142 AND 5146 SOURCES EXCEPT MECHANIZED CLAM FACILITIES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from seafood processing not otherwise classified from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by the end of the calendar year and reported by the 10th of January of the following calendar year on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

2. CONVENTIONAL (HANDPICKED) BLUE CRAB PROCESSING—EXISTING SOURCES PROCESSING MORE THAN 3,000 POUNDS OF RAW MATERIAL PER DAY ON ANY DAY

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from conventional blue crab processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

3. CONVENTIONAL (HANDPICKED) BLUE CRAB PROCESSING—ALL NEW SOURCES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from conventional blue crab processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

4. MECHANIZED BLUE CRAB PROCESSING—ALL EXISTING SOURCES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from mechanized blue crab processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

5. MECHANIZED BLUE CRAB PROCESSING—ALL NEW SOURCES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from mechanized blue crab processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

6. NON-BREADED SHRIMP PROCESSING—EXISTING SOURCES PROCESSING MORE THAN 2,000 POUNDS OF RAW MATERIAL PER DAY ON ANY DAY

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from non-breaded shrimp processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

7. NON-BREADED SHRIMP PROCESSING—ALL NEW SOURCES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from non-breaded shrimp processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

8. BREADED SHRIMP PROCESSING—EXISTING SOURCES PROCESSING MORE THAN 2,000 POUNDS OF RAW MATERIAL PER DAY ON ANY DAY

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from breaded shrimp processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

9. BREADED SHRIMP PROCESSING—ALL NEW SOURCES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from breaded shrimp processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

10. TUNA PROCESSING—ALL EXISTING SOURCES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from tuna processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

11. TUNA PROCESSING—ALL NEW SOURCES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from tuna processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

12. CONVENTIONAL BOTTOM FISH PROCESSING—EXISTING SOURCES PROCESSING MORE THAN 4,000 POUNDS OF RAW MATERIAL PER DAY ON ANY DAY

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from conventional bottom fish processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

13. CONVENTIONAL BOTTOM FISH PROCESSING—ALL NEW SOURCES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from conventional bottom fish processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

14. MECHANIZED BOTTOM FISH PROCESSING—ALL EXISTING SOURCES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from mechanized bottom fish processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

15. MECHANIZED BOTTOM FISH PROCESSING—ALL NEW SOURCES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from mechanized bottom fish processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

16. HAND-SHUCKED CLAM PROCESSING—EXISTING SOURCES PROCESSING MORE THAN 4,000 POUNDS OF RAW MATERIAL PER DAY ON ANY DAY

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from hand-shucked clam processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

17. HAND-SHUCKED CLAM PROCESSING—ALL NEW SOURCES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from hand-shucked clam processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

18. HAND-SHUCKED OYSTER PROCESSING—EXISTING SOURCES PROCESSING MORE THAN 1,000 POUNDS OF RAW MATERIAL PER DAY ON ANY DAY

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from hand-shucked oyster processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Raw material = The weight of oyster meat after shucking.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

19. HAND-SHUCKED OYSTER PROCESSING—ALL NEW SOURCES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from hand-shucked oyster processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

20. STEAMED AND CANNED OYSTER PROCESSING—ALL EXISTING SOURCES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from mechanized oyster processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

21. STEAMED AND CANNED OYSTER PROCESSING—ALL NEW SOURCES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from mechanized oyster processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

22. SCALLOP PROCESSING—ALL EXISTING SOURCES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from scallop processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

23. SCALLOP PROCESSING—ALL NEW SOURCES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from scallop processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

24. FARM-RAISED CATFISH PROCESSING—EXISTING SOURCES PROCESSING MORE THAN 3,000 POUNDS OF RAW MATERIAL PER DAY ON ANY DAY

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from farm-raised catfish processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

25. FARM-RAISED CATFISH PROCESSING—ALL NEW SOURCES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from farm-raised catfish processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

26. HERRING PROCESSING—ALL

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from herring processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

Part I

A. EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

27. HERRING PROCESSING—ALL NEW SOURCES

During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to discharge wastewater from herring processing, from outfall(s) __________.

Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the permittee as specified below:

NL = No limitation, monitoring required.

NA = Not applicable.

Grab = Individual grab sample is to be taken in the middle of a composite sampling period.

Composite = Hourly grab samples taken over the duration of a processing cycle (including cleanup) combined to form one representative sample, not to exceed eight grab samples.

Production = See Special Condition No. 5 (Part I B 5).

Samples shall be collected by March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 and reported by the 10th of the following month on the facility's Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). All calculations shall be submitted with the DMR.

B. SPECIAL CONDITIONS APPLYING TO PART I A 1 THROUGH PART I A 27.

1. No sewage shall be discharged from a point source to surface waters at this facility except under the provisions of another VPDES permit specifically issued for that purpose.

2. There shall be no chemicals added to the water or waste to be discharged, other than those listed on the owner's accepted registration statement.

3. Wastewater should be reused or recycled to the maximum extent practicable.

4. The permittee shall comply with the following solids management plan:

a. There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.

b. All floors, machinery, conveyor belts, dock areas, etc. shall be dry swept or dry brushed prior to washdown.

c. All settling basins shall be cleaned frequently in order to achieve effective settling.

d. All solids resulting from the seafood processes covered under this general permit, other than oyster, clam, or scallop shells, shall be handled, stored, and disposed of so as to prevent a discharge to state waters of such solids or industrial wastes or other wastes from those solids.

e. The permittee shall install and properly maintain wastewater treatment necessary in order to remove organic solids present in the wastewater that may settle and accumulate on the substrate of the receiving waters in other than trace amounts.

f. All employees shall receive training relative to preventive measures to be taken to control the release of solids from the facility into surface waters.

5. Production to be reported and used in calculating effluent discharge levels in terms of kg/kkg shall be the weight in kilograms of raw material processed, in the form in which it is received at the processing plant, on the day of effluent sampling, except for the hand-shucked oyster, steamed and canned oyster, and scallop processing subcategories, for which production shall mean the weight of oyster or scallop meat after processing. The effluent levels in terms of kg/kkg shall be calculated by dividing the measured pollutant load in kg/day by the production level in kkg (thousands of kilograms).

6. The permittee shall notify the department as soon as they know or have reason to believe:

a. That any activity has occurred or will occur that would result in the discharge on a routine or frequent basis of any toxic pollutant that is not limited in the permit, if that discharge will exceed the highest of the following notification levels:

(1) One hundred micrograms per liter (100 μg/l) of the toxic pollutant;

(2) Two hundred micrograms per liter (200 μg/l) for acrolein and acrylonitrile; five hundred micrograms per liter (500 μg/l) for 2,4-dinitrophenol and for 2-methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol; and one milligram per liter (1 mg/l) for antimony;

(3) Five times the maximum concentration value reported for that pollutant in the permit application; or

(4) The level established by the board.

b. That any activity has occurred or will occur that would result in any discharge on a nonroutine or infrequent basis of a toxic pollutant that is not limited in the permit if that discharge will exceed the highest of the following notification levels:

(1) Five hundred micrograms per liter (500 μg/l) of the toxic pollutant;

(2) One milligram per liter (1 mg/l) for antimony;

(3) Ten times the maximum concentration value reported for that pollutant in the permit application; or

(4) The level established by the board.

7. Compliance reporting and recordkeeping under Part I A.

a. The quantification levels (QL) shall be less than or equal to the following concentrations:

The QL is defined as the lowest concentration used to calibrate a measurement system in accordance with the procedures published for the test method.

b. Recording results. Any concentration below the QL used in the analysis shall be recorded as "<QL" if it is less than the QL used in the analysis (the QL must be less than or equal to the QL in subdivision 7 a of this subsection. Otherwise the numerical value shall be recorded.

c. Monitoring results shall be recorded using the same number of significant digits as listed in the permit. Regardless of the rounding conventions used by the permittee (e.g., five always rounding up or to the nearest even number), the permittee shall use the convention consistently, and shall ensure that consulting laboratories employed by the permittee use the same convention.

8. The discharges authorized by this permit shall be controlled as necessary to meet water quality standards in 9VAC25-260.

9. If a new process is added after coverage under the general permit is obtained, an amended registration statement must be submitted at least 30 60 days prior to commencing operation of the new process or a later submittal approved by the board.

10. Notice of termination.

a. The owner may terminate coverage under this general permit by filing a complete notice of termination. The notice of termination may be filed after one or more of the following conditions have been met:

(1) Operations have ceased at the facility and there are no longer discharges of process wastewater or stormwater associated with the industrial activity;

(2) A new owner has assumed responsibility for the facility. A notice of termination does not have to be submitted if a VPDES Change of Ownership Agreement Form has been submitted;

(3) All discharges associated with this facility have been covered by an individual VPDES permit or an alternative VPDES permit; or

(4) Termination of coverage is being requested for another reason, provided the board agrees that coverage under this general permit is no longer needed.

b. The notice of termination shall contain the following information:

(1) Owner's name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address (if available);

(2) Facility name and location;

(3) VPDES general permit registration number for the facility; and

(4) The basis for submitting the notice of termination, including:

(a) A statement indicating that a new owner has assumed responsibility for the facility;

(b) A statement indicating that operations have ceased at the facility, and there are no longer discharges from the facility;

(c) A statement indicating that all discharges have been covered by an individual VPDES permit or an alternative VPDES permit; or

(d) A statement indicating that termination of coverage is being requested for another reason (state the reason).

(5) The following certification: "I certify under penalty of law that all wastewater and stormwater discharges from the identified facility that are authorized by this VPDES general permit have been eliminated, or covered under a VPDES individual or alternative permit, or that I am no longer the owner of the facility, or permit coverage should be terminated for another reason listed above. I understand that by submitting this notice of termination, that I am no longer authorized to discharge seafood processing wastewater or, for facilities classified as SIC Code 2091 or 2092, stormwater associated with industrial activity in accordance with the general permit, and that discharging pollutants to surface waters is unlawful where the discharge is not authorized by a VPDES permit. I also understand that the submittal of this notice of termination does not release an owner from liability for any violations of this permit or the Clean Water Act."

C. c. The notice of termination shall be submitted to the department and signed in accordance with Part III K.

Part II
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans Stormwater Management

A stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) shall be developed for each facility covered by this permit, The following stormwater management requirements apply only to seafood processors classified as Standard Industrial Classifications (SIC) Codes 2091 and 2092.

A. Monitoring and inspections.

1. Quarterly visual monitoring of stormwater quality. The permittee shall perform and document visual monitoring of stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity from each outfall, except discharges waived in subdivision d of this subsection. The visual monitoring must be made during normal working hours, at least once in each of the following three-month periods: January through March, April through June, July through September, and October through December.

a. Samples will be in clean, colorless glass or plastic containers and examined in a well-lit area;

b. Samples will be collected within the first 30 minutes (or as soon thereafter as practical, but not to exceed three hours, provided that the permittee explains in the stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) why an examination during the first 30 minutes was impractical) of when the runoff or snowmelt begins discharging. All such samples shall be collected from the discharge resulting from a storm event that results in an actual discharge from the site (defined as a "measurable storm event") providing the interval from the preceding measurable storm event is at least 72 hours. The required 72-hour storm event interval is waived where the preceding measurable storm event did not result in a measurable discharge from the facility. The 72-hour storm event interval may also be waived where the permittee documents that less than a 72-hour interval is representative for local storm events during the season when sampling is being conducted.

c. The examination shall observe color, odor, clarity, floating solids, settled solids, suspended solids, foam, oil sheen, and other obvious indicators of stormwater pollution.

d. If no qualifying storm event resulted in discharge from the facility during a monitoring period, or adverse weather conditions create dangerous conditions for personnel during each measurable storm event during a monitoring period, visual monitoring is exempted provided this is documented in the SWPPP. Acceptable documentation includes dates and times the outfalls were viewed or sampling was attempted, national Climatic Data Center weather station data, local weather station data, facility rainfall logs, and other appropriate supporting data.

e. Representative outfalls – substantially identical stormwater discharges. If the facility has two or more outfalls that discharge substantially identical stormwater effluents, based on similarities of the industrial activities, significant materials, size of drainage areas, frequency of discharges, and stormwater management practices occurring within the drainage areas of the outfalls, the permittee may conduct quarterly visual monitoring on the stormwater discharges of just one representative outfall.

f. Visual monitoring reports shall be maintained on-site with the SWPPP. The report shall include:

(1) Outfall location;

(2) Monitoring date and time;

(3) Duration of storm event;

(4) Rainfall measurement or estimate (in inches) of the storm event that generated the discharge;

(5) Duration between the storm event sampled and the end of the previous measurable storm event;

(6) Monitoring personnel;

(7) Nature of the discharge (i.e., runoff or snow melt);

(8) Visual quality of the stormwater discharge, including observations of color, odor, clarity, floating solids, settled solids, suspended solids, foam, oil sheen, and other obvious indicators of stormwater pollution;

(9) Probable sources of any observed stormwater contamination;

(10) Why it was not possible to take the sample within the first 30 minutes (if applicable); and

(11) Documentation to support substantially identical outfalls (if applicable) required by Part II A 1 e.

g. Corrective action. Whenever the visual monitoring shows evidence of stormwater pollution, the SWPPP and stormwater control measures shall be updated per Part II B.

2. Routine facility inspections. Personnel who possess the knowledge and skills to assess conditions and activities that could impact stormwater quality at the facility and who can also evaluate the effectiveness of control measures shall regularly inspect all areas of the facility where industrial materials or activities are exposed to stormwater.

a. Inspections include loading and unloading areas, storage areas, including associated containment areas, waste management units, vents and stacks emanating from industrial activities, spoiled product and broken product container hold areas, animal holding pens, staging areas, air pollution control equipment, areas where spills or leaks have occurred in the past three years, discharge points, and control measures.

b. At least one member of the pollution prevention team shall participate in the routine facility inspections.

c. The inspection frequency shall be specified in the SWPPP based upon a consideration of the level of industrial activity at the facility but shall be at a minimum of once per calendar quarter unless written approval is received from the department for less frequent intervals. Inspections shall be performed during operating hours. At least once each calendar year, the routine facility inspection shall be conducted during a period when a stormwater discharge is occurring.

d. Any deficiencies in the implementation of the SWPPP that are found shall be corrected as soon as practicable, but not later than within 60 days of the inspection, unless permission for a later date is granted in writing by the director. The results of the inspections shall be documented in the SWPPP and shall include at a minimum:

(1) The inspection date;

(2) The names of the inspectors;

(3) Weather information and a description of any discharges occurring at the time of the inspection;

(4) Any previously unidentified discharges of pollutants from the site;

(5) Any control measures needing maintenance or repairs;

(6) Any failed control measures that need replacement;

(7) Any incidents of noncompliance observed; and

(8) Any additional control measures needed to comply with the permit requirements.

e. Corrective action. Whenever the routine inspection shows evidence of stormwater pollution, the SWPPP and stormwater control measures shall be updated per Part II B.

f. The requirement for routine facility inspections is waived for facilities that have maintained an active VEEP E3/E4 status.

3. Nonstormwater discharges.

a. Allowable nonstormwater discharges. Discharges of certain sources of nonstormwater listed in Part II A 3 c are allowable discharges under this permit. All other nonstormwater discharges are not authorized and shall be either eliminated, covered under this permit, or covered under a separate VPDES permit.

b. Annual outfall inspection for unauthorized discharges. The SWPPP shall include documentation that all stormwater outfalls associated with industrial activity have been evaluated annually for the presence of unauthorized discharges. The documentation shall include:

(1) The date of the evaluation;

(2) A description of the evaluation criteria used;

(3) A list of the outfalls or on-site drainage points that were directly observed during the evaluation;

(4) A description of the results of the evaluation for the presence of unauthorized discharges; and

(5) The actions taken to eliminate unauthorized discharges if any were identified.

c. The following nonstormwater discharges are authorized by this permit:

(1) Discharges from emergency firefighting activities;

(2) Fire hydrant flushing, managed in a manner to avoid an instream impact;

(3) Potable water, including water line flushing, managed in a manner to avoid an instream impact;

(4) Uncontaminated condensate from air conditioners, coolers, and other compressors and from the outside storage of refrigerated gases or liquids;

(5) Irrigation drainage;

(6) Landscape watering provided all pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers have been applied in accordance with the approved labeling;

(7) Pavement wash waters where no detergents or hazardous cleaning products are used and no spills or leaks of toxic or hazardous materials have occurred, unless all spilled material has been removed. Pavement wash waters shall be managed in a manner to avoid an instream impact;

(8) Routine external building washdown that does not use detergents or hazardous cleaning products;

(9) Uncontaminated groundwater or spring water;

(10) Foundation or footing drains where flows are not contaminated with process materials; and

(11) Incidental windblown mist from cooling towers that collects on rooftops or adjacent portions of the facility, but not intentional discharges from the cooling tower (e.g., "piped" cooling tower blowdown or drains).

B. Corrective actions. The permittee shall take corrective action whenever:

1. Routine facility inspections, visual monitoring, inspections by local, state, or federal officials, or any other process, observation, or event result in a determination that modifications to the stormwater control measures are necessary to meet the permit requirements;

2. The department determines, or the permittee becomes aware, that the stormwater control measures are not stringent enough for the discharge to meet applicable water quality standards.

3. The permittee shall review the SWPPP and modify it as necessary to address any deficiencies. Revisions to the SWPPP shall be completed within 60 days following the discovery of the deficiency. When control measures need to be modified or added, implementation shall be completed before the next anticipated storm event if possible, but no later than 60 days after the deficiency is discovered, or as otherwise provided or approved by the department. In cases where construction is necessary to implement control measures, the permittee shall include a schedule in the SWPPP that provides for the completion of the control measures as expeditiously as practicable, but no later than three years after the deficiency is discovered. Where a construction compliance schedule is included in the SWPPP, the SWPPP shall include appropriate nonstructural and temporary controls to be implemented in the affected portion of the facility prior to completion of the permanent control measure. The amount of time taken to modify a control measure or implement additional control measures shall be documented in the SWPPP.

4. Any corrective actions taken shall be documented and retained with the SWPPP. Reports of corrective actions shall be signed in accordance with Part III K.

C. Stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPPs). An SWPPP shall be developed and implemented for the facility covered by this permit, which has stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity and is classified under SIC Code 2091 or 2092. The SWPPP is intended to document the selection, design, and installation of control measures, including BMPs, to minimize the pollutants in all stormwater discharges from the facility and to meet applicable effluent limitations and water quality standards.

The SWPPP shall be prepared in accordance with good engineering practices and shall identify potential sources of pollution that may reasonably be expected to affect the quality of stormwater discharges from the facility. In addition, the plan shall describe and ensure the implementation of practices that will be used to reduce the pollutants in stormwater discharges from the facility and shall assure compliance with the terms and conditions of this permit. Permittees must implement the provisions of the SWPPP as a condition of this permit.

The SWPPP requirements of this general permit may be fulfilled, in part, by incorporating by reference other plans or documents such as an erosion and sediment control (ESC) plan, a spill prevention control and countermeasure (SPCC) plan developed for the facility under § 311 of the Clean Water Act or best management practices (BMP) programs otherwise required for the facility provided that the incorporated plan meets or exceeds the plan requirements of this section. Part II C 2 (Contents of the SWPPP). If an ESC plan is being incorporated by reference, it shall have been approved by the locality in which the activity is to occur or by another appropriate plan approving authority authorized under the Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations, 9VAC25-840. All plans incorporated by reference into the SWPPP become enforceable under this permit. If a plan incorporated by reference does not contain all of the required elements of the SWPPP of Part III C 2, the permittee shall develop the missing SWPPP elements and include them in the required plan.

A. 1. Deadlines for plan SWPPP preparation and compliance.

1. Facilities that were covered under the 2011 Seafood Processing Facilities General Permit. a. Owners of facilities that were covered under the 2011 2016 Seafood Processing Facilities General Permit who are continuing coverage under this general permit shall update and implement any revisions to the SWPPP required by this part within 60 days of the board granting coverage under this permit.

2. New facilities, facilities previously covered by an expiring individual permit, and existing facilities not currently covered by a VPDES permit. b. Owners of new facilities, facilities previously covered by an expiring individual permit, and existing facilities not currently covered by a VPDES permit that elect to be covered under this general permit must shall prepare and implement the SWPPP within 60 days of the board granting coverage under this permit.

3. New owners of existing facilities. c. Where the owner of an existing facility that is covered by this permit changes, the new owner of the facility must update and implement any revisions to the SWPPP within 60 days of the transfer of title of the facility ownership change.

4. Extensions. d. Upon a showing of good cause, the director may establish a later date in writing for preparation of and compliance with the SWPPP.

B. 2. Contents of the SWPPP. The contents of the SWPPP shall include, at a minimum, the following items:

1. a. Pollution prevention team. The SWPPP shall identify the staff individuals by name or title who comprise the facility's stormwater pollution prevention team. The pollution prevention team is responsible for assisting the facility or plant manager in developing, implementing, maintaining, revising, and maintaining ensuring compliance with the facility's SWPPP. Specific responsibilities of each staff individual on the team shall be identified and listed.

2. b. Site description. The SWPPP shall include the following:

a. Activities at the facility. (1) A description of the nature of the industrial activities at the facility.

b. General location map. A general location map (e.g., USGS quadrangle or other map) with enough detail to identify the location of the facility and the receiving waters within one mile of the facility.

c. (2) Site map. A site map identifying the following:

(1) The size of the property (in acres) (a) The boundaries of the property and the size of the property in acres;

(2) (b) The location and extent of significant structures and impervious surfaces (roofs, paved areas, and any other impervious areas);

(3) (c) Locations of all stormwater conveyances, including ditches, pipes, swales, and inlets, and the directions of stormwater flow (e.g., use arrows to show which ways stormwater will flow), using arrows to indicate which direction stormwater will flow;

(4) (d) Locations of all existing structural and source control BMPs stormwater control measures, including BMPs;

(5) (e) Locations of all surface water bodies receiving discharges from the site, including wetlands;

(6) (f) Locations of identified potential pollutant sources identified in Part II C 2 c;

(7) (g) Locations where significant spills or leaks identified under Part II C 2 c (3) have occurred;

(8) Locations of the following activities where such activities are exposed to precipitation: fueling stations; vehicle and equipment maintenance or cleaning areas; loading or unloading areas; locations used for the treatment, storage or disposal of wastes; liquid storage tanks; processing and storage areas; access roads, rail cars and tracks; transfer areas for substances in bulk; and machinery; (9) (h) Locations of stormwater outfalls and, monitoring locations, an approximate outline of the area draining to each outfall, and the drainage area of each outfall in acres, the longitude and latitude of each outfall, the location of any municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s), if the stormwater from the facility discharges to them; system (MS4) conveyance receiving discharge from the facility, and each outfall identified with a unique numerical identification codes. For example: Outfall Number 001, Outfall Number 002, etc.;

(10) (i) Location and description of all nonstormwater discharges;

(11) (j) Location of any storage piles containing salt used for deicing or other commercial or industrial purposes; and;

(12) (k) Location and source of runon suspected run-on to the site from an adjacent property, where the runon contains property if the run-on is suspected of containing significant quantities of pollutants; and

(l) Locations of vents and stacks from cooking, drying, and similar operations; dry product vacuum transfer lines; animal holding pens; spoiled product; and broken product container storage area if exposed to precipitation or runoff.

d. Receiving waters and wetlands. The name of all surface waters receiving discharges from the site, including intermittent streams. A description of wetland sites that may receive discharges from the facility shall also be provided. If the facility discharges through an MS4, the MS4 operator and the receiving water to which the MS4 discharges shall also be identified.

3. c. Summary of potential pollutant sources. The SWPPP shall identify each separate area at the facility where industrial materials or activities are exposed to stormwater. Industrial materials or activities include, but are not limited to, material handling equipment or activities, industrial machinery, raw materials, industrial production and processes, intermediate products, byproducts, final products, and waste products, and application and storage of pest control chemicals used on facility grounds. Material handling activities include, but are not limited to, the storage, loading and unloading, transportation, disposal, or conveyance of any raw material, intermediate product, final product or waste product. For each separate area identified, the description shall include:

a. (1) Activities in area. A list of the industrial activities (e.g., material storage, equipment fueling and cleaning, cutting steel beams); exposed to stormwater;

b. (2) Pollutants. A list of the associated pollutant(s) or pollutant parameter(s) (e.g., crankcase oil, zinc, sulfuric acid, cleaning solvents, etc.) for each activity pollutants, pollutant constituents, or industrial chemicals associated with each industrial activity that could potentially be exposed to stormwater. The pollutant list shall include all significant materials handled, treated, stored, or disposed that have been exposed to stormwater in the three years prior to the date the SWPPP was prepared or amended. The list shall include any hazardous substance substances or oil at the facility.

4. (3) Spills and leaks. The SWPPP shall clearly identify areas where potential spills and leaks that can contribute pollutants to stormwater discharges can occur and their corresponding outfalls. The SWPPP shall include a list of significant spills and leaks of toxic or hazardous pollutants that actually occurred at exposed areas, or that drained to a stormwater conveyance during the three-year period prior to the date this SWPPP was prepared or amended. The list shall be updated within 60 days of the incident if significant spills or leaks occur in exposed areas of the facility during the term of the permit. Significant spills and leaks include, but are not limited to, releases of oil or hazardous substances in excess of reportable quantities.

5. Stormwater controls.

a. BMPs d. Control measure considerations. Control measures shall be implemented for all the areas identified in Part II B 3 C 2 c (Summary of potential pollutant sources) to prevent or control pollutants in stormwater discharges from the facility. If applicable, steps shall be taken to control or address the quality of discharges from the site that do not originate at the facility. regulated stormwater discharges from the facility include stormwater run-on that commingles with stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity at the facility. The SWPPP shall describe the type, location, and implementation of all BMPs control measures for each area where industrial materials or activities are exposed to stormwater. Selection of BMPs control measures shall take into consideration:

(1) That preventing stormwater from coming into contact with polluting materials is generally more effective, and less costly, than trying to remove pollutants from stormwater;

(2) BMPs Control measures generally must be used in combination with each other for most effective water quality protection;

(3) Assessing the type and quantity of pollutants, including their potential to impact receiving water quality, is critical to designing effective control measures;

(4) That minimizing impervious areas at the facility can reduce runoff and improve groundwater recharge and stream base flows in local streams (however, care must be taken to avoid groundwater contamination);

(5) Flow attenuation by use of open vegetated swales and natural depressions can reduce in-stream instream impacts of erosive flows;

(6) Conservation or restoration of riparian buffers will help protect streams from stormwater runoff and improve water quality; and

(7) Treatment interceptors (e.g., swirl separators and sand filters) may be appropriate in some instances to minimize the discharge of pollutants.

b. e. Control measures. The permittee shall implement the following types of BMPs control measures to prevent and control pollutants in the stormwater discharges from the facility, unless it can be demonstrated and documented that such controls are not relevant to the discharges (e.g., there are no storage piles containing salt).

(1) Good housekeeping. The permittee shall keep clean all exposed areas of the facility that are potential sources of pollutants to stormwater discharges. Typical problem areas include areas around trash containers, storage areas, loading docks, and vehicle fueling and maintenance areas. The SWPPP shall include a schedule for regular pickup and disposal of waste materials, along with routine inspections for leaks and of the conditions of drums, tanks, and containers. The introduction of raw, final or waste materials to exposed areas of the facility shall be minimized. The generation of dust, along with off-site vehicle tracking of raw, final or waste materials, or sediments, shall be minimized. The permittee shall perform the following good housekeeping measures to minimize pollutant discharges:

(a) The SWPPP shall include a schedule for regular pickup and disposal of waste materials along with routine inspections for leaks and conditions of drums, tanks, and containers;

(b) Sweep or vacuum as feasible;

(c) Store materials in containers constructed of appropriate materials;

(d) Manage all waste containers to prevent a discharge of pollutants;

(e) Minimize the potential for waste, garbage, and floatable debris to be discharged by keeping areas exposed to stormwater free of such materials or by intercepting such materials prior to discharge; and

(f) Implement BMPs to eliminate stormwater discharges of plastics.

(2) Eliminating and minimizing exposure. To the maximum extent practicable, industrial materials and activities manufacturing, processing, and material storage areas, including loading and unloading, storage, disposal, cleaning, maintenance, and fueling operations, shall be located inside, or protected by a storm-resistant covering to prevent exposure to rain, snow, snowmelt, and runoff. Unless infeasible, facilities shall implement the following:

(a) Use grading, berming, or curbing to prevent runoff of contaminated flows and divert run-on away from potential sources of pollutants;

(b) Locate materials, equipment, and activities so that potential leaks and spills are contained, or able to be contained, or diverted before discharge;

(c) Clean up spills and leaks immediately, upon discovery of the spills or leaks, using dry methods (e.g., absorbents) to prevent the discharge of pollutants;

(d) Store leaking vehicles and equipment indoors, or if stored outdoors, use drip pans and adsorbents;

(e) Utilize appropriate spill or overflow protections equipment;

(f) Perform all vehicle maintenance or equipment cleaning operations indoors, under cover, or in bermed areas that prevent runoff and run-on and also capture any overspray; and

(g) Drain fluids from equipment and vehicles that will be decommissioned, and for any equipment and vehicles that remain unused for extended periods of time, inspect at least monthly for leaks.

(3) Preventive maintenance. The permittee shall have a preventive maintenance program that includes regular inspection, testing, SWPPP shall include preventive maintenance that includes a description of procedures and a regular schedule for inspection of the following:

(a) All control measures that includes a description of the back-up practices that are in place should a runoff event occur while a control measure is off line; and

(b) Testing, maintenance, and repairing of all industrial equipment and systems to avoid breakdowns or failures situations that could result in leaks, spills, and other releases. This program is in addition to the specific BMP maintenance required under Part II C (Maintenance of BMPs) of the permit of pollutants in stormwater discharged from the facility.

(4) Spill prevention and response procedures. The SWPPP shall describe the procedures that will be followed for preventing and responding to spills and leaks., including:

(a) Preventive measures include, such as barriers between material storage and traffic areas, secondary containment provisions, and procedures for material storage and handling.;

(b) Response procedures shall include (i), including notification of appropriate facility personnel, emergency agencies, and regulatory agencies; and (ii) procedures for stopping, containing, and cleaning up spills. Measures for cleaning up hazardous material spills or leaks shall be consistent with applicable RCRA the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act regulations at 40 CFR Part 264 and 40 CFR Part 265. Employees who may cause, detect, or respond to a spill or leak shall be trained in these procedures and have necessary spill response equipment available. One If possible, one of these individuals shall be a member of the pollution prevention team.;

(c) Procedures for plainly labeling containers (e.g., "used oil," "spent solvents," and "fertilizers and pesticides") that could be susceptible to spillage or leakage to encourage proper handling and facilitate rapid response if spills or leaks occur; and

(c) (d) Contact information for individuals and agencies that must be notified in the event of a spill shall be included in the SWPPP and maintained in other locations where it will be readily available.

(5) Routine facility inspections. Facility personnel who possess the knowledge and skills to assess conditions and activities that could impact stormwater quality at the facility, and who can also evaluate the effectiveness of BMPs shall regularly inspect all areas of the facility where industrial materials or activities are exposed to stormwater. These inspections are in addition to, or as part of, the comprehensive site evaluation required under Part II D. At least one member of the pollution prevention team shall participate in the routine facility inspections. The inspection frequency shall be specified in the SWPPP and be based upon a consideration of the level of industrial activity at the facility, but shall be a minimum of quarterly unless more frequent intervals are specified elsewhere in the permit or written approval is received from the department for less frequent intervals. Any deficiencies in the implementation of the SWPPP that are found shall be corrected as soon as practicable, but not later than within 30 days of the inspection, unless permission for a later date is granted in writing by the director. The results of the inspections shall be documented in the SWPPP, along with the date(s) and description(s) of any corrective actions that were taken in response to any deficiencies or opportunities for improvement that were identified.

(6) (5) Employee training. The permittee shall implement a stormwater employee training program for the facility. The SWPPP shall include a schedule for all training and shall document all training sessions and the employees who received the training. Training shall be provided at least annually for all employees who work in areas where industrial materials or activities are exposed to stormwater, and for employees who are responsible for implementing activities identified in the SWPPP (e.g., inspectors and maintenance personnel). The training shall cover the components and goals of the SWPPP and include such topics as spill response, good housekeeping, material management practices, BMP operation and maintenance, etc. and pest control. The SWPPP shall include a summary of any training performed.

(7) (6) Sediment and erosion control. The SWPPP shall identify areas at the facility that, due to topography, land disturbance (e.g., construction, landscaping, site grading), or other factors, have a potential for soil erosion. The permittee shall identify and implement structural, vegetative, or stabilization BMPs control measures to prevent or control on-site and off-site erosion and sedimentation. Flow velocity dissipation devices shall be placed at discharge locations and along the length of any outfall channel if the flows would otherwise create erosive conditions.

(8) (7) Management of runoff. The plan shall describe the stormwater runoff management practices (i.e., permanent structural BMPs) control measures) for the facility. These types of BMPs are typically control measures shall be used to divert, infiltrate, reuse, or otherwise reduce pollutants in stormwater discharges from the site.

Structural BMPs control measures may require a separate permit under § 404 of the federal Clean Water Act and the Virginia Water Protection Permit Program Regulation (9VAC25-210) before installation begins.

C. Maintenance. All BMPs identified in the SWPPP shall be maintained in effective operating condition. Stormwater BMPs identified in the SWPPP shall be observed during active operation (i.e., during a stormwater runoff event) to ensure that they are functioning correctly. The observations shall be documented in the SWPPP.

The SWPPP shall include a description of procedures and a regular schedule for preventive maintenance of all BMPs and shall include a description of the back-up practices that are in place should a runoff event occur while a BMP is off line. The effectiveness of nonstructural BMPs shall also be maintained (e.g., spill response supplies available and personnel trained).

If site inspections required by Part II B 5 b (5) (Routine facility inspections) or Part II D (Comprehensive site compliance evaluation) identify BMPs that are not operating effectively, repairs or maintenance shall be performed before the next anticipated storm event. In the interim, back-up measures shall be employed and documented in the SWPPP until repairs or maintenance is complete. Documentation shall be kept with the SWPPP of maintenance and repairs of BMPs, including the date or dates of regular maintenance, date or dates of discovery of areas in need of repair or replacement, and for repairs, date or dates that the BMPs returned to full function, and the justification for any extended maintenance or repair schedules.

D. Comprehensive site compliance evaluation. The permittee shall conduct comprehensive site compliance evaluations at least once a year. The evaluations shall be done by qualified personnel who possess the knowledge and skills to assess conditions and activities that could impact stormwater quality at the facility, and who can also evaluate the effectiveness of BMPs. The personnel conducting the evaluations may be either facility employees or outside constituents hired by the facility.

1. Scope of the compliance evaluation. Evaluations shall include all areas where industrial materials or activities are exposed to stormwater, as identified in Part II B 3. The personnel shall evaluate:

a. Industrial materials, residue or trash that may have or could come into contact with stormwater;

b. Leaks or spills from industrial equipment, drums, barrels, tanks or other containers that have occurred within the past three years;

c. Off-site tracking of industrial or waste materials or sediment where vehicles enter or exit the site;

d. Tracking or blowing of raw, final, or waste materials from areas of no exposure to exposed areas;

e. Evidence of, or the potential for, pollutants entering the drainage system;

f. Evidence of pollutants discharging to surface waters at all facility outfalls, and the condition of and around the outfall, including flow dissipation measures to prevent scouring;

g. Review of training performed, inspections completed, maintenance performed, quarterly visual examinations, and effective operation of BMPs; and

h. Review of the results of both visual and any analytical monitoring done during the past year.

2. Based on the results of the evaluation, the SWPPP shall be modified as necessary (e.g., show additional controls on the map required by Part II B 2 c; revise the description of controls required by Part II B 5 to include additional or modified BMPs designed to correct problems identified). Revisions to the SWPPP shall be completed within 30 days following the evaluation, unless permission for a later date is granted in writing by the director. If existing BMPs need to be modified or if additional BMPs are necessary, implementation shall be completed before the next anticipated storm event, if practicable, but not more than 60 days after completion of the comprehensive site evaluation, unless permission for a later date is granted in writing by the department.

3. Compliance evaluation report. A report shall be written summarizing the scope of the evaluation, the name or names of personnel making the evaluation, the date or dates of the evaluation, and all observations relating to the implementation of the SWPPP, including elements stipulated in Part II D 1 (a) through (f) of this general permit. Observations shall include such things as: the location or locations of discharges of pollutants from the site; the location or locations of previously unidentified sources of pollutants; the location or locations of BMPs that need to be maintained or repaired; the location or locations of failed BMPs that need replacement; and location or locations where additional BMPs are needed. The report shall identify any incidents of noncompliance that were observed. Where a report does not identify any incidents of noncompliance, the report shall contain a certification that the facility is in compliance with the SWPPP and this permit. The report shall be signed in accordance with Part III K and maintained with the SWPPP.

4. Where compliance evaluation schedules overlap with routine inspections required under Part II B 5 b (5), the annual compliance evaluation may be used as one of the routine inspections.

E. 3. Signature and plan SWPPP review.

1. Signature/location. a. Signature and location. The SWPPP, including revisions to the SWPPP to document any corrective actions taken as required by Part II B, shall be signed in accordance with Part III K, dated, and retained on-site at the facility covered by this permit. All other changes to the SWPPP, and other permit compliance documentation, must be signed and dated by the person preparing the change or documentation.

2. b. Availability. The permittee shall make the SWPPP, annual site compliance evaluation report, and other information available to the department retain a copy of the current SWPPP required by this permit at the facility, and it shall be immediately available to the department, EPA, or the operator of an MS4 receiving discharges from the site at the time of an on-site inspection or upon request.

3. c. Required modifications. The permittee shall modify the SWPPP whenever necessary to address all corrective actions required by Part II B. Changes to the SWPPP shall be made in accordance with the corrective action deadlines in Part II B and shall be signed and dated in accordance with Part III K. The director may notify the permittee at any time that the SWPPP, BMPs control measures, or other components of the facility's stormwater program do not meet one or more of the requirements of this permit. The notification shall identify specific provisions of the permit that are not being met and may include required modifications to the stormwater program, additional monitoring requirements, and special reporting requirements. The permittee shall make any required changes to the SWPPP within 60 days of receipt of such notification, unless permission for a later date is granted in writing by the director, and shall submit a written certification to the director that the requested changes have been made.

F. 4. Maintaining an updated SWPPP. 1. The permittee shall review and amend the SWPPP as appropriate whenever:

a. There is construction or a change in design, operation, or maintenance at the facility that has an effect on the discharge, or the potential for the discharge, of pollutants from the facility sufficient to impact water quality;

b. Routine inspections or compliance evaluations visual monitoring determine that there are deficiencies in the control measures, including BMPs;

c. Inspections by local, state, or federal officials determine that modifications to the SWPPP are necessary;

d. There is a significant spill, leak or other release at the facility; or

e. There is an unauthorized discharge from the facility.

2. f. SWPPP modifications shall be made within 30 60 calendar days after the discovery, observation, or event requiring a SWPPP modification. Implementation of new or modified BMPs (distinct from regular preventive maintenance of existing BMPs described in Part II C) control measures shall be initiated before the next storm event if possible, but no later than 60 days after discovery, or as otherwise provided or approved by the director. The amount of time taken to modify a BMP control measure or implement additional BMPs control measures shall be documented in the SWPPP.

3. g. If the SWPPP modification is based on a significant spill, leak, release, or unauthorized discharge, include a description and date of the release incident, the circumstances leading to the release incident, actions taken in response to the release incident, and measures to prevent the recurrence of such releases. Unauthorized releases and discharges are subject to the reporting requirements of Part III G of this permit.

G. Allowable nonstormwater discharges. The following nonstormwater discharges are authorized by this permit:

1. Discharges from fire-fighting activities;

2. Fire hydrant flushings;

3. Potable water including water line flushings;

4. Uncontaminated condensate from air conditioners, coolers, and other compressors and from the outside storage of refrigerated gases or liquids;

5. Irrigation drainage;

6. Landscape watering provided all pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizer have been applied in accordance with the approved labeling;

7. Pavement wash waters where no detergents are used and no spills or leaks of toxic or hazardous materials have occurred, unless all spilled material has been removed;

8. Routine external building wash down that does not use detergents;

9. Uncontaminated groundwater or spring water;

10. Foundation or footing drains where flows are not contaminated with process materials; and

11. Incidental windblown mist from cooling towers that collects on rooftops or adjacent portions of the facility, but not intentional discharges from the cooling tower, for example, "piped" cooling tower blowdown or drains.

Part III
Conditions Applicable to All VPDES Permits

A. Monitoring.

1. Samples and measurements taken as required by this permit shall be representative of the monitored activity.

2. Monitoring shall be conducted according to procedures approved under 40 CFR Part 136 or alternative methods approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, unless other procedures have been specified in this permit.

3. The permittee shall periodically calibrate and perform maintenance procedures on all monitoring and analytical instrumentation at intervals that will ensure accuracy of measurements.

4. Samples taken as required by this permit shall be analyzed in accordance with 1VAC30-45, Certification for Noncommercial Environmental Laboratories, or 1VAC30-46, Accreditation for Commercial Environmental Laboratories.

B. Records.

1. Records of monitoring information shall include:

a. The date, exact place, and time of sampling or measurements;

b. The individual(s) individuals who performed the sampling or measurements;

c. The date(s) and time(s) dates and times analyses were performed;

d. The individual(s) individuals who performed the analyses;

e. The analytical techniques or methods used; and

f. The results of such analyses.

2. The permittee shall retain records of all monitoring information, including all calibration and maintenance records and all original strip chart recordings for continuous monitoring instrumentation, copies of all reports required by this permit, and records of all data used to complete the registration statement for this permit, for a period of at least three years from the date of the sample, measurement, report or request for coverage. This period of retention shall be extended automatically during the course of any unresolved litigation regarding the regulated activity or regarding control standards applicable to the permittee, or as requested by the board.

C. Reporting monitoring results.

1. The permittee shall submit the results of the monitoring required by this permit not later than the 10th day of the month after monitoring takes place, unless another reporting schedule is specified elsewhere in this permit. Monitoring results shall be submitted to the department's regional office.

2. Monitoring results shall be reported on a Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) or on forms provided, approved or specified by the department. Following notification from the department of the start date for the required electronic submission of monitoring reports, as provided for in 9VAC25-31-1020, such forms and reports submitted after that date shall be electronically submitted to the department in compliance with this section and 9VAC25-31-1020. There shall be at least three months' notice provided between the notification from the department and the date after which such forms and reports must be submitted electronically.

3. If the permittee monitors any pollutant specifically addressed by this permit more frequently than required by this permit using test procedures approved under 40 CFR Part 136 or using other test procedures approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or using procedures specified in this permit, the results of this monitoring shall be included in the calculation and reporting of the data submitted in the DMR or reporting form specified by the department.

4. Calculations for all limitations that require averaging of measurements shall utilize an arithmetic mean unless otherwise specified in this permit.

D. Duty to provide information. The permittee shall furnish to the department, within a reasonable time, any information that the board may request to determine whether cause exists for modifying, revoking and reissuing, or terminating coverage under this permit or to determine compliance with this permit. The board may require the permittee to furnish, upon request, such plans, specifications, and other pertinent information as may be necessary to determine the effect of the wastes from his the permittee's discharge on the quality of state waters, or such other information as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of the State Water Control Law. The permittee shall also furnish to the department, upon request, copies of records required to be kept by this permit.

E. Compliance schedule reports. Reports of compliance or noncompliance with, or any progress reports on, interim and final requirements contained in any compliance schedule of this permit shall be submitted no later than 14 days following each schedule date.

F. Unauthorized discharges. Except in compliance with this permit or another permit issued by the board, it shall be unlawful for any person to:

1. Discharge into state waters sewage, industrial wastes, other wastes, or any noxious or deleterious substances; or

2. Otherwise alter the physical, chemical or biological properties of such state waters and make them detrimental to the public health, or to animal or aquatic life, or to the use of such waters for domestic or industrial consumption, or for recreation, or for other uses.

G. Reports of unauthorized discharges. Any permittee who discharges or causes or allows a discharge of sewage, industrial waste, other wastes or any noxious or deleterious substance into or upon state waters in violation of Part III F (Unauthorized discharges); or who discharges or causes or allows a discharge that may reasonably be expected to enter state waters in violation of Part III F, shall notify (see NOTE in Part III I) the department of the discharge immediately upon discovery of the discharge, but in no case later than 24 hours after said discovery. A written report of the unauthorized discharge shall be submitted to the department within five days of discovery of the discharge. The written report shall contain:

1. A description of the nature and location of the discharge;

2. The cause of the discharge;

3. The date on which the discharge occurred;

4. The length of time that the discharge continued;

5. The volume of the discharge;

6. If the discharge is continuing, how long it is expected to continue;

7. If the discharge is continuing, what the expected total volume of the discharge will be; and

8. Any steps planned or taken to reduce, eliminate and prevent a recurrence of the present discharge or any future discharges not authorized by this permit.

Discharges reportable to the department under the immediate reporting requirements of other regulations are exempted from this requirement.

H. Reports of unusual or extraordinary discharges. If any unusual or extraordinary discharge including a bypass or upset, should occur from a treatment works and the discharge enters or could be expected to enter state waters, the permittee shall promptly notify, in no case later than 24 hours, the department by telephone after the discovery of the discharge. This notification shall provide all available details of the incident, including any adverse effects on aquatic life and the known number of fish killed. The permittee shall reduce the report to writing and shall submit it to the department within five days of discovery of the discharge in accordance with Part III I 2. Unusual and extraordinary discharges include but are not limited to any discharge resulting from:

1. Unusual spillage of materials resulting directly or indirectly from processing operations;

2. Breakdown of processing or accessory equipment;

3. Failure or taking out of service some or all of the treatment works; and

4. Flooding or other acts of nature.

I. Reports of noncompliance.

1. The permittee shall report any noncompliance that may adversely affect state waters or may endanger public health.

1. a. An oral report shall be provided within 24 hours from the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances. The following shall be included as information that shall be reported within 24 hours under this subdivision:

a. (1) Any unanticipated bypass; and

b. (2) Any upset that causes a discharge to surface waters.

2. b. A written report shall be submitted within five days and shall contain:

a. (1) A description of the noncompliance and its cause;

b. (2) The period of noncompliance, including exact dates and times, and if the noncompliance has not been corrected, the anticipated time it is expected to continue; and

c. (3) Steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate, and prevent reoccurrence of the noncompliance.

The board may waive the written report on a case-by-case basis for reports of noncompliance under Part III I if the oral report has been received within 24 hours and no adverse impact on state waters has been reported.

3. 2. The permittee shall report all instances of noncompliance not reported under Parts III I 1 or 2, in writing, at the time the next monitoring reports are submitted. The reports shall contain the information listed in Part III I 2.

NOTE: 3. The immediate (within 24 hours) reports required in Part III G, H, and I may be made to the department's regional office. Reports may be made by telephone, FAX, or online at http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/PollutionResponsePreparedness/MakingaReport.aspx.

For reports outside normal working hours, leave a message and this shall fulfill the immediate reporting requirement. For emergencies, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management maintains a 24-hour telephone service at 1-800-468-8892.

4. Where the permittee becomes aware that it failed to submit any relevant facts in a permit registration statement or submitted incorrect information in a permit registration statement or in any report to the department, it shall promptly submit such facts or information.

J. Notice of planned changes.

1. The permittee shall give notice to the department as soon as possible of any planned physical alterations or additions to the permitted facility. Notice is required only when:

a. The permittee plans alteration or addition to 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 federal Clean Water Act that are applicable to such source; or

(2) After proposal of standards of performance in accordance with § 306 of the federal Clean Water Act that are applicable to such source, but only if the standards are promulgated in accordance with § 306 within 120 days of their proposal;

b. The alteration or addition could significantly change the nature or increase the quantity of pollutants discharged. This notification applies to pollutants that are subject neither to effluent limitations nor to notification requirements specified elsewhere in this permit; under Part I B 6; or

c. The alteration or addition results in a significant change in the permittee's sludge use or disposal practices and such alteration, addition, or change may justify the application of permit conditions that are different from or absent in the existing permit, including notification of additional use or disposal sites not reported during the permit application registration process or not reported pursuant to an approved land application plan.

2. The permittee shall give advance notice to the department of any planned changes in the permitted facility or activity that may result in noncompliance with permit requirements.

K. Signatory requirements.

1. Registration statement. All registration statements shall be signed as follows:

a. For a corporation: by a responsible corporate officer. For the purposes of this section, a responsible corporate officer means: (i) a president, secretary, treasurer, or vice-president of the corporation in charge of a principal business function, or any other person who performs similar policy-making or decision-making functions for the corporation, or (ii) the manager of one or more manufacturing, production, or operating facilities provided the manager is authorized to make management decisions that govern the operation of the regulated facility, including having the explicit or implicit duty of making capital investment recommendations, and initiating and directing other comprehensive measures to assure long term environmental compliance with environmental laws and regulations; the manager can ensure that the necessary systems are established or other actions taken to gather complete and accurate information for permit application requirements; and where authority to sign documents has been assigned or delegated to the manager in accordance with corporate procedures;

b. For a partnership or sole proprietorship: by a general partner or the proprietor, respectively; or

c. For a municipality, state, federal, or other public agency: by either a principal executive officer or ranking elected official. For purposes of this section, a principal executive officer of a public agency includes: (i) the chief executive officer of the agency or (ii) a senior executive officer having responsibility for the overall operations of a principal geographic unit of the agency.

2. Reports and other requested information. All reports required by permits, and other information requested by the board, shall be signed by a person described in Part III K 1 or by a duly authorized representative of that person. A person is a duly authorized representative only if:

a. The authorization is made in writing by a person described in Part III K 1;

b. The authorization specifies either an individual or a position having responsibility for the overall operation of the regulated facility or activity such as the position of plant manager, operator of a well or a well field, superintendent, position of equivalent responsibility, or an individual or position having overall responsibility for environmental matters for the company. A duly authorized representative may thus be either a named individual or any individual occupying a named position; and

c. The written authorization is submitted to the department.

3. Changes to authorization. If an authorization under Part III K 2 is no longer accurate because a different individual or position has responsibility for the overall operation of the facility, a new authorization satisfying the requirements of Part III K 2 shall be submitted to the department prior to or together with any reports or information to be signed by an authorized representative.

4. Certification. Any person signing a document under Part III K 1 or 2 shall make the following certification:

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

L. Duty to comply. The permittee shall comply with all conditions of this permit. Any permit noncompliance constitutes a violation of the State Water Control Law and the federal Clean Water Act, except that noncompliance with certain provisions of this permit may constitute a violation of the State Water Control Law but not the federal Clean Water Act. Permit noncompliance is grounds for enforcement action; for permit coverage termination, revocation and reissuance, or modification; or denial of a permit renewal application.

The permittee shall comply with effluent standards or prohibitions established under § 307(a) of the Clean Water Act for toxic pollutants within the time provided in the regulations that establish these standards, even if this permit has not yet been modified to incorporate the requirement.

M. Duty to reapply. If the permittee wishes to continue an activity regulated by this permit after the expiration date of this permit, the permittee shall submit a new registration statement at least 30 60 days before the expiration date of the existing permit, unless permission for a later date has been granted by the board. The board shall not grant permission for registration statements to be submitted later than the expiration date of the existing permit.

N. Effect of a permit. This permit does not convey any property rights in either real or personal property or any exclusive privileges, nor does it authorize any injury to private property or invasion of personal rights or any infringement of federal, state or local laws or regulations.

O. State law. Nothing in this permit shall be construed to preclude the institution of any legal action under, or relieve the permittee from any responsibilities, liabilities, or penalties established pursuant to, any other state law or regulation or under authority preserved by § 510 of the federal Clean Water Act. Except as provided in permit conditions in Part III U (Bypass) and Part III V (Upset) nothing in this permit shall be construed to relieve the permittee from civil and criminal penalties for noncompliance.

P. Oil and hazardous substance liability. Nothing in this permit shall be construed to preclude the institution of any legal action or relieve the permittee from any responsibilities, liabilities, or penalties to which the permittee is or may be subject under §§ 62.1-44.34:14 through 62.1-44.34:23 of the State Water Control Law.

Q. Proper operation and maintenance. The permittee shall at all times properly operate and maintain all facilities and systems of treatment and control (and related appurtenances) that are installed or used by the permittee to achieve compliance with the conditions of this permit. Proper operation and maintenance also includes effective plant performance, adequate funding, adequate staffing, and adequate laboratory and process controls, including appropriate quality assurance procedures. This provision requires the operation of back-up or auxiliary facilities or similar systems that are installed by the permittee only when the operation is necessary to achieve compliance with the conditions of this permit.

R. Disposal of solids or sludges. Solids, sludges, or other pollutants removed in the course of treatment or management of pollutants shall be disposed of in a manner so as to prevent any pollutant from such materials from entering state waters.

S. Duty to mitigate. The permittee shall take all reasonable steps to minimize or prevent any discharge or sludge use or disposal in violation of this permit that has a reasonable likelihood of adversely affecting human health or the environment.

T. Need to halt or reduce activity not a defense. It shall not be a defense for a permittee in an enforcement action that it would have been necessary to halt or reduce the permitted activity in order to maintain compliance with the conditions of this permit.

U. Bypass.

1. "Bypass" means the intentional diversion of waste streams from any portion of a treatment facility. The permittee may allow any bypass to occur that does not cause effluent limitations to be exceeded, but only if it also is for essential maintenance to ensure efficient operation. These bypasses are not subject to the provisions of Part III U 2 and U 3.

2. Notice.

a. Anticipated bypass. If the permittee knows in advance of the need for a bypass, prior notice shall be submitted if possible at least 10 days before the date of the bypass.

b. Unanticipated bypass. The permittee shall submit notice of an unanticipated bypass as required in Part III I (Reports of noncompliance).

3. Prohibition of bypass.

a. Bypass is prohibited, and the board may take enforcement action against a permittee for bypass, unless:

(1) Bypass was unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage;

(2) There were no feasible alternatives to the bypass, such as the use of auxiliary treatment facilities, retention of untreated wastes, or maintenance during normal periods of equipment downtime. This condition is not satisfied if adequate back-up equipment should have been installed in the exercise of reasonable engineering judgment to prevent a bypass that occurred during normal periods of equipment downtime or preventive maintenance; and

(3) The permittee submitted notices as required under Part III U 2.

b. The board may approve an anticipated bypass, after considering its adverse effects, if the board determines that it will meet the three conditions listed in Part III U 3 a.

V. Upset.

1. An upset, defined in 9VAC25-31-10, constitutes an affirmative defense to an action brought for noncompliance with technology-based permit effluent limitations if the requirements of Part III V 2 are met. A determination made during administrative review of claims that noncompliance was caused by upset, and before an action for noncompliance, is not a final administrative action subject to judicial review.

2. A permittee that wishes to establish the affirmative defense of upset shall demonstrate, through properly signed, contemporaneous operating logs or other relevant evidence that:

a. An upset occurred and that the permittee can identify the cause(s) causes of the upset;

b. The permitted facility was at the time being properly operated;

c. The permittee submitted notice of the upset as required in Part III I; and

d. The permittee complied with any remedial measures required under Part III S.

3. In any enforcement proceeding, the permittee seeking to establish the occurrence of an upset has the burden of proof.

W. Inspection and entry. The permittee shall allow the director or an authorized representative, (including an authorized contractor acting as a representative of the administrator), upon presentation of credentials and other documents as may be required by law, to:

1. Enter upon the permittee's premises where a regulated facility or activity is located or conducted or where records must be kept under the conditions of this permit;

2. Have access to and copy, at reasonable times, any records that must be kept under the conditions of this permit;

3. Inspect at reasonable times any facilities, equipment (including monitoring and control equipment), practices, or operations regulated or required under this permit; and

4. Sample or monitor at reasonable times, for the purposes of ensuring permit compliance or as otherwise authorized by the federal Clean Water Act and the State Water Control Law, any substances or parameters at any location.

For purposes of this section, the time for inspection shall be deemed reasonable during regular business hours and or whenever the facility is discharging. Nothing contained herein shall make an inspection unreasonable during an emergency.

X. Permit actions. Permits may be modified, revoked and reissued, or terminated for cause. The filing of a request by the permittee for a permit modification, revocation and reissuance, or termination, or a notification of planned changes or anticipated noncompliance does not stay any permit condition.

Y. Transfer of permits. Permits are permit coverage.

1. Permit coverage is not transferable to any person except after notice to the department.

2. Coverage under this permit may be automatically transferred to a new permittee if:

1. a. The current permittee notifies the department within 30 days of the transfer of the title to the facility or property unless permission for a later date has been granted by the board;

2. b. The notice includes a written agreement between the existing and new permittees containing a specific date for transfer of permit responsibility, coverage, and liability between them; and

3. c. The board does not notify the existing permittee and the proposed new permittee of its intent to deny the permittee coverage under the permit. If this notice is not received, the transfer is effective on the date specified in the agreement mentioned in Part III Y 2.

Z. Severability. The provisions of this permit are severable, and if any provision of this permit or the application of any provision of this permit to any circumstance is held invalid, the application of such provision to other circumstances and the remainder of this permit shall not be affected thereby.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (9VAC25-115)

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 2091, 2092, 5142 or 5046 (Office of Management and Budget (OMB) SIC Manual, 1987). U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) SIC Manual, 1987

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) U.S. Office of Management and Budget, 2017

Title of Regulation: 9VAC25-410. Occoquan Policy (amending 9VAC25-410-10, 9VAC25-410-20).

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

Effective Date: September 2, 2020.

Agency Contact: Melissa Porterfield, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (803) 698-4238, or email melissa.porterfield@deq.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments, which are a result of a periodic review, make technical corrections to update the regulation.

9VAC25-410-10. Introduction.

A. Purpose and authority. To provide a policy that protects the Occoquan watershed from point source pollution. The Occoquan Policy specifically regulates jurisdictional domestic sewage and sets forth requirements for high performance regional treatment plants. The policy was adopted pursuant to authority vested in the State Water Control Board (board) by § 62.1-44.15 of the State Water Control Law.

B. Water quality standard. This "Occoquan Policy" also constitutes special standard "g" in the board's water quality standards for sections 7a, through 7h of the Potomac River Basin's Potomac River Subbasin (9VAC25-260-390), which sections are delineated geographically in the "Basin and Section Description" portion of the water quality standards publication (9VAC25-260-10 et seq.). In addition, the text of this policy is referred to under special standards and requirements (9VAC25-300-10) (9VAC25-260-310), entitled "Occoquan Watershed Policy," of the water quality standards (9VAC25-260-10 et seq.).

C. Background. During the 1960s there was a great deal of concern generated about the large amount of treated sewage effluent being discharged in the Occoquan watershed, since the receiving streams feed the Occoquan reservoir, a drinking water supply for over 600,000 people in Northern Virginia.

In response to this, the board commissioned the firm of Metcalf & Eddy to study the problems of the Occoquan reservoir and to recommend a course of action to preserve the Occoquan as a valuable water resource for future generations.

The results of the Metcalf & Eddy study stated that point source pollution was the primary cause of water quality degradation in the Occoquan watershed and that a high degree of waste treatment would be necessary to prolong the life of the drinking water supply.

In 1971 the board adopted a policy for waste treatment and water quality management in the Occoquan watershed (the Occoquan Policy) which that outlined a course of action to control point source pollution in the watershed.

The Occoquan Policy provided for the construction of regional high-performance treatment facilities in the watershed and a monitoring program to obtain water quality data both before and after construction of any of the high-performance plants.

The Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Program (OWMP or monitoring program) was established in 1972 which gathered an extensive amount of information and found that water quality problems in the Occoquan watershed were related directly to point source pollution and to non-point source pollution.

In 1978, a regional high-performance treatment facility (the Upper Occoquan Sewage Authority-UOSA) Service Authority, UOSA, formerly known as the Upper Occoquan Sewage Authority) was placed in operation. This facility eliminated 11 major point sources of pollution in the watershed.

Shortly after UOSA began operations, costs and charges for sewage treatment in systems tributary to UOSA increased rather sharply. To date a significant part of those high costs have been associated with large amounts of infiltration and inflow being sent by the user jurisdictions to the regional facility for treatment.

In an attempt to control non-point source pollution the Commonwealth of Virginia adopted an erosion and sediment control law in 1973. In accordance with this law, all of the watershed jurisdictions have adopted erosion and sediment control ordinances. In addition, a number of best management practices (BMP) handbooks were written and published in 1979 by the board. In mid-1980 Fairfax County adopted a BMP ordinance.

In 1978, the board contracted the firm of Camp Dresser & McKee (CDM) to reevaluate certain aspects of the Occoquan Policy. Their report was presented to the board and to the local communities in 1980 and recommended that few changes be made to the policy.

As a result of the CDM report, input from the local communities and the board's staff, an updated version of the Occoquan Policy was drafted.

D. References.

1. A Comprehensive Pollution Abatement Program for the Occoquan Watershed, Metcalf & Eddy Engineers, March 18, 1970.

2. Record of public hearing on March 31, 1971, concerning State Water Control Board's Occoquan Policy.

3. Occoquan Policy Reevaluation, Phase III Report, Camp Dresser& McKee, June 1980.

4. Record of public hearing on November 20, 1980, concerning amendments to the Occoquan Policy.

9VAC25-410-20. Long-range policy.

A. Number and general location of regional treatment plants.

1. The number of high-performance regional plants which shall be permitted in this watershed is not more than three, but preferably two, generally located as follows:

a. One plant in the Fauquier County/Warrenton area.

b. One plant in the Manassas area to serve the surrounding area in Prince William, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties.

2. All point source discharges of treated sewage effluent will preferably be located at least 20 stream miles above the Fairfax County Water Authority's raw water intake. In no case shall a plant be located less than 15 miles above the raw water intake.

3. The provisions of 9VAC25-410-20 A 1 and A 2 shall not limit the consideration of land disposal systems for waste treatment in the watershed, provided such systems shall have no point source discharge to state waters and shall have the approval of the State Water Control Board.

B. Regional plant capacity allocations for the Occoquan basin.

1. The initial allotment of plant capacity for the Upper Occoquan Sewage Service Authority treatment facility was approximately 10 MGD, based on all effluent being from high-performance plants meeting the requirements of subsections D, E, and F below of this section and all those treatment facilities belonging to the City of Manassas, the City of Manassas Park, the Greater Manassas Sanitary District, and Sanitary District 12 of Fairfax County being abandoned.

2. Incremental increases in the regional plant capacity may be approved by the board based on the results of a monitoring program which that shows that current and projected discharges from the high-performance plants do not create a water quality or public health problem in the reservoir. The board advises that since severe infiltration/inflow stresses the performance reliability of the regional treatment plants, jurisdictions must pursue I/I correction within their individual systems.

C. Prerequisites for preliminary plant approval. Prerequisites before the board gives approval to preliminary plans for a regional high-performance plant are:

1. A monitoring program for the receiving waters shall be in effect; and

2. The authority who is to operate the proposed plant shall enter into a written and signed agreement with the board that the authority shall meet the administrative requirements of subsection F of this section.

D. Design concept for high-performance plants on the Occoquan.

1. Plant design requirements are:

a. The design of the high-performance sewage treatment plants discharging to the Occoquan Watershed shall meet all the requirements specified here as well as those specified in the most recent edition of the Commonwealth of Virginia Sewerage Sewage Collection and Treatment Regulations (9VAC25-790-10 et seq.); and

b. The basic sewage plant design concept for the regional plants discharging to the Occoquan watershed shall be based on the Upper Occoquan Sewage Service Authority Wastewater Reclamation Facility.

2. Changes in plant design requirements will be made according to these criteria:

a. Changes to the plant design described here shall only be acceptable if the change does all of the following:

(1) Improves or equals the plant performance and final effluent quality;

(2) Increases or equals plant reliability and maintainability; and

(3) Has a demonstrated performance in a plant of at least 5 to 10 MGD size for an operating period of not less than one, but preferably two years.

b. Before such changes are incorporated in the plant, specific written approval shall be obtained from the board; and

c. Changes to the plant design solely to reduce cost and which jeopardize plant performance and reliability will not be approved.

E. Plant performance requirements.

1. The plant performance requirements for high performance plants discharging to the Occoquan watershed are given in Table I.

2. Operation of the nitrogen removal facilities is required when the ambient nitrate concentration (as N) is 5.0 mg/l or higher in the Occoquan reservoir in the vicinity of the Fairfax County Water Authority intake point. The owner of the regional sewage authority is responsible for knowing ambient results of nitrate and when operation of nitrogen removal facilities is necessary.

F. Administrative and technical requirements for the control of the sewer system tributary to a regional, high-performance plant in the Occoquan watershed.

1. The owner to whom the permit is issued for operation of a regional plant shall meet the general and administrative requirements covered below. These requirements shall also be contractually passed on by the owner to any parties or jurisdictions with which the owner may contract for the processing of wastewater.

These requirements are applicable to regional sewage treatment plants.

2. The high-performance regional treatment plant shall be manned by an appropriate number of trained and qualified operating, maintenance and laboratory personnel and manned continuously 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the year.

3. The owner shall include, as part of his preliminary and final plans and specifications submitted to the board for approval, a detailed statement indicating how each of the technical and administrative requirements in this policy has been met. Any proposed deviation from any of these requirements shall be clearly identified and technically justified, and shall require formal board approval. These submittals shall also include:

a. Simplified fluid system diagrams which that clearly identify the following:

(1) The average and peak capacity of each unit;

(2) The number of units of each type needed to handle the normal average flow and the peak of flow; and

(3) The number of spare units and their capacity for both average and peak flow cases shall also be identified.

In addition, a brief narrative summary description shall be submitted to identify what has been done to ensure that each unit and major subsystem can be maintained and expanded without release of effluent that does not meet the minimum standards.

b. A simple one-line power distribution system diagram showing how outside power is brought into the plant and how power is distributed within the plant proper shall be submitted. This diagram shall also show as a minimum:

(1) Ratings and characteristics of electrical components, such as transformers, circuit breakers, and motor controllers, etc., making up the system;

(2) Protective devices such as thermal overloads, under frequency, or under voltage relays;

(3) Voltages supplied by all fuses;

(4) Normal circuit breaker and switch conditions (Notes (notes shall also be provided as required to cover abnormal, casualty, and emergency operating modes); and

(5) How electrical loads are combined into switch gear and load center. (The use of cubicle outlines in phantom or dotted line is suggested.)

4. The final submittal of plans and specifications for the plant to the board shall include a systematic failure mode and effects analysis on the mechanical and electrical portions of the plant so as to demonstrate that a single failure of a mechanical or electrical component will not interrupt the plant operations which are necessary to meet the effluent requirements of Table I of this policy.

5. Pumping stations on the collection systems which that are located in the Occoquan watershed and are tributary to a regional treatment works shall:

a. Have stand-by pumping units;

b. Have at least one "on-site" backup power supply;

c. Have at least one "off-site" power supply;

d. Be designed so that no single failure of a mechanical or electrical component could degrade pumping capability;

e. Have pumps and valves arranged so that these units can be removed and replaced without the by-passing of sewage;

f. Have flow measure devices with provisions for recording flow; and

g. Have retention basins of a minimum one-day capacity.

If these pumping stations are remote and unmanned, an alarm system shall be provided at manned stations to indicate that problems are developing and to direct maintenance assistance to the affected pumping station. The owner of each pumping station shall be required to obtain a State Water Control Board certificate.

A waiver may be sought from requirement g above, particularly in new collection systems exhibiting no I/I problems. However, the jurisdiction requesting such a waiver must submit documentation to the board for review that the sewer system tributary to the pump station meets the criteria established by the most recent edition of the Virginia Sewerage Sewage Collection and Treatment Regulations (9VAC25-790-10 et seq. ) for infiltration/inflow, and any other such information that the board may require.

6. The major junctions in the collection system (e.g., at least at the 1 to 2 MGD collection points) shall have continuous recording flow measuring devices to help in the early identification of problem portions of a collection system in the event of unexplainable high flows (e.g., excessive infiltration). Also, such flow measuring devices and isolation valves shall be provided between jurisdictions as well as any others contracting for the services of the regional plant. The flow measuring devices and isolation valves between jurisdictions shall be under the control and responsibility of the owner to whom a plant certificate is issued.

7. Each sewage treatment plant shall have a pretreatment program approved by the board.

8. Waste being processed in any existing small plants shall have the first priority on treatment capacity and such capacity shall be specifically reserved for them in the new high-performance regional plants. New developments are to have second priority.

9. If any of the various administrative procedures of the owner of the regional treatment plant or of jurisdictions served by the plant prove ineffective under actual operating conditions, the board shall have the right to place new requirements on the owner and jurisdictions and to require any necessary action by these parties to physically correct the damage done to the reservoir due to ineffective implementation of the administrative requirements covered here.

10. The owner's interceptor and collection systems of the jurisdictions in the Occoquan watershed shall be designed, installed, inspected, and tested by the respective owner to limit infiltration to 100 gal/inch-dia/mile/day as a maximum. The test results shall be certified and submitted to the board.

11. Whenever the owner enters into an agreement with a jurisdiction for services of a regional plant, the owner shall be responsible for seeing that such jurisdictions have ordinances and rules to meet all the applicable requirements covered by this policy. These ordinances and rules shall meet the owner's approval and the owner shall monitor and spot-check to see that the jurisdictions are effectively implementing their ordinances and rules to meet the requirements covered here. The board, at its discretion, can request the owner to submit to the board for its approval the ordinances and rules that will be used to meet the board's requirements covered here.

Further, any time a user violates any of the administrative or technical requirements of the contract between the user and the owner which can affect the plant operations, hydraulic loading, or effluent quality or which affect the reservoir's water quality due to urban run-off runoff (e.g., siltation), the owner shall not allow the user to discharge additional wastewater to the owner's plant until the problem has been resolved to the owner's satisfaction.

12. Up-to-date "as-built" drawings and manuals shall be available at least once a year for board inspection and review. These documents shall include as a minimum:

a. Up-to-date as-built electrical and fluid system diagrams;

b. Detailed as-built and installed drawings; and

c. Normal operating and casualty procedures manual. The documents shall be updated at least once a year to reflect all changes and modifications to the plant.

13. The design engineer shall have the responsibility of meeting the proposed effluent quality as shown in Table I. To demonstrate that the plant as designed by the engineer can meet the effluent standards, the plant is to be operated under the supervision of the design engineer for a minimum of one year of continuous operation after the "debugging" period.

G. Other point source discharges.

1. Point sources other than regional plants will be permitted as regulated or required by the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit regulation (9VAC25-30-10 et seq.) (9VAC25-31-10 et seq.).

2. VPDES permits may be issued for single family homes with failing septic tanks, stormwater, pollution remediation projects, and minor industries. The permitting of major discharges (as defined in 40 CFR Part 122) other than regional sewage treatment plants is strictly prohibited with the exception of pollution remediation projects which that are shown to be feasible and no other alternatives are available.

3. No permit as authorized in subdivisions 1 and 2 above of this subsection shall be issued or reissued unless the applicant demonstrates that it is not feasible to connect to a regional plant and that there is not a feasible alternative except to discharge.

Title of Regulation: 9VAC25-630. Virginia Pollution Abatement Regulation and General Permit for Poultry Waste Management (amending 9VAC25-630-10 through 9VAC25-630-80; adding 9VAC25-630-90).

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

Public Hearing Information:

September 14, 2020 - 7 p.m. - GoToWebinar - Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/
1998009848523103248. If a determination is made for an in person option, details will be announced on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) website.

September 16, 2020 - 9 a.m. - GoToWebinar - Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/
673532644146132240. If a determination is made for an in person option, details will be announced on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall and the DEQ website.

Public Comment Deadline: October 2, 2020.

Agency Contact: Betsy Bowles, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4059, FAX (804) 698-4032, or email betsy.bowles@deq.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The proposed amendments update, for the purpose of reissuing, the existing Virginia Pollution Abatement Regulation and General Permit for Poultry Waste Management (9VAC25-630) to continue the general permit coverage of nearly 1,000 confined poultry feeding operations. The Virginia Pollution Abatement (VPA) general permit governs the management of poultry feeding operations that confine 200 or more animal units (20,000 chickens or 11,000 turkeys) and establishes the utilization, storage, tracking, and accounting requirements related to poultry waste. The VPA expires on November 30, 2020.

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 discharge" means a precipitation-related discharge of manure, litter, or process wastewater that has been applied on land areas under the control of an animal feeding operation or under the control of a poultry waste end-user or poultry waste broker 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.

"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.

"Commercial poultry processor" or "processor" means any animal food manufacturer, as defined in § 3.2-5400 of the Code of Virginia, that contracts with poultry growers for the raising of poultry.

"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, 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 the director's designee.

"Fact sheet" means the document prepared by the department that summarizes the requirements set forth in this chapter regarding utilization, storage, and management of poultry waste by poultry waste end-users and poultry waste brokers.

"General permit" means 9VAC25-630-50.

"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; except that for a poultry waste end-user or poultry waste broker who is not subject to the general permit, the requirements of 9VAC25-630-80 constitute the NMP.

"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, 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 who possesses or controls poultry waste that is not generated on an animal feeding operation under his operational control and who transfers 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.

"Seasonal high water table" means that portion of the soil profile where a color change has occurred in the soil as a result of saturated soil conditions or where soil concretions have formed. Typical colors are gray mottlings, solid gray, or black. The depth in the soil at which these conditions first occur is termed the seasonal high water table.

"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 regulation governs the management of poultry waste at confined poultry feeding operations not covered by a Virginia Pollutant 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 the director's 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, 2010 2020. This general permit will expire 10 years from the effective date.

9VAC25-630-25. Duty to comply.

A. Any person who manages or proposes to manage pollutants regulated by 9VAC25-630 shall comply with the applicable requirements of this chapter.

B. In order to manage pollutants from a confined poultry feeding operation, the poultry grower shall be required to obtain coverage under the Virginia Pollution Abatement (VPA) general permit or an individual VPA permit provided that the poultry grower has not been required to obtain a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit. The poultry grower shall comply with the requirements of this chapter and the permit.

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

D. Any poultry waste end-user or poultry waste broker who is required by the board to obtain coverage under the Virginia Pollution Abatement general permit shall obtain coverage and comply with the requirements of this chapter.

E. Any commercial poultry processor shall comply with the requirements outlined in 9VAC25-630-90.

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:

1. The poultry grower has not been required to obtain a Virginia Pollutant 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 (9VAC25-260), as amended and adopted and amended 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;

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 a violation of this permit. This prohibition shall not apply to the emergency disposal of dead poultry done according to regulations adopted pursuant to § 3.2-6002 or Chapter 14 (§ 10.1-1400 et seq.) of Title 10.1 of the Code of Virginia;

4. The poultry grower shall obtain Department of Conservation and Recreation approval of 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 that 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. Prior to filing 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 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 that 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 a training program offered or approved by the department within one year of filing the registration statement for general permit coverage. All permitted 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 shall comply with the requirements outlined in 9VAC25-630-60, 9VAC25-630-70, and 9VAC25-630-80 or the general permit as applicable.

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:

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 (9VAC25-260), as amended and adopted and amended 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 poultry waste end-user or poultry waste broker shall obtain Department of Conservation and Recreation approval of a nutrient management plan for land application sites where poultry waste will be utilized or stored and managed 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 that 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 poultry waste end-users or permitted poultry waste brokers shall complete a training program at least once every five years.

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.

D. Continuation of permit coverage.

1. Any owner that was authorized to manage pollutants under the general permit issued in 2000, and that submits a complete registration statement on or before November 30, 2010 the expiration date, is authorized to continue to manage pollutants under the terms of the 2000 general permit until such time as the board either:

a. Issues coverage to the owner under this general permit; or

b. Notifies the owner that coverage under this permit is denied.

2. When the permittee that was covered under the expiring or expired general permit has violated or is violating the conditions of that permit, the board may choose to do any or all of the following:

a. Initiate enforcement action based upon the existing or expired general permit;

b. Issue a notice of intent to deny coverage under the amended reissued general permit. If the general permit coverage is denied, the owner would then be required to cease the activities authorized by the continued existing or expired general permit or be subject to enforcement action for operating without a permit;

c. Issue an individual permit with appropriate conditions; or

d. Take other actions set forth in the VPA Permit Regulation (9VAC25-32).

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, email address (if available), and telephone number;

2. The farm name (if applicable) and location of the confined poultry feeding operation;

3. The name, email address (if available), 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. Indicate whether the poultry are grown under contract with a commercial poultry processor or poultry integrator and give the name of the processor or integrator (if applicable);

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

8. Identification of the method of dead bird disposal;

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

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

11. 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

12. The following certification: "I certify that for any confined poultry feeding operation that proposes construction of new poultry growing houses, notice of the registration statement 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, email address (if available), 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 and give the name of the processor or integrator (if applicable);

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."

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.

General Permit No. VPG2

Effective Date: December 1, 2010 2020

Expiration Date: November 30, 2020 2030

GENERAL PERMIT FOR POULTRY WASTE MANAGEMENT

AUTHORIZATION TO MANAGE POLLUTANTS UNDER THE VIRGINIA POLLUTION ABATEMENT PROGRAM AND THE VIRGINIA STATE WATER CONTROL LAW

In compliance with the provisions of the State Water Control Law (§ 62.1-44 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) and State Water Control Board regulations adopted pursuant thereto, owners of confined poultry feeding operations having 200 or more animal units, poultry waste end-users, and poultry waste brokers are authorized to manage pollutants within the boundaries of the Commonwealth of Virginia, except where board regulations prohibit such activities.

The authorized pollutant management activities shall be in accordance with the registration statement and supporting documents submitted to the Department of Environmental Quality, this cover page, and Part I—Pollutant Management and Monitoring Requirements for Confined Poultry Feeding Operations and Part II—Conditions Applicable to All VPA Permits and Part III—Pollutant Management and Monitoring Requirements for Poultry Waste End-Users and Poultry Waste Brokers, as set forth herein.

Part I
Pollutant Management and Monitoring Requirements for Confined Poultry Feeding Operations

A. Pollutant management authorization and monitoring requirements.

1. During the period beginning with the permittee's coverage under this general permit and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to manage pollutants at the location or locations identified in the registration statement and the facility's approved nutrient management plan.

2. If poultry waste is land applied, it shall be applied at the rates specified in the facility's approved nutrient management plan.

3. Soil at the land application sites shall be monitored as specified below in the following table. Additional soils monitoring may be required in the facility's approved nutrient management plan.

4. Poultry waste shall be monitored as specified below. Additional waste monitoring may be required in the facility's approved nutrient management plan.

5. Analysis of soil and waste shall be according to methods specified in the facility's approved nutrient management plan.

6. All monitoring data required by Part I A shall be maintained on site in accordance with Part II B. Reporting of results to the department is not required; however, the monitoring results shall be made available to department personnel upon request.

B. Other Site design, storage, and operation requirements or special conditions.

1. The confined poultry feeding operation shall be designed and operated to (i) prevent point source discharges of pollutants to state waters except in the case of a storm event greater than the 25-year, 24-hour storm and (ii) provide adequate waste storage capacity to accommodate periods when the ground is ice covered, snow covered or saturated, periods when land application of nutrients should not occur due to limited or nonexistent crop nutrient uptake, and periods when physical limitations prohibit the land application of waste.

2. Poultry waste shall be stored according to the nutrient management plan and in a manner that prevents contact with surface water and ground water. Poultry waste that is stockpiled outside of the growing house for more than 14 days shall be kept in a facility or at a site that provides adequate storage. Adequate storage shall, at a minimum, include the following: