Section 1170. Public participation

A. No later than 15 days after receiving the initial determination notification required under 9VAC5-80-1160 B, the applicant for a minor NSR permit for a new major stationary source shall notify the public of the proposed major stationary source in accordance with subsection B of this section.

B. The public notice required by subsection A of this section shall be placed by the applicant in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the affected air quality control region. The notice shall be approved by the board and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. The source name, location, and type;

2. The pollutants and the total quantity of each which the applicant estimates will be emitted, and a brief statement of the air quality impact of such pollutants;

3. The control technology proposed to be used at the time of the publication of the notice; and

4. The name and telephone number of a contact person, employed by the applicant, who can answer questions about the proposed source.

C. Upon a determination by the board that it will achieve the desired results in an equally effective manner, an applicant for a minor NSR permit may implement an alternative plan for notifying the public to that required in subsections A and B of this section.

D. Prior to the decision of the board, minor NSR permit applications as specified below shall be subject to a public comment period of at least 30 days. At the end of the public comment period, a public hearing shall be held in accordance with subsection E of this section.

1. Applications for stationary sources of hazardous air pollutants requiring a case-by-case maximum achievable control technology determination under Article 3 (9VAC5-60-120 et seq.) of Part II of 9VAC5-60 (Hazardous Air Pollutant Sources).

2. Applications for new major stationary sources and major modifications.

3. Applications for projects that would result in an increase in the potential to emit of any regulated air pollutant that would equal or exceed 100 tons per year, considering any state and federally enforceable permit conditions that will be placed on the source by a minor NSR permit.

4. Applications for new stationary sources or projects that have the potential for public interest concerning air quality issues, as determined by the board. The identification of such sources shall be made using the following nonexclusive criteria:

a. Whether the new stationary source or project is opposed by any person;

b. Whether the new stationary source or project has resulted in adverse media;

c. Whether the new stationary source or project has generated adverse comment through any public participation or governmental review process initiated by any other governmental agency; and

d. Whether the new stationary source or project has generated adverse comment by a local official, governing body or advisory board.

5. Applications for stationary sources for which any provision of the minor NSR permit is to be based upon a good engineering practice (GEP) stack height that exceeds the height allowed by subdivisions 1 and 2 of the GEP definition. The demonstration specified in subdivision 3 of the GEP definition and required by 9VAC5-50-20 H 3 shall be included in the application.

E. When a public comment period and public hearing are required, the board shall notify the public, by advertisement in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the affected air quality control region, of the opportunity for the public comment and the public hearing on the information available for public inspection under the provisions of subdivision 1 of this subsection. The notification shall be published at least 30 days prior to the day of the public hearing. For permits subject to § 10.1-1307.01 of the Code of Virginia, written comments will be accepted by the board for at least 15 days after any hearing, unless the board votes to shorten the period.

1. Information on the minor NSR permit application (exclusive of confidential information under 9VAC5-170-60), as well as the preliminary review and analysis and preliminary determination of the board, shall be available for public inspection during the entire public comment period in at least one location in the affected air quality control region. Any demonstration included in an application specified in subdivision D 5 of this section shall be available for public inspection during the public comment period.

2. A copy of the notice shall be sent to all local air pollution control agencies having jurisdiction in the affected air quality control region, all states sharing the affected air quality control region, and to the regional administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

3. Notices of public comment periods and public hearings for major stationary sources and major modifications published under this section shall meet the requirements of § 10.1-1307.01 of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law.

F. Following the initial publication of the notice required under subsection E of this section, the board will receive written requests for direct consideration of the minor NSR permit application by the board pursuant to the requirements of 9VAC5-80-25. In order to be considered, the request must be submitted no later than the end of the public comment period. A request for direct consideration of an application by the board shall contain the following information:

1. The name, mailing address, and telephone number of the requester.

2. The names and addresses of all persons for whom the requester is acting as a representative (for the purposes of this requirement, an unincorporated association is a person).

3. The reason why direct consideration by the board is requested.

4. A brief, informal statement setting forth the factual nature and the extent of the interest of the requester or of the persons for whom the requester is acting as representative in the application or preliminary determination, including an explanation of how and to what extent such interest would be directly and adversely affected by the issuance, denial or revision of the permit in question.

5. Where possible, specific references to the terms and conditions of the permit in question, together with suggested revisions and alterations of those terms and conditions that the requester considers are needed to conform the permit to the intent and provisions of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law.

G. The board will review any request made under subsection F of this section, and will take final action on the request as provided in 9VAC5-80-1160 D.

H. In order to facilitate the efficient issuance of permits under Articles 1 (9VAC5-80-50 et seq.) and 3 (9VAC5-80-360 et seq.) of this part, upon request of the applicant the board shall process the minor NSR permit application using public participation procedures meeting the requirements of this section and 9VAC5-80-270 or 9VAC5-80-670, as applicable.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 18, Issue 20, eff. September 1, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 06, eff. December 31, 2008; Volume 29, Issue 03, eff. November 7, 2012.

Statutory Authority

§ 10.1-1308 of the Code of Virginia; Clean Air Act (§§ 110, 112, 165, 173, 182 and Title V); 40 CFR Parts 51, 61, 63, 70 and 72.