Section 1775. Public participation

A. No later than 30 days after receiving the initial determination notification required under 9VAC5-80-1773 A, the applicant shall notify the public about the proposed source as required in subsection B of this section. The applicant shall also provide an informational briefing about the proposed source for the public as required in subsection C of this section.

B. The public notice required under 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 name, location, and type of the source, and the time and place of the informational briefing.

C. The informational briefing shall be held in the locality where the source is or will be located and at least 30 days, but no later than 60 days, following the day of the publication of the public notice in the newspaper. The applicant shall inform the public about the operation and potential air quality impact of the source and answer any questions concerning air quality about the proposed source from those in attendance at the briefing. At a minimum, the applicant shall provide information on and answer questions about (i) specific pollutants and the total quantity of each which the applicant estimates will be emitted and (ii) the control technology proposed to be used at the time of the informational briefing. Representatives from the board will attend and provide information and answer questions on the permit application review process.

D. Upon a determination by the board that it will achieve the desired results in an equally effective manner, an applicant for a permit may implement an alternative plan for notifying the public as required in subsection B of this section and for providing the informational briefing as required in subsection C of this section.

E. The board will provide opportunity for a public hearing for interested persons to appear and submit written or oral comments on the air quality impact of the source or modification, alternatives to the source or modification, the control technology required, and other appropriate considerations.

F. The board will notify the public, by advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in each region in which the proposed source or modification would be constructed, of the application, the preliminary determination, the degree of increment consumption that is expected from the source or modification, and the opportunity for comment at a public hearing as well as written public comment. The notification will contain a statement of the estimated local impact of the proposed source or modification, which at a minimum will provide information regarding specific pollutants and the total quantity of each that may be emitted, and will list the type and quantity of any fuels to be used. The notification will be published at least 30 days prior to the day of the public hearing. 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. All materials the applicant submitted (exclusive of confidential information under 9VAC5-170-60), a copy of the preliminary determination and a copy or summary of other materials, if any, considered in making the preliminary determination will be available for public inspection during the entire public comment period in at least one location in the affected air quality control region.

2. A copy of the notice will be sent to the applicant, the administrator and to officials and agencies having cognizance over the location where the proposed construction would occur as follows: local air pollution control agencies, the chief elected official and chief administrative officer of the city and county where the source or modification would be located and any other locality particularly affected, the planning district commission, and any state, federal land manager, or Indian governing body whose lands may be affected by emissions from the source or modification.

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.

G. Following the initial publication of the notice required under subsection F of this section, the board will receive written requests for direct consideration of the 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.

H. The board will review any request made under subsection G of this section, and will take final action on the request as provided in 9VAC5-80-1773 D.

I. 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 will process the permit application under this article using public participation procedures meeting the requirements of this section and 9VAC5-80-270 or 9VAC5-80-670, as applicable.

J. If appropriate, the board may hold a public briefing on the preliminary determination prior to the public comment period but no later than the day before the beginning of the public comment period. The board will notify the public of the time and place of the briefing by advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the air quality control region in which the proposed source or modification would be constructed. The notification will be published at least 30 days prior to the day of the briefing.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 22, Issue 23, eff. September 1, 2006; amended, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 06, eff. December 31, 2008.

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.