Section 280. Operational flexibility

A. The board shall allow, under conditions specified in this section, operational flexibility changes at a source that do not require a revision to be made to the permit in order for the changes to occur. Such changes shall be classified as follows: (i) those that contravene an express permit term or (ii) those that are not addressed or prohibited by the permit. The conditions under which the board shall allow these changes to be made are specified in subsections B and C of this section, respectively.

B. The following requirements apply with respect to changes that contravene an express permit term:

1. The following general requirements apply:

a. The board shall allow a change at a stationary source that changes a permit condition with the exception of the following:

(1) A Title I modification.

(2) A change that would exceed the emissions allowable under the permit.

(3) A change that would violate applicable requirements.

(4) A change that would contravene federally or state enforceable permit terms or conditions or both that are monitoring (including test methods), record keeping, reporting, compliance schedule dates, or compliance certification requirements.

b. The owner shall provide written notification to the administrator and the board at least seven days in advance of the proposed change. The written notification shall include a brief description of the change within the permitted facility, the date on which the change will occur, any change in emissions, and any permit term or condition that is no longer applicable as a result of the change.

c. The owner, board and the administrator shall attach the notice described in subdivision 1 b of this subsection to their copy of the relevant permit.

d. The permit shield under 9VAC5-80-140 shall not extend to any change made pursuant to subdivision 1 of this subsection.

2. The following requirements apply with respect to emission trades within permitted facilities provided for in the Regulations for the Control and Abatement of Air Pollution:

a. With the exception of the changes listed in subdivision 1 a of this subsection, the board shall allow permitted sources to trade increases and decreases in emissions within the permitted facility (i) where the Regulations for the Control and Abatement of Air Pollution provide for such emissions trades without requiring a permit revision and (ii) where the permit does not already provide for such emissions trading.

b. The owner shall provide written notification to the administrator and the board at least seven days in advance of the proposed change. The written notification shall include such information as may be required by the provision in the Regulations for the Control and Abatement of Air Pollution authorizing the emissions trade, including at a minimum the name and location of the facility, when the proposed change will occur, a description of the proposed change, any change in emissions, the permit requirements with which the source will comply using the emissions trading provisions of the Regulations for the Control and Abatement of Air Pollution and the pollutants emitted subject to the emissions trade. The notice shall also refer to the provisions with which the source will comply in the Regulations for the Control and Abatement of Air Pollution and which provide for the emissions trade.

c. The permit shield described in 9VAC5-80-140 shall not extend to any change made under subdivision 2 of this subsection. Compliance with the permit requirements that the source will meet using the emissions trade shall be determined according to requirements of the Regulations for the Control and Abatement of Air Pollution.

3. Emission trades within stationary sources to comply with an emissions cap in the permit.

a. If a permit applicant requests it, the board shall issue permits that contain terms and conditions, including all terms required under 9VAC5-80-110 to determine compliance, allowing for the trading of emissions increases and decreases within the permitted facility solely for the purpose of complying with a federally enforceable emissions cap that is established in the permit independent of otherwise applicable federal requirements. The permit applicant shall include in the application proposed replicable procedures and permit terms that ensure that the emissions trades are quantifiable and enforceable. The board shall not include in the emissions trading provisions any emissions units for which emissions are not quantifiable or for which there are no replicable procedures to enforce the emissions trades. The permit shall also require compliance with all applicable requirements.

b. The board shall not allow a change to be made under subdivision 3 of this subsection if it is a change listed in subdivision 1 of this subsection.

c. The owner shall provide written notification to the administrator and the board at least seven days in advance of the proposed change. The written notification shall state when the change will occur and shall describe the changes in emissions that will result and how these increases and decreases in emissions will comply with the terms and conditions of the permit.

d. The permit shield under 9VAC5-80-140 shall extend to terms and conditions that allow such increases and decreases in emissions.

C. The following requirements apply with respect to changes that are not addressed or prohibited by the permit:

1. The board shall allow the owner to make changes that are not addressed or prohibited by the permit unless the changes are Title I modifications or are subject to requirements under Title IV.

2. Each change shall meet all applicable requirements and shall not violate any existing permit term or condition which is based on applicable federal requirements.

3. Sources shall provide contemporaneous written notice to the board and the administrator of each change, except for changes to emissions units deemed insignificant and listed in 9VAC5-80-720 A. Such written notice shall describe each change, including the date, any change in emissions, pollutants emitted, and any applicable federal requirement that would apply as a result of the change.

4. The change shall not qualify for the permit shield under 9VAC5-80-140.

5. The permittee shall keep a record describing changes made at the source that result in emissions of a regulated air pollutant subject to an applicable federal requirement but not otherwise regulated under the permit, and the emissions resulting from those changes.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR120-08-0524, eff. April 1, 1995; amended, Volume 12, Issue 25, eff. October 15, 1996; Volume 17, Issue 04, eff. January 1, 2001.

Statutory Authority

§ 10.1-1308 of the Code of Virginia.