Section 50. Authorization to manage pollutants

A. Owner of an animal feeding operation. Any owner governed by this general permit is hereby authorized to manage pollutants at animal feeding operations provided that the owner files the registration statement of 9VAC25-192-60, complies with the requirements of 9VAC25-192-70, and provided that:

1. The owner has not been required to obtain a VPDES permit or an individual VPA permit according to subdivision 2 of 9VAC25-32-260.

2. The operation of the animal feeding operation shall not contravene the Water Quality Standards, as amended and adopted by the board, or any provision of the State Water Control Law. There shall be no point source discharge of wastewater to surface waters of the state except in the case of a storm event greater than the 25-year, 24-hour storm. Agricultural stormwater discharges are permitted. Domestic sewage shall not be managed under this general permit. Industrial waste shall not be managed under this general permit, except for wastes that have been approved by the department and are managed in accordance with 9VAC25-192-70.

3. The owner of any proposed pollutant management activities or those which have not previously been issued a valid Virginia Pollution Abatement (VPA) permit or Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit must attach to the registration statement, the Local Government Ordinance Form (a notification from the governing body of the county, city or town where the operation is located that the operation is consistent with all ordinances adopted pursuant to Chapter 22 (§ 15.2-2200 et seq.) of Title 15.2 of the Code of Virginia).

4. The owner shall obtain Department of Conservation and Recreation approval of a nutrient management plan for the animal feeding operation prior to the submittal of the registration statement. The owner 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 owner shall implement the approved nutrient management plan.

5. a. The owner shall give notice of the registration statement to all owners or residents of property that adjoins the property on which the animal feeding operation will be located. Such notice shall include (i) the types and maximum number of animals which will be maintained at the facility and (ii) the address and phone number of the appropriate department regional office to which comments relevant to the registration statement may be submitted. This notice requirement is waived whenever registration is for the purpose of renewing coverage under the permit and no expansion is proposed and the department has not issued any special or consent order relating to violations under the existing permit.

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 mailed to the owner 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.

6. As required by § 62.1-44.17:1 F of the Code of Virginia, each owner of a facility covered by this general permit shall have completed the training program offered or approved by the department in the two years prior to submitting the registration statement for general permit coverage, or shall complete such training within one year after the registration statement has been submitted for general permit coverage. All permitted owners shall complete the training program at least once every three years.

B. Animal waste end-user. An animal waste end-user shall comply with the requirements outlined in 9VAC25-192-80 and 9VAC25-192-90.

1. When an animal waste end-user does not comply with the requirements of 9VAC25-192-80 and 9VAC25-192-90, the department may choose to do any or all of the following:

a. Initiate enforcement action based upon the violation of the regulation;

b. Require the animal waste end-user to register for coverage under the general permit;

c. Require the animal waste end-user to apply for the VPA individual permit; or

d. Take other actions set forth in the VPA Permit Regulation (9VAC25-32).

2. An animal waste end-user governed by this general permit is hereby authorized to manage pollutants relating to the utilization and storage of animal waste provided that the animal waste end-user files the registration statement of 9VAC25-192-60, complies with the requirements of 9VAC25-192-70, and:

a. The animal waste end-user has not been required to obtain a VPA individual permit according to subdivision 2 of 9VAC25-32-260;

b. The activities of the animal waste end-user shall not contravene the Water Quality Standards, as amended and adopted by the board, or any provision of the State Water Control Law (§ 62.1-44 et seq. of the Code of Virginia). There shall be no point source discharge of wastewater to surface waters of the state except in the case of a storm event greater than the 25-year, 24-hour storm. Agricultural stormwater discharges are permitted. Domestic sewage shall not be managed under this general permit. Industrial waste shall not be managed under this general permit, except for wastes that have been approved by the department and are managed in accordance with 9VAC25-192-70;

c. The animal waste end-user shall obtain Department of Conservation and Recreation approval of a nutrient management plan for land application sites where animal waste will be utilized or stored and managed prior to the submittal of the registration statement. The animal waste end-user 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 animal waste end-user shall implement the approved nutrient management plan; and

d. As required by § 62.1-44.17:1 F of the Code of Virginia, each permitted animal waste end-user 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 animal waste end-users shall complete a training program at least once every three years.

C. Continuation of permit coverage.

1. Any owner that was authorized to manage pollutants under the general permit issued in 2004 and that submits a complete registration statement on or before November 15, 2014, is authorized to continue to manage pollutants under the terms of the 2004 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 expiring or expired general permit;

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 activities authorized by the expiring 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).

D. Receipt of this general permit does not relieve any permittee of the responsibility to comply with any other applicable federal, state or local statute, ordinance, or regulation.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR680-14-22 § 5, eff. November 16, 1994; amended, Volume 15, Issue 03, eff. December 1, 1998; Volume 17, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2001; Volume 21, Issue 02, eff. November 3, 2004; Volume 30, Issue 18, eff. November 16, 2014.

Statutory Authority

§ 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia.