Section 530. Public notice of draft state permit actions and public comment period

A. Scope.

1. The board shall give public notice that the following actions have occurred:

a. A draft state permit has been prepared under 9VAC25-870-500 D;

b. A public hearing has been scheduled under 9VAC25-870-550; or

c. A new source determination has been made under 9VAC25-870-420.

2. No public notice is required when a request for an individual state permit modification, revocation and reissuance, or termination is denied under 9VAC25-870-610 B. Written notice of that denial shall be given to the requester and to the state permittee. Public notice shall not be required for submission or approval of plans and specifications or conceptual engineering reports not required to be submitted as part of the application.

3. Public notices may describe more than one draft state permit or draft state permit actions.

B. Timing.

1. Public notice of the preparation of a draft state permit required under subsection A of this section shall allow at least 30 days for public comment.

2. Public notice of a public hearing shall be given at least 30 days before the hearing. (Public notice of the hearing may be given at the same time as public notice of the draft state permit and the two notices may be combined.)

C. Methods. Public notice of activities described in subdivision A 1 of this section shall be given by the following methods:

1. By mailing, either by electronic or postal delivery, a copy of a notice to the following persons (any person otherwise entitled to receive notice under this subdivision may waive his rights to receive notice for any classes and categories of permits):

a. The state permit applicant (except for general permits when there is no state permit applicant);

b. Any other agency that the board knows has issued or is required to issue a VPDES permit;

c. Federal and state agencies with jurisdiction over fish, shellfish, and wildlife resources and over coastal zone management plans, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, State Historic Preservation Officers, including any affected states (Indian Tribes);

d. Any state agency responsible for plan development under § 208(b)(2), 208(b)(4) or § 303(e) of the CWA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service;

e. Persons on a mailing list developed by:

(1) Including those who request in writing to be on the list;

(2) Soliciting persons for area lists from participants in past state permit proceedings in that area; and

(3) Notifying the public of the opportunity to be put on the mailing list through periodic publication in the public press, and in such publications as EPA regional and state funded newsletters, environmental bulletins, or state law journals. (The board may update the mailing list from time to time by requesting written indication of continued interest from those listed. The board may delete from the list the name of any person who fails to respond to such a request.);

f. (1) Any unit of local government having jurisdiction over the area where the facility is proposed to be located; and

(2) Each state agency having any authority under state law with respect to the construction or operation of such facility;

2. By publication once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected by the discharge. The cost of public notice shall be paid by the owner; and

3. Any other method reasonably calculated to give actual notice of the action in question to the persons potentially affected by it, including press releases or any other forum or medium to elicit public participation.

D. Contents.

1. All public notices issued under this part shall contain the following minimum information:

a. Name and address of the office processing the state permit action for which notice is being given;

b. Name and address of the state permittee or state permit applicant and, if different, of the facility or activity regulated by the state permit, except in the case of draft general permits;

c. A brief description of the business conducted at the facility or activity described in the individual state permit application or the draft state permit, for general permits when there is no application;

d. Name, address, telephone number, and email address of a person from whom interested persons may obtain further information, including copies of the draft state permit, statement of basis or fact sheet, and the application;

e. A brief description of the procedures for submitting comments and the time and place of any public hearing that will be held, including a statement of procedures to request a public hearing (unless a hearing has already been scheduled) and other procedures by which the public may participate in the final individual or general state permit decision;

f. For an individual state permit, a general description of the location of each existing or proposed discharge point and the name of the receiving water; and

g. Any additional information considered necessary or proper.

2. In addition to the general public notice described in subdivision 1 of this subsection, the public notice of a public hearing under 9VAC25-870-550 shall contain the following information:

a. Reference to the date of previous public notices relating to the draft state permit;

b. Date, time, and place of the public hearing;

c. A brief description of the nature and purpose of the public hearing, including the applicable rules and procedures; and

d. A concise statement of the issues raised by the persons requesting the public hearing.

E. In addition to the general public notice described in subdivision D 1 of this section, all persons identified in subdivisions C 1 a through 1 d of this section shall be mailed, either by electronic or postal delivery, a copy of the fact sheet or statement of basis, the individual state permit application (if any) and the draft state permit (if any).

Historical Notes

Former 4VAC50-60-530 derived from Volume 21, Issue 03, eff. January 29, 2005; amended, Volume 29, Issue 04, eff. November 21, 2012; amended and renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 02, eff. October 23, 2013.

Statutory Authority

§§ 62.1-44.15:25 and 62.1-44.15:28 of the Code of Virginia.