Section 270. Public participation

A. Except for modifications qualifying for minor permit modification procedures and administrative permit amendments, draft permits for initial permit issuance, significant modifications, and renewals shall be subject to a public comment period of at least 30 days. The board shall notify the public using the procedures in subsection B of this section.

B. The board shall notify the public of the draft permit or draft permit modification (i) by advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where the source is located and (ii) through a notice to persons on a permit mailing list who have requested such information of the opportunity for public comment on the information available for public inspection under the provisions of subsection C of this section.

C. Provisions for the content of the public notice and availability of information shall be as follows:

1. The notice shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

a. The source name, address and description of specific location.

b. The name and address of the permittee.

c. The name and address of the regional office processing the permit.

d. The activity or activities for which the permit action is sought.

e. The emissions change that would result from the permit issuance or modification.

f. The name, address, and telephone number of a department contact from whom interested persons may obtain additional information, including copies of the draft permit or draft permit modification, the application, and all relevant supporting materials, including the compliance plan.

g. A brief description of the comment procedures required by this section.

h. A brief description of the procedures to be used to request a hearing or the time and place of the public hearing if the board determines to hold a hearing under subdivision E 3 of this section.

2. Information on the permit application (exclusive of confidential information under 9VAC5-20-150), as well as the draft permit or draft permit modification, shall be available for public inspection during the entire public comment period at the regional office.

D. The board shall provide such notice and opportunity for participation by affected states as is provided for by 9VAC5-80-290.

E. Provisions for public hearing shall be as follows:

1. The board shall provide an opportunity for a public hearing as described in subdivisions 2 through 6 of this subsection.

2. Following the initial publication of the notice required under subsection B of this section, the board will receive written requests for a public hearing to contest the draft permit or draft permit modification pursuant to the requirements of 9VAC5-80-35. In order to be considered, the request shall be submitted no later than the end of the comment period. Request for a public hearing shall contain the following information:

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

b. 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).

c. The reason why a public hearing is requested.

d. 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 draft permit or draft permit modification, including an explanation of how and to what extent such interest would be directly and adversely affected by the issuance, denial, modification, or revocation of the permit in question.

e. 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.

3. The board will review any request made under subdivision 2 of this subsection, and will take final action on the request as provided in 9VAC5-80-150 B.

F. The board shall keep a record of the commenters and a record of the issues raised during the public participation process so that the administrator may fulfill the administrator's obligation under § 505(b)(2) of the federal Clean Air Act to determine whether a citizen petition may be granted. Such records shall be made available to the public upon request.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR120-08-0523, eff. April 1, 1995; amended, Volume 12, Issue 25, eff. October 15, 1996; Volume 14, Issue 02, eff. January 1, 1998; Volume 17, Issue 04, eff. January 1, 2001; 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.