Section 850. Standards and conditions for granting permits

A. A permit may be granted pursuant to this article if it is shown to the satisfaction of the board that the following standards and conditions will be met:

1. The stationary source or emissions unit shall operate without causing a violation of the applicable provisions of regulations of the board;

2. The stationary source or emissions unit shall be in compliance with all applicable emission standards or meet the provisions of any administrative enforcement mechanism issued pursuant to 9VAC5-170-120; and

3. The stationary source or emissions unit shall operate in conformance with any applicable control strategy, including any emission standards or emission limitations, in the implementation plan in effect at the time that an application is submitted so as not to prevent or interfere with the attainment or maintenance of any applicable ambient air quality standard.

B. Permits may be granted to stationary sources or emissions units located in nonattainment areas provided the requirements of subdivisions A 1 and 2 of this section are met.

C. Permits granted pursuant to this article may contain emission standards as necessary to implement the provisions of this article. The following criteria shall be met in establishing emission standards to the extent necessary to assure that emissions levels are enforceable as a practical matter:

1. Standards shall be based on averaging time periods for the standards as appropriate based on applicable air quality standards, any emission standard applicable to the emissions unit prior to the date the permit is issued, or the operation of the emissions unit, or any combination thereof. The emission standards may include the level, quantity, rate, or concentration or any combination of them for each affected pollutant.

2. In no case shall a standard result in emissions which would exceed the lesser of the following:

a. Allowable emissions for the emissions unit based on emission standards applicable prior to the date the permit is issued; or

b. The emission rate based on the potential to emit of the emissions unit.

3. Emission standards shall only include limitations that are determined by the board to be achievable through application of production processes or available methods, systems, and techniques, including, but not limited to, any of the following: emissions control equipment, fuel cleaning or treatment, fuel combustion techniques, or substitution of less toxic or nontoxic materials.

4. The standard may prescribe, as an alternative to or a supplement to an emission limitation, an equipment, work practice, fuels specification, process materials, maintenance, or operational standard, or any combination of them.

D. In consideration of the factors specified below, the owner may propose and the board may establish an alternative emission standard provided the owner demonstrates to the satisfaction of the board that it meets the standards and conditions in subsection A and subdivision C 2 of this section and is enforceable as a practical matter.

1. The impact upon the ability of the stationary source or emissions unit to operate in a competitive and efficient manner.

2. The previous efforts to reduce actual emissions taken at the owner's initiative.

3. The technological and economic practicality of reducing emissions.

4. The impact upon the availability and cost of fuels and process materials.

E. An emission standard may be changed to allow an increase in emissions level provided the amended standard meets the requirements of subsection A of this section and the increased emissions levels would not make the stationary source or emissions unit subject to the new source review program.

F. Operating permits issued under this article may contain, but not be limited to, any the following elements as necessary to ensure that the permits are enforceable as a practical matter:

1. Emission standards as set out in this section.

2. Conditions necessary to enforce emission standards. Conditions to provide enforceability may include, but not be limited to, the following:

a. Limit on fuel sulfur content;

b. Limit on production rates with time frames as appropriate to support the emission standards in this section;

c. Limit on raw material usage rate; and

d. Limits on the minimum required capture, removal and overall control efficiency for any air pollution control equipment.

3. Specifications for permitted equipment, identified as thoroughly as possible. The identification shall include, but not be limited to, type, rated capacity, and size.

4. Specifications for air pollution control equipment installed or to be installed and the circumstances under which such equipment shall be operated.

5. Specifications for air pollution control equipment operating parameters, where necessary to ensure that the required overall control efficiency is achieved. The operating parameters may include, but not be limited to, the following:

a. Pressure indicators and required pressure drop;

b. Temperature indicators and required temperature;

c. pH indicators and required pH; and

d. Flow indicators and required flow.

6. Requirements for proper operation and maintenance of any pollution control equipment, and appropriate spare parts inventory.

7. Stack test requirements.

8. Reporting or recordkeeping requirements, or both.

9. Continuous emission or air quality monitoring requirements, or both.

10. Compliance schedules.

11. Other requirements as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the applicable state and federal regulations.

G. Permits granted pursuant to this article shall contain terms and conditions to the extent necessary to ensure that:

1. The permit meets the requirements of this article;

2. The permit is enforceable as a practical matter; and

3. The permittee adheres to the terms and conditions of the permit.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 14, Issue 11, eff. April 1, 1998.

Statutory Authority

§§ 10.1-1308 and 10.1-1322 of the Code of Virginia.