Source: http://register.dls.virginia.gov/details.aspx?id=4029
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 00:39:17+00:00

Document:
REGISTRAR'S NOTICE: The State Water Control Board is claiming an exemption from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act in accordance with § 2.2-4006 A 8 of the Code of Virginia, which exempts general permits issued by the State Water Control Board pursuant to the State Water Control Law (§ 62.1-44.2 et seq.), Chapter 24 (§ 62.1-242 et seq.) of Title 62.1, and Chapter 25 (§ 62.1-254 et seq.) of Title 62.1 of the Code of Virginia if the board (i) provides a Notice of Intended Regulatory Action in conformance with the provisions of § 2.2-4007.01; (ii) following the passage of 30 days from the publication of the Notice of Intended Regulatory Action forms a technical advisory committee composed of relevant stakeholders, including potentially affected citizens groups, to assist in the development of the general permit; (iii) provides notice and receives oral and written comment as provided in § 2.2-4007.03; and (iv) conducts at least one public hearing on the proposed general permit.
Title of Regulation: 9VAC25-192. Virginia Pollution Abatement (VPA) General Permit Regulation for Animal Feeding Operations (amending 9VAC25-192-10, 9VAC25-192-20, 9VAC25-192-50, 9VAC25-192-60, 9VAC25-192-70; adding 9VAC25-192-25, 9VAC25-192-80, 9VAC25-192-90).
Statutory Authority: § 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia.
Agency Contact: Betsy Bowles, Department of Environmental Quality, 629 East Main Street, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4059, FAX (804) 698-4116, or email betsy.bowles@deq.virginia.gov.
The State Water Control Board is reissuing the general permit regulation for animal feeding operations with a 10-year permit term that expires on November 15, 2024. The regulation governs the pollutant management activities of animal wastes at animal feeding operations not covered by a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit and having 300 or more animal units utilizing a liquid manure collection and storage system. These animal feeding operations may operate and maintain treatment works for waste storage, treatment, or recycling and may perform land application of manure, wastewater, compost, or sludges.
The proposed amendments include options to (i) transfer animal waste off the farm as long as specific requirements are followed by the permittee and the end-users of the animal waste and (ii) manage imported waste materials as long as specific requirements are followed by the permittee.
"Agricultural storm water discharge" means storm water that is not the sole result of land application of manure, litter or process wastewater. Where manure, litter or process wastewater has been applied a precipitation-related discharge of manure, litter, or process wastewater that has been applied on land areas under the control of an animal feeding operation or under the control of an animal waste end-user in accordance with a nutrient management plan approved by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and in accordance with site specific nutrient management practices that ensure appropriate agricultural utilization of the nutrients in the manure, litter or process wastewater, a precipitation-related discharge of manure, litter, or process wastewater from land areas under the control of an animal feeding operation is an agricultural storm water discharge.
2. Crops, vegetation, forage growth or post-harvest residues are not sustained in the normal growing season over any portion of the operation of the lot or facility.
Two or more animal feeding operations under common ownership are a single animal feeding operation for the purposes of determining the number of animals at an operation, if they adjoin each other, or if they use a common area or system for the disposal of wastes.
"Animal waste" means liquid, semi-solid, and solid animal manure, poultry waste and process wastewater, compost, or sludges associated with livestock and poultry animal feeding operations including the final treated wastes generated by a digester or other manure treatment technologies.
"Animal waste end-user" or "end-user" means any recipient of transferred animal waste who stores or who utilizes the waste as fertilizer, fuel, feedstock, livestock feed, or other beneficial use for an operation under his control.
"Animal waste fact sheet" means the document that details the requirements regarding utilization, storage, and management of animal waste by end-users. The fact sheet is approved by the department.
"Confined animal feeding operation," for the purposes of this regulation, has the same meaning as an "animal feeding operation."
"Director" means the Director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality or his designee.
"Nutrient management plan" or "NMP" means a plan developed or approved by the Department of Conservation and Recreation that requires proper storage, treatment, and management of animal waste and limits accumulation of excess nutrients in soils and leaching or discharge of nutrients into state waters; except that for an animal waste end-user who is not covered under the general permit, the requirements of 9VAC25-192-90 constitute the NMP.
"Operator" means any person who owns or operates an animal feeding operation.
"Permittee" means the owner whose animal feeding operation is covered under this general permit.
"Organic source" means any nutrient source including, but not limited to, manures, biosolids, compost, and waste or sludges from animals, humans, or industrial processes, but for the purposes of this regulation it excludes waste from wildlife.
"Waste nutrient analysis rate" means a land application rate for animal waste approved by the board as specified in this regulation.
"Waste storage facility" means a waste holding pond or tank used to store manure prior to land application, or a lagoon or treatment facility used to digest or reduce the solids or nutrients.
g. 30,000 laying hens or broilers.
A. This general permit regulation governs the pollutant management activities of animal wastes at animal feeding operations having 300 or more animal units utilizing a liquid manure collection and storage system not covered by a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit, and having 300 or more animal units utilizing a liquid manure collection and storage system and animal waste utilized or stored by animal waste end-users. These animal feeding operations may operate and maintain treatment works for waste storage, treatment, or recycle recycling and may perform land application of manure, wastewater, compost, or sludges.
C. This general permit will become effective on November 16, 2004 2014. This general permit will expire 10 years from the effective date.
A. Any person who manages or proposes to manage pollutants regulated by 9VAC25-192 shall comply with the applicable requirements of this chapter.
B. In order to manage pollutants from an animal feeding operation, the owner shall be required to obtain coverage under the Virginia Pollution Abatement (VPA) general permit or an individual VPA permit provided that the owner has not been required to obtain a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit. The owner shall comply with the requirements of this chapter and the permit.
C. An animal waste end-user shall comply with the technical requirements outlined in 9VAC25-192-80 and 9VAC25-192-90.
4. The owner shall obtain Department of Conservation and Recreation must approve approval of a nutrient management plan for the animal feeding operation prior to the submittal of the registration statement. The operator owner shall attach to the registration statement a copy of the approved Nutrient Management Plan nutrient management plan and a copy of the letter from the Department of Conservation and Recreation certifying approval of the Nutrient Management Plan, and if the plan was written after December 31, 2005, nutrient management plan that the plan was developed by a certified nutrient management planner in accordance with § 10.1-104.2 of the Code of Virginia. The operator owner shall implement the approved nutrient management plan.
5. a. The operator 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 permit 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 received by 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. Each operator 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 of Conservation and Recreation 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 operators permitted owners shall complete the training program at least once every three years.
B. D. Receipt of this general permit does not relieve any operator permittee of the responsibility to comply with any other applicable federal, state or local statute, ordinance, or regulation.
9. 10. The following certification: "I certify that notice of the registration statement has been given to all owners or residents of property that adjoins the property on which the animal feeding operation will be located. This notice included the types and numbers of animals which will be maintained at the facility and the address and phone number of the appropriate Department of Environmental Quality regional office to which comments relevant to the permit may be submitted. (The preceding certification is waived if the registration is for renewing coverage under the general permit and no expansion of the operation is proposed and the department has not issued any special or consent order relating to violations under the existing permit.) I certify under penalty of law that all the requirements of the board for the general permit are being met and that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is to the best of my knowledge and belief true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations."
8. The following certification: "I certify under penalty of law that all the requirements of the board for the general permit are being met and that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is to the best of my knowledge and belief true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations."
B. C. The registration statement shall be signed in accordance with 9VAC25-32-50 Part II F of 9VAC25-32-70.
9VAC25-192-70. Contents of the general permit.
Any operator owner or animal waste end-user whose registration statement is accepted by the board will receive the following general permit and shall comply with the requirements therein and be subject to the VPA permit regulation, 9VAC25-32.
In compliance with the provisions of the State Water Control Law and State Water Control Board regulations adopted pursuant thereto, owners of animal feeding operations having 300 or more animal units utilizing a liquid manure collection and storage system, and animal waste end-users are authorized to manage pollutants within the boundaries of the Commonwealth of Virginia, except where board regulations or policies prohibit such activities.
The authorized pollutant management activities shall be in accordance with the registration statement, supporting documents submitted to the Department of Environmental Quality, this cover page, Part I-Pollutant Management and Monitoring Requirements for Animal Feeding Operations, Part II-Conditions Applicable to all VPA Permits, and Part III-Pollutant Management and Monitoring Requirements for Animal Waste End-Users, as set forth herein.
A. Pollutant management and monitoring requirements.
1. During the period beginning with the permit's effective date and lasting until the permit's expiration date, the permittee is authorized to manage pollutants at the location or locations identified in the registration statement and the facility's approved nutrient management plan.
2. At earthen liquid waste storage facilities constructed after December 1, 1998, to an elevation below the seasonal high water table or within one foot thereof, ground water groundwater monitoring wells shall be installed. A minimum of one up gradient and one down gradient well shall be installed at each earthen waste storage facility that requires ground water groundwater monitoring. Existing wells may be utilized to meet this requirement if properly located and constructed.
3. All facilities previously covered under a VPA permit that required groundwater monitoring shall continue monitoring consistent with the requirements listed below regardless of where they are located relative to the seasonal high water table.
a. One data set shall be collected from each well prior to any waste being placed in the storage facility.
b. The static water level shall be measured prior to bailing well water for sampling.
c. At least three well volumes of ground water groundwater shall be withdrawn immediately prior to sampling each monitoring well.
5. In accordance with subdivisions 2 and 3 of this subsection, the ground water groundwater shall be monitored by the permittee at the monitoring wells as specified below. Additional groundwater monitoring may be required in the facility's approved nutrient management plan.
NL = No limit, this is a monitoring requirement only.
6. Soil at the land application sites shall be monitored as specified below. Additional soils monitoring may be required in the facility's approved nutrient management plan.
7. Soil monitoring shall be conducted at a depth of between 0-6 inches, unless otherwise specified in the facility's approved nutrient management plan.
8. Waste shall be monitored as specified below. Additional waste monitoring may be required in the facility's approved nutrient management plan.
*Parameters for waste may be reported as a percent, as lbs/ton or lbs/1000 gallons, or as ppm where appropriate.
9. Analysis of soil and waste shall be according to methods specified in the facility's approved nutrient management plan.
10. All monitoring data collected as required by this section and any additional monitoring shall be maintained on site for a period of five years and shall be made available to department personnel upon request.
B. Other requirements or special conditions.
1. Any liquid manure collection and storage facility shall be designed and operated to (i) prevent point source discharges of pollutants to state waters except in the case of a storm event greater than the 25-year, 24-hour storm and (ii) provide adequate waste storage capacity to accommodate periods when the ground is frozen or saturated, periods when land application of nutrients should not occur due to limited or nonexistent crop nutrient uptake, and periods when physical limitations prohibit the land application of waste.
2. Waste storage facilities constructed after December 1, 1998, shall not be located on a 100-year floodplain.
3. Earthen waste storage facilities constructed after December 1, 1998, shall include a properly designed and installed liner. Such liner shall be either a synthetic liner of at least 20 mils thickness or a compacted soil liner of at least one foot thickness with a maximum permeability rating of 0.0014 inches per hour. A Virginia licensed professional engineer, an employee of the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture with appropriate engineering approval authority, or an employee of a soil and water conservation district with appropriate engineering approval authority shall certify that the siting, design and construction of the waste storage facility comply with the requirements of this permit. This certification shall be maintained on site.
4. At earthen waste storage facilities constructed below the seasonal high water table, the top surface of the waste must be maintained at a level of at least two feet above the water table.
5. All liquid waste storage or treatment facilities shall maintain at least one foot of freeboard at all times, except in the case of a storm event greater than a up to and including 25-year, 24-hour storm.
6. For new waste storage or treatment facilities constructed after November 16, 2014, the facilities shall be constructed, operated, and maintained in accordance with the applicable practice standard adopted by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and approved by the department. A Virginia licensed professional engineer, an employee of the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture with appropriate engineering approval authority or an employee of a soil and water conservation district with appropriate engineering approval authority shall certify that the siting, design, and construction of the waste storage facility comply with the requirements of this permit. This certification shall be maintained on site.
7. The permittee shall notify the department's regional office at least 14 days prior to (i) animals being initially placed in the confined facility or (ii) utilization of any new waste storage or treatment facilities.
8. For waste that is not stored under roof, the storage site must be at least 100 feet from any surface water, intermittent drainage, wells, sinkholes, rock outcrops, and springs.
9. All equipment needed for the proper operation of the permitted facilities shall be maintained in good working order. The manufacturer's operating and maintenance manuals shall be retained for references to allow for timely maintenance and prompt repair of equipment when appropriate. The operator permittee shall periodically inspect for leaks on equipment used for land application of waste.
a. All treated wastes generated by a digester or other manure treatment technologies must be managed through an approved nutrient management plan or transferred to another entity in accordance with animal waste transfer requirements in Part 1 B 15 and 16.
b. When a facility covered under this permit generates a treated waste from animal waste and other feedstock, the permittee shall maintain records related to the production of the treated waste.
(b) From whom and where the waste originated.
(c) The final use of the treated waste.
(3) Permittees shall maintain the records required by Part I B 10 b (1) and (2) on site for a period of three years. All records shall be made available to department personnel upon request.
11. Animal waste generated by this facility shall not be applied to fields owned by or under the operational control of either the permittee or a legal entity in which the permittee has an ownership interest unless the fields are included in the facility's approved nutrient management plan.
f. Waste application schedules; and.
g. A plan for waste utilization in the event the operation is discontinued.
f. Waste shall not be applied in such a matter that it would discharge to sinkholes that may exist in the area.
d. What crops have been planted.
These records shall be maintained on site for a period of five years after recorded the date the application is made and shall be made available to department personnel upon request.
10. The permittee shall notify the department's regional office at least 14 days prior to: (i) animals being initially placed in the confined facility or (ii) utilization of any new waste storage facilities.
(2) The sites where the animal waste will be utilized are included in another permitted facility's approved nutrient management plan.
(2) When the permittee transfers to another person more than 10 tons of solid or semi-solid animal waste (solid or semi-solid animal waste contains less than 85% moisture) or more than 6,000 gallons of liquid animal waste (liquid animal waste contains 85% or more moisture) in any 365-day period, the permittee shall maintain records in accordance with Part I B 16.
(3) An animal waste fact sheet.
(c) An animal waste fact sheet.
c. Permittees shall maintain the records required by Part I B 16 a and b for at least three years after the date of the transaction and shall make them available to department personnel upon request.
17. When the waste storage or treatment facility is no longer needed, the permittee shall close it in a manner that (i) minimizes the need for further maintenance and (ii) controls, minimizes, or eliminates, to the extent necessary to protect human health and the environment, the postclosure escape of uncontrolled leachate, surface runoff, or waste decomposition products to the groundwater, surface water, or the atmosphere. At closure, the permittee shall remove all waste residue from the animal waste storage or treatment facility. Removed waste materials shall be utilized according to the approved NMP.
11. Each operator of a facility 18. As required by § 62.1-44.17:1 F of the Code of Virginia, each permittee covered by under this general permit shall have completed the training program offered or approved by the Department of Conservation and Recreation 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 operators permittees shall complete the training program at least once every three years.
A. Sampling and analysis methods.
1. Samples and measurements taken as required by this permit shall be representative of the volume and nature of the monitored activity.
2. Unless otherwise specified in this permit all sample preservation methods, maximum holding times and analysis methods for pollutants shall comply with requirements set forth in Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants (40 CFR 136 (2001)) (40 CFR Part 136).
3. The sampling and analysis program to demonstrate compliance with the permit shall at a minimum, conform to Part I of this permit.
4. The permittee shall periodically calibrate and perform maintenance procedures on all monitoring and analytical instrumentation at intervals that will ensure accuracy of measurements.
6. The results of such analyses and measurements.
C. Records retention. All records and information resulting from the monitoring activities required by this permit, including all records of analyses performed and calibration and maintenance of instrumentation and recording from continuous monitoring instrumentation shall be retained on site for five years from the date of the sample, measurement or report. This period of retention shall be extended automatically during the course of any unresolved litigation regarding the regulated activity or regarding control standards applicable to the permittee, or as requested by the director.
D. Additional monitoring by permittee. If the permittee monitors any pollutant at the locations designated herein more frequently than required by this permit, using approved analytical methods as specified above, the results of such monitoring shall be included in the calculation and reporting of the values required in the project report. Such increased frequency shall also be reported.
c. Actions taken or to be taken to reduce, eliminate, and prevent recurrence of the noncompliance. Whenever such noncompliance may adversely affect state waters or may endanger public health, the permittee shall submit the above required information by oral report within 24 hours from the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances and by written report within five days. The director may waive the written report requirement on a case-by-case basis if the oral report has been received within 24 hours and no adverse impact on state waters has been reported.
2. The permittee shall report any unpermitted, unusual or extraordinary discharge which enters or could be expected to enter state waters. The permittee shall provide information, specified in Part II E 1 a through c, regarding each such discharge immediately, that is, as quickly as possible upon discovery, however, in no case later than 24 hours. A written submission covering these points shall be provided within five days of the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances covered by this paragraph.
NOTE: The immediate (within 24 hours) reports required in Parts II E 1 and 2 may be made to the department's regional office. Reports may be made by telephone or by fax. For reports outside normal working hours, a message shall fulfill the immediate reporting requirement. For emergencies, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management maintains a 24-hour telephone service at 1-800-468-8892.
1. For a corporation, by a responsible corporate official. For purposes of this section, a responsible corporate official means (i) a president, secretary, treasurer, or vice-president of the corporation in charge of a principal business function, or any other person who performs similar policy or decision-making functions for the corporation, or (ii) the manager of one or more manufacturing, production, or operating facilities employing more than 250 persons or having gross annual sales or expenditures exceeding $25,000,000 (in second quarter 1980 dollars), if authority to sign documents has been assigned or delegated to the manager in accordance with corporate procedures.
3. For a partnership or sole proprietorship, by a general partner or proprietor respectively.
A. G. Change in management of pollutants. 1. All pollutant management activities authorized by this permit shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of the permit. The permittee shall submit a new registration statement 30 days prior to all expansions, production increases, or process modifications, that will result in the management of new or increased pollutants. The management of any pollutant at a level greater than that identified and authorized by this permit, shall constitute a violation of the terms and conditions of this permit.
b. Any substantial change, whether permanent or temporary, in the volume or character of pollutants being introduced into such treatment works by an establishment, treatment works, or pollutant management activity that was introducing pollutants into such treatment works at the time of issuance of the permit.
Such notice shall include information on: (i) the characteristics and quantity of pollutants to be introduced into or from such treatment works or pollutant management activities; (ii) any anticipated impact of such change in the quantity and characteristics of the pollutants to be managed at a pollutant management activity; and (iii) any additional information that may be required by the director.
B. H. Treatment works operation and quality control.
1. Design and operation of facilities or treatment works and disposal of all wastes shall be in accordance with the registration statement filed with the department. The permittee has the responsibility of designing and operating the facility in a reliable and consistent manner to meet the facility performance requirements in the permit. If facility deficiencies, design or operational, are identified in the future which could affect the facility performance or reliability, it is the responsibility of the permittee to correct such deficiencies.
a. At all times, all facilities and pollutant management activities shall be operated in a prudent and workmanlike manner.
b. The permittee shall provide an adequate operating staff to carry out the operation, maintenance and testing functions required to ensure compliance with the conditions of this permit.
c. Maintenance of treatment facilities or pollutant management activities shall be carried out in such a manner that the monitoring and limitation requirements are not violated.
d. Collected solids shall be stored and utilized as specified in the approved Nutrient Management Plan nutrient management plan in such a manner as to prevent entry of those wastes (or runoff from the wastes) into state waters.
C. I. Adverse impact. The permittee shall take all feasible steps to minimize any adverse impact to state waters resulting from noncompliance with any limitation or limitations or conditions specified in this permit, and shall perform and report such accelerated or additional monitoring as is necessary to determine the nature and impact of the noncomplying limitation or limitations or conditions.
D. J. Duty to halt, reduce activity or to mitigate.
1. It shall not be a defense for a permittee in an enforcement action that it would have been necessary to halt or reduce the permitted activity in order to maintain compliance with the conditions of this permit.
2. The permittee shall take all reasonable steps to minimize, correct or prevent any discharge in violation of this permit which has a reasonable likelihood of adversely affecting human health or the environment.
E. K. Structural stability. The structural stability of any of the units or parts of the facilities herein permitted is the sole responsibility of the permittee and the failure of such structural units or parts shall not relieve the permittee of the responsibility of complying with all terms and conditions of this permit.
F. L. Compliance with state law. Compliance with this permit during its term constitutes compliance with the State Water Control Law. Nothing in this permit shall be construed to preclude the institution of any legal action under, or relieve the permittee from any responsibilities, liabilities, or penalties established pursuant to any other state law or regulation.
G. M. Property rights. The issuance of this permit does not convey any property rights in either real or personal property, or any exclusive privileges, nor does it authorize any injury to private property or any invasion of personal rights, nor any infringement of federal, state, or local laws or regulations.
H. N. Severability. The provisions of this permit are severable.
I. O. Duty to reregister. If the permittee wishes to continue to operate under a general permit after the expiration date of this permit, the permittee must submit a new registration statement at least 30 days prior to the expiration date of this permit.
5. To inspect at reasonable times any collection, treatment, or pollutant management activities required under this permit. For purposes of this section, the time for inspection shall be deemed reasonable during regular business hours, and whenever the facility is discharging or involved in managing pollutants. Nothing contained here shall make an inspection time unreasonable during an emergency.
3. The department does not within the 30-day time period notify the existing permittee and the proposed permittee of the board's intent to modify or revoke and reissue transfer coverage under the permit. Such a transferred coverage under this permit shall, as of the date of the transfer, be as fully effective as if it had been issued directly to the new permittee.
L. R. Permit modification. The permit may be modified when any of the following developments occur: 1. When a change is made in the promulgated standards or regulations on which the permit was based; or.
2. When the level of management of a pollutant, not limited in the permit, exceeds applicable Water Quality Standards or the level which can be achieved by technology-based treatment requirements appropriate to the permittee.
M. S. Permit termination. After public notice and opportunity for a hearing, coverage under the general permit may be terminated for cause.
3. When new information becomes available about the operation or pollutant management activities covered by under this permit which that were not available at the time of permit issuance and would have justified the application of different permit conditions at the time of permit issuance coverage.
This Coverage under this general permit may be terminated as to an individual permittee for any of the reasons set forth above after appropriate notice and an opportunity for a hearing.
O. U. When an individual permit may be requested. Any permittee operating under this permit may request to be excluded from the coverage of under this permit by applying for an individual permit. When an individual permit is issued to a permittee the applicability of this general permit to the individual permittee is automatically terminated on the effective date of the individual permit.
P. V. Civil and criminal liability. Nothing in this permit shall be construed to relieve the permittee from civil and criminal penalties for noncompliance with the terms of this permit.
Q. W. Oil and hazardous substance liability. Nothing in this permit shall be construed to preclude the institution of any legal action or relieve the permittee from any responsibilities, liabilities, or penalties to which the permittee is or may be subject under § 311 of the Clean Water Act or §§ 62.1-44.34:14 through 62.1-44.34:23 of the Code of Virginia.
2. Otherwise alter the physical, chemical or biological properties of such state waters and make them detrimental to the public health, or to animal or aquatic life, or to the uses of such waters for domestic or industrial consumption, or for recreation, or for other uses.
2. At earthen liquid waste storage facilities constructed after December 1, 1998, to an elevation below the seasonal high water table or within one foot thereof, groundwater monitoring wells shall be installed. A minimum of one up gradient and one down gradient well shall be installed at each earthen waste storage facility that requires groundwater monitoring. Existing wells may be utilized to meet this requirement if properly located and constructed.
c. At least three well volumes of groundwater shall be withdrawn immediately prior to sampling each monitoring well.
5. In accordance with subdivisions 2 and 3 of this subsection, the groundwater shall be monitored by the permittee at the monitoring wells as specified below. Additional groundwater monitoring may be required in the facility's approved nutrient management plan.
3. Earthen waste storage facilities constructed after December 1, 1998, shall include a properly designed and installed liner. Such liner shall be either a synthetic liner of at least 20 mils thickness or a compacted soil liner of at least one foot thickness with a maximum permeability rating of 0.0014 inches per hour. A Virginia licensed professional engineer, an employee of the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture with appropriate engineering approval authority, or an employee of a soil and water conservation district with appropriate engineering approval authority shall certify that the siting, design, and construction of the waste storage facility comply with the requirements of this permit. This certification shall be maintained on site.
5. All liquid waste storage or treatment facilities shall maintain at least one foot of freeboard at all times, up to and including 25-year, 24-hour storm.
6. For new waste storage or treatment facilities constructed after November 16, 2014, the facilities shall be constructed, operated, and maintained in accordance with the applicable practice standard adopted by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and approved by the department. A Virginia licensed professional engineer, an employee of the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture with appropriate engineering approval authority, or an employee of a soil and water conservation district with appropriate engineering approval authority shall certify that the siting, design, and construction of the waste storage facility comply with the requirements of this permit. This certification shall be maintained on site.
9. All equipment needed for the proper operation of the permitted facilities shall be maintained in good working order. The manufacturer's operating and maintenance manuals shall be retained for references to allow for timely maintenance and prompt repair of equipment when appropriate. The permittee shall periodically inspect for leaks on equipment used for land application of waste.
a. All treated wastes generated by a digester or other manure treatment technologies must be managed through an approved nutrient management plan or transferred to another entity in accordance with animal waste transfer requirements in Part III B 15 and 16.
(3) Permittees shall maintain the records required by Part III B 10 b (1) and (2) on site for a period of three years. All records shall be made available to department personnel upon request.
These records shall be maintained on site for a period of five years after the date the application is made and shall be made available to department personnel upon request.
(2) When the permittee transfers to another person more than 10 tons of solid or semi-solid animal waste (solid or semi-solid animal waste contains less than 85% moisture) or more than 6,000 gallons of liquid animal waste (liquid animal waste contains 85% or more moisture) in any 365-day period, the permittee shall maintain records in accordance with Part III B 16.
c. Permittees shall maintain the records required by Part III B 16 a and b for at least three years after the date of the transaction and shall make them available to department personnel upon request.
18. As required by § 62.1-44.17:1 F of the Code of Virginia, each permittee covered under 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 permittees shall complete the training program at least once every three years.
9VAC25-192-80. Tracking and accounting requirements for animal waste end-users.
A. When an animal waste end-user is the recipient of more than 10 tons of solid or semi-solid animal waste (solid or semi-solid animal waste contains less than 85% moisture) or more than 6,000 gallons of liquid animal waste (liquid animal waste contains 85% percent or more moisture) in any 365-day period from an owner or operator of an animal feeding operation covered by a VPA or VPDES permit, the end-user shall maintain records regarding the transfer and land application of animal waste.
f. The name of the stream or waterbody, if known, to the recipient that is nearest to the waste utilization or storage site.
Records regarding animal waste transfers shall be maintained on site for a period of three years after the date of the transaction. All records shall be made available to department personnel upon request.
h. The method used to determine the land application rates (i.e., phosphorus crop removal, waste nutrient analysis rate, soil test recommendations, or a nutrient management plan).
Records regarding land application of animal waste shall be maintained on site for a period of three years after the date the application is made. All records shall be made available to department personnel upon request.
B. Any duly authorized agent of the board may, at reasonable times and under reasonable circumstances, enter any establishment or upon any property, public or private, for the purpose of obtaining information or conducting surveys or investigations necessary in the enforcement of the provisions of this regulation.
9VAC25-192-90. Utilization and storage requirements for transferred animal waste.
A. An animal waste end-user who receives animal waste from an owner or operator of an animal feeding operation covered by a VPA or VPDES permit shall comply with the requirements outlined in this section.
B. Storage requirements. An animal waste end-user who receives animal waste from an owner or operator of an animal feeding operation covered by a VPA or VPDES permit shall comply with the requirements outlined in this subsection regarding storage of animal waste in his possession or under his control.
d. For animal waste that is not stored under roof, the storage site must be at least 100 feet from any surface water, intermittent drainage, wells, sinkholes, rock outcrops, and springs.
2. Any liquid animal waste collection and storage facility shall be designed and operated to (i) prevent point source discharges of pollutants to state waters except in the case of a storm event greater than the 25-year, 24-hour storm and (ii) provide adequate waste storage capacity to accommodate periods when the ground is frozen or saturated, periods when land application of nutrients should not occur due to limited or nonexistent crop nutrient uptake, and periods when physical limitations prohibit the land application of waste.
3. Waste storage facilities constructed after December 1, 1998, shall not be located on a 100-year floodplain.
4. Earthen waste storage facilities constructed after December 1, 1998, shall include a properly designed and installed liner. Such liner shall be either a synthetic liner of at least 20 mils thickness or a compacted soil liner of at least one foot thickness with a maximum permeability rating of 0.0014 inches per hour. A Virginia licensed professional engineer, an employee of the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture with appropriate engineering approval authority or an employee of a soil and water conservation district with appropriate engineering approval authority shall certify that the siting, design, and construction of the waste storage facility comply with the requirements of this subsection. This certification shall be maintained on site.
5. At earthen waste storage facilities constructed below the seasonal high water table, the top surface of the waste must be maintained at a level of at least two feet above the water table.
6. All liquid waste storage or waste treatment facilities shall maintain at least one foot of freeboard at all times, except in the case of a storm event up to and including a 25-year, 24-hour storm.
C. Land application requirements. An animal waste end-user who (i) receives more than 10 tons of solid or semi-solid animal waste (solid or semi-solid animal waste contains less than 85% moisture) or more than 6,000 gallons of liquid animal waste (liquid animal waste contains 85% or more moisture) from an owner or operator of an animal feeding operation covered by a VPA or VPDES permit and (ii) land applies animal waste shall follow appropriate land application requirements as outlined in this subsection. The application of animal waste shall be managed to minimize adverse water quality impacts.
* If results are from another laboratory the Department of Conservation and Recreation approved conversion factors must be used.
(2) The phosphorus crop removal application rates are set forth by regulations promulgated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in accordance with § 10.1-104.2 of the Code of Virginia.
(3) Nutrients have not been supplied by an organic source, other than pastured animals, to the proposed land application sites within the previous three years of the proposed land application date of animal waste.
(3) Nutrients from the waste application do not exceed the nitrogen or phosphorus recommendations for the proposed crop or double crops. The recommendations shall be in accordance with 4VAC5-15-150 A 2 a.
d. A nutrient management plan developed by a certified nutrient management planner in accordance with § 10.1-104.2 of the Code of Virginia.
2. The timing of land application of animal waste shall be appropriate for the crop, and in accordance with 4VAC5-15-150 A 4, except that no waste may be applied to ice covered or snow covered ground or to soils that are saturated.
f. Waste shall not be applied in such a manner that it would discharge to sinkholes that may exist in the area.
D. Animal waste end-users shall maintain the records demonstrating compliance with the requirements of subsections B and C of this section for at least three years and make them available to department personnel upon request.
E. 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).
F. Any duly authorized agent of the board may, at reasonable times and under reasonable circumstances, enter any establishment or upon any property, public or private, for the purpose of obtaining information or conducting surveys or investigations necessary in the enforcement of the provisions of this regulation.
Virginia Pollution Abatement General Permit Registration Statement for Animal Feeding Operations (rev. 8/04).
VA.R. Doc. No. R12-3285; Filed October 30, 2013, 8:22 a.m.

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