Source: http://register.dls.virginia.gov/details.aspx?id=7258
Timestamp: 2020-08-07 00:33:00
Document Index: 283374162

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 10', '§ 6942', 'arts 255', '§ 6942', 'arts 255', '§ 10', '§ 46', '§ 10', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 15', '§ 10', '§ 10', '§ 46', '§ 2']

Vol. 35 Iss. 9 (Fast-Track Regulation) 9VAC20-130, Solid Waste Planning And Recycling Regulations December 24, 2018
Title of Regulation: 9VAC20-130. Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Regulations (amending 9VAC20-130-10, 9VAC20-130-30, 9VAC20-130-60, 9VAC20-130-100, 9VAC20-130-110, 9VAC20-130-120, 9VAC20-130-125, 9VAC20-130-175, 9VAC20-130-230; adding 9VAC20-130-92 through 9VAC20-130-98, 9VAC20-130-173; repealing 9VAC20-130-180 through 9VAC20-130-220).
Statutory Authority: § 10.1-1411 of the Code of Virginia; 42 USC § 6942(b); 40 CFR Parts 255 and 256.
Agency Contact: Melissa Porterfield, Department of Environmental Quality, 629 East Main Street, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4238, FAX (804) 698-4019, or email melissa.porterfield@deq.virginia.gov.
Basis: Section 4002(b) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (42 USC § 6942(b)), requires all states to develop and implement state solid waste management plans. 40 CFR Parts 255 and 256 contain requirements applicable to state solid waste management plans.
Section 10.1-1402 of the Code of Virginia directs the Virginia Waste Management Board to "Supervise and control waste management activities in the Commonwealth." Section 10.1-1411 of the Code of Virginia authorizes the Virginia Waste Management Board to promulgate this regulation, which is required to include all aspects of solid waste management, including waste reduction, recycling and reuse, storage, treatment, and disposal. The board is also required to consider urban concentrations, geographic conditions, markets, transportation conditions, and other appropriate factors and provide reasonable variances and exemptions from regulatory requirements when adopting this regulation.
Purpose: The Code of Virginia directs the Virginia Waste Management Board to adopt this regulation, which establishes requirements for localities to conduct planning efforts to ensure that solid waste is properly managed now and in the future. The regulation also implements the mandatory recycling rates described in state statute. These solid waste planning requirements are similar to the planning efforts that localities undertake to ensure their locality is planning for the future and is able to provide general services to their residents. This regulation allows localities to develop their own solid waste management plan or work with other localities to form a regional solid waste management plan. Solid waste management plans ensure that the locality or region is working to meet mandatory recycling rates and is preparing for future waste management needs. These actions reduce the amount of waste required to be disposed of and strive to protect the health and welfare of citizens from impacts related to improper management of solid waste.
Rationale for Using Fast-Track Rulemaking Process: This regulatory action is expected to be noncontroversial. The amendments clarify the requirements of the regulation and do not add any new requirements. There are no additional impacts to the regulated community as a result of these amendments. The changes to the regulation improve the readability and understanding of the regulation. The changes also make the regulation consistent with state statute.
Substance: The regulation is being reorganized to assist the regulated community with understanding and complying with the requirements of the regulation. Sections of the regulation are being rearranged to appear in the order the regulated community would use the regulation. For example, the regulation currently discusses the designation of solid waste planning units after the requirements for the content of solid waste plans are discussed. Prior to developing a solid waste management plan, the membership of the planning unit must be established. The logical progression would be to discuss the establishment of solid waste planning units prior to discussing the plans the planning units are required to develop. Rearranging the order of the sections of the regulation will make understanding the correct order tasks described in the regulation need to occur easier for a reader.
Changes have been made to the definition section. Obsolete definitions are removed from the regulation. Removing the definitions of terms that are not used in the regulation will help to avoid confusion concerning the applicability of these terms. For example, the term "white good" is defined in the definition section of the regulation; however, the term is not found in other sections of the regulation. As part of this amendment, the term "white good" is being removed from the regulation. Two additional definitions have been added to the regulation in response to a comment received during the informal comment period. Definitions of the terms "nonmunicipal solid waste material" and "solid waste management plan" have been included in the regulation to provide additional clarity to the regulation.
Additional details concerning the calculation of recycling rates have been included in the regulation. The calculation in the current regulation does not calculate the recycling rate as a percentage. The current calculation also mentions the inclusion of credits in the recycling rate but fails to explain how these credits are added to the recycling rate. This lack of explanation causes confusion since credits allowed may be expressed in tons or percentages. Additional details have been added to this section to address the inclusion of credits in the recycling rate. The regulatory language now mirrors the information on Department of Environmental Quality form 50-30 that is provided to solid waste planning units to assist them with calculating their recycling rate.
The recycling credits listed in the regulation have been reordered to be listed in the same order as they appear in § 10.1-1411 C of the Code of Virginia. Only those recycling credits detailed in statute are being included in the regulation.
Issues: The revisions to the regulation will make the regulation easier for the public and the regulated community to understand. The agency will benefit by having a regulation that is easier for the regulated community to understand. There are no disadvantages to the public, regulated community, or the agency from making these changes.
Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Regulation. The Virginia Waste Management Board (Board) proposes to amend its regulation governing solid waste planning and recycling for localities. Most of the changes proposed by the Board are non-substantive. Such changes include adding and modifying definitions, moving regulatory sections and updating obsolete references. Additionally, the Board proposes two substantive changes to regulatory text: 1) the Board proposes to remove a separate one-ton credit for "each inoperable vehicle for which a locality receives reimbursement from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles" and 2) the Board proposes to replace the formula for recycling rates that is currently in the regulation with an easier to use formula that is mathematically equivalent.
Estimated Economic Impact. Many changes that the Board proposes for this regulation will not modify or add any substantive requirement for regulated entities but, instead, are aimed at clarifying existing regulatory requirements. For instance, the Board proposes to add definitions for "nonmunicipal solid waste material" and "solid waste management plan" to the regulatory text. No affected entities will incur costs on account of changes such as these. Interested parties will benefit from the added definitions and the changed structure of the regulation as it will make it both easier to find and read any particular standard. Benefits likely outweigh costs for all reorganizing and clarifying changes.
The Board also proposes to remove language that allowed a one-ton credit for every inoperable vehicle for which a locality receives reimbursement under § 46.2-1407 of the Code of Virginia. Localities will instead be able to claim credit for such vehicles by adding them to the amount of principal recyclable materials. Board staff reports that this change will likely have no impact on localities' calculated recycling rates.
Finally, the Board proposes to replace the formula for calculating minimum recycling rates. Board staff reports that the replacement formula is mathematically equivalent to the formula in current regulation, but that the proposed formula defines all terms so will be easier to use. Board staff reports that the formula that the Board proposes to add to the regulation is already in use on forms that localities must fill out. This change will benefit affected entities as the regulatory formula will be both easier to calculate and consistent with what they already use.
Businesses and Entities Affected. This proposed action will affect all localities and solid waste management planning units in the Commonwealth.
Localities Particularly Affected. No locality in the Commonwealth is likely to be particularly affected by this proposed regulation.
Projected Impact on Employment. This proposed regulatory change is unlikely to affect employment in the Commonwealth.
Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. This proposed regulatory action is unlikely to have an effect on the use or value of private property in the Commonwealth.
Real Estate Development Costs. This proposed regulatory action is unlikely to affect real estate development costs.
Costs and Other Effects. This regulatory action will likely not affect small businesses in the Commonwealth.
Alternative Method that Minimizes Adverse Impact. This regulatory action will likely not affect small businesses in the Commonwealth.
Businesses. This regulatory action will likely not affect small businesses in the Commonwealth.
Localities. Localities in the Commonwealth are unlikely to see any adverse impacts on account of this proposed regulatory changes.
Other Entities. No other entities are likely to be adversely affected by this proposed change.
The amendments (i) reorder the regulatory sections so that the requirements for solid waste planning units precede those for solid waste management plans and the requirement for planning units to maintain and update solid waste management plans is in its own section, (ii) clarify the difference between major and minor amendments to a solid waste management plan as well as other requirements of the regulation, and (iii) conform recycling rate credits to § 10.1-1411 C of the Code of Virginia.
"Compost" means a stabilized organic product produced by composting a controlled aerobic decomposition process in such a manner that the product can be handled, stored, and/or or applied to the land without adversely affecting public health or the environment.
"Hazardous waste" means a "hazardous waste" as defined by the Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulation Regulations, 9VAC20-60.
"Materials recovery facility (MRF)" means, for the purpose of this regulation, a facility for the collection, processing, and marketing of recyclable materials including, but not limited to: metal, paper, plastics, and glass.
"Principal recyclable materials" (PRMs) or "PRMs" means paper, metal, plastic, glass, commingled, yard waste, wood, textiles, tires, used oil, used oil filters, used antifreeze, batteries, electronics, or material as may be approved by the director. Commingled materials refers to single stream collections of recyclables where sorting is done at a materials recovery facility.
"Recycling residue" means the (i) nonmetallic substances, including but not limited to plastic, rubber, and insulation, which remain after a shredder has separated for purposes of recycling the ferrous and nonferrous metal from a motor vehicle, appliance, or other discarded metallic item and (ii) organic waste remaining after removal of metals, glass, plastics, and paper that are to be recycled as part of a resource recovery process for municipal solid waste resulting in the production of a refuse derived fuel.
"Regional boundary" means the boundary defining an area of land that will be a unit for the purpose of developing a waste management plan, and is established in accordance with 9VAC20-130-180 9VAC20-130-92 through 9VAC20-130-220 9VAC20-130-100.
"Residential waste" means any waste material, including garbage, trash, and refuse, derived from households. Households include single and multiple residences, hotels and motels, bunkhouses, ranger stations, crew quarters, campgrounds, picnic grounds, and day-use recreation areas. Residential wastes do not include sanitary waste in septic tanks (septage), that is regulated by other state agencies.
"Sanitary landfill" means an engineered land burial facility for the disposal of household waste, which is so located, designed, constructed, and operated to contain and isolate the waste so that it does not pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment. A sanitary landfill also may receive other types of solid wastes, such as commercial solid waste, nonhazardous sludge, hazardous waste from conditionally exempt small quantity generators, construction demolition debris, and nonhazardous industrial solid waste.
It is the policy of the Virginia Waste Management Board to require each region designated pursuant to 9VAC20-130-180 9VAC20-130-92 through 9VAC20-130-220 9VAC20-130-100, as well as each city, county, and town not part of such a region, to develop comprehensive and integrated solid waste management plans that, at a minimum, consider and address all components of the following hierarchy:
A. This chapter applies to all cities, counties, towns, designated solid waste planning units (under 9VAC20-130-180) 9VAC20-130-92), and permitted solid waste facilities within the solid waste planning unit, including those facilities covered under permit by rule procedures found in 9VAC20-81. Any city, county, and town may mutually agree to unite for the purpose of solid waste management planning, and upon joint written notification to the director, department shall be deemed to be a solid waste planning unit for development of a solid waste management plan.
B. Any cities Cities, counties, and towns may be represented by a planning district, public service authority, or designated region that has been adopted under 9VAC20-130-90 B.
9VAC20-130-100. [Reserved] Amendment of solid waste planning unit boundaries.
B. The department shall review and approve or return comments on the deficiencies in each plan submitted in accordance with 9VAC20-130-110 subsection A of this section no later than 90 days from the date the plans are received. In the event the department is unable to complete its review within 90 days, the applicant will be notified and given a date as to when the review will be completed.
D. Plans approved without alteration shall become effective upon notification of such approval by the department. If after review of the corrected plan submitted pursuant to subsection C of this section, the department cannot approve the corrected solid waste management plan because the department finds the plan not to be in accordance with this chapter, it will issue a notice of intent to disapprove to the submitter. The notice of intent to disapprove shall set forth (i) the reason for the disapproval, (ii) what is required for approval, (iii) the right of the submitter to an informal fact-finding proceeding under Chapter 40 (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) of Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia, and (iv) allow the development of an action plan for the solid waste planning unit as set forth in this chapter at 9VAC20-130-120 I. The department will give priority consideration for review of corrected plans where the solid waste planning unit has a pending permit application for a solid waste management facility.
E. The director may revoke the approval of any plan or require its revision and resubmittal if there is evidence that there has been significant deviation from the plan. Significant deviations are departures or omissions from activities planned in accordance with 9VAC20-130-120. The department director will issue a notice of intent to revoke or require revision and resubmittal of a plan. The notice of intent shall set forth (i) whether the department director intends to revoke or require revision and resubmittal of the plan, (ii) the reason the department director intends to take the action, and (iii) the right of the submitter of the plan to an informal fact-finding proceeding under Chapter 40 (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) of Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia.
1. The plan shall describe how the minimum recycling rate shall be met or exceeded. The department director may approve the solid waste management plans of units that do not currently meet the minimum recycling rate only if all other requirements of these regulations this chapter have been met and the solid waste planning unit demonstrates its commitment to implementing a strong and detailed action plan for recycling to meet the required rate.
C. The solid waste management plan shall include data and analyses of the following type(s) type for each jurisdiction. Each item below listed in this subsection shall be in a separate section and labeled as to content:
3. Estimates of solid waste generation from residential, commercial institutional, industrial, construction, demolition, debris and other types of sources, including the amounts reused, recycled, recovered as a resource, incinerated, and landfilled. Entities engaged in the collection, processing, and marketing of recyclable materials should provide data for incorporation into the recycling rate calculation, when requested by the planning unit.
G. The When the solid waste management plan is developed regionally, the solid waste management plan shall include, when developed regionally, a copy of the resolution of the solid waste planning unit approving the plan adopted in accordance with the Virginia Area Development Regional Cooperation Act, the Virginia Water and Waste Authorities Act, the provisions of the Code of Virginia governing joint exercise of powers by political subdivisions (§ 15.2-1300 of the Code of Virginia), or other authority as applicable. The plan shall specify the solid waste planning unit's legal authority to adopt the solid waste management plan.
H. The solid waste management plan shall clearly and explicitly demonstrate the manner in which the goals of the planning requirements in these regulations this chapter shall be accomplished and actions to take if these requirements are not met.
2. A time schedule to resolve the deficiency(ies) deficiency associated with the planning unit's failure to meet the requirements of the approved solid waste management plan.
3. A reporting requirement to the department, of a minimum of once every six months, including activities or updates documenting how the action plan requirements are being met.
5. All the department's requests for further information or response(s) responses shall be provided within 30 days of receipt at the planning unit. The department may grant reasonable extensions to these deadlines on a case-by-case basis.
2. Each solid waste planning unit shall maintain a minimum 15% recycling rate if it has (i) a population density rate of less than 100 persons per square mile according to the most recent United States Census, or (ii) a not seasonally adjusted civilian unemployment rate for the immediately preceding calendar year that is at least 50% greater than the state average as reported by the Virginia Employment Commission for such year.
B. The minimum recycling rate shall be determined by the following formula:
Recycling Rate = [PRMs recycled] ÷ [MSW generated] + [all Credits in C]
PRMs recycled equals the amount of principal recyclable materials received for recycling each calendar year; and
MSW generated equals the sum of PRMs recycled and MSW disposed. (MSW disposed equals the amount of MSW delivered to landfills, transfer stations, incineration and waste-to-energy facilities)
The amounts shall be expressed in tons using one of the methods below:
1. The actual weight of each component in tons; or
2. The volume of each component, converted to weight in tons (conversion chart in Form DEQ 50-30).
C. B. Credits may be added to the recycling formula in subsection B C of this section provided that the aggregate of all such credits shall not exceed five percentage points of the annual municipal solid waste recycling rate achieved for each solid waste planning unit:
1. A credit of one ton for each ton of any nonmunicipal solid waste material that is recycled; two percentage points of the minimum recycling rate mandated for the solid waste planning unit for a source reduction program (SRP) that is implemented within the solid waste planning unit. The existence and operation of such a program shall be certified by the solid waste planning unit;
2. A credit of one ton for each ton of any solid waste material that is reused; recycling residue generated in Virginia and deposited in a landfill permitted under § 10.1-1408.1 of the Code of Virginia;
3. A credit of one ton for each ton of recycling residue generated in Virginia and deposited in a landfill permitted under § 10.1-1408.1 of the Code of Virginia; any nonmunicipal solid waste material that is recycled; and
4. A credit of two percentage points of the minimum recycling rate mandated for the solid waste planning unit for a source reduction program that is implemented within the solid waste planning unit. The existence and operation of such a program shall be certified by the solid waste planning unit; and one ton for each ton of any solid waste material that is reused.
5. A credit of one ton for each inoperable vehicle for which a locality receives reimbursement from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles under § 46.2-1407 of the Code of Virginia.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The equations in subdivision 1 of this subsection are new text.
A. Amendments to the plans shall be classified as major or minor. These classifications are as described in this section below.
d. Action plan(s) plans, including an action plan to address a planning unit's recycling rate that has fallen below the statutory minimum; or
2. Minor amendments shall include:
3. Minor amendments shall be submitted, by mail or electronic mail, directly to the department for notation. The planning units are the repository for the minor amendments to the plans.
B. 2. Major amendments shall require the same public participation as detailed in 9VAC20-130-130 B before being submitted, by mail or electronic mail, to the department for approval prior to implementation.
C. 3. The department shall review major amendments and approve or return comments on any deficiencies no later than 90 days from the date the amendments are received. In the event the department is unable to complete its review within 90 days, the applicant will be notified and given a date as to when the review will be completed. No department approval shall be necessary for minor amendments.
D. 4. Each submitter who receives comments on his major plan amendment under subsection C subdivision B 3 of this section shall submit a corrected amendment to the department no later than 90 days following notification of deficiencies.
E. 5. Major amendments approved without alteration shall become effective upon notification. If after review of the corrected amendment submitted pursuant to subsection D subdivision B 4 of this section, the department cannot approve the corrected amendment because it finds the amendment not to be in accordance with this chapter, it will issue a notice of intent to disapprove to the submitter. The notice of intent to disapprove shall set forth (i) the reason for the disapproval, (ii) what is required for approval, and (iii) the right of the submitter to an informal fact-finding proceeding under Chapter 40 (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) of Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia. The department will give priority consideration for review of corrected amendments when the planning unit has a pending permit application for a solid waste management facility.
F. Solid waste management planning units are required to maintain current plans. On or before each five-year anniversary of the department's plan-approval date, the planning unit shall submit a letter to the department, by mail or electronic mail, certifying that the following plan elements, listed in 9VAC20-130-120 C, have been maintained and updated: waste generation estimates are current, the schedule increments have been met, and a projected 20-year waste management capacity remains available or projects otherwise are on schedule to meet the unit's solid waste needs. The letter of certification will be used in the department's assessment of whether any plan amendments are necessary and to ensure compliance with 9VAC20-130-110 E.
9VAC20-130-180. Designation of solid waste planning units. (Repealed.)
The director has been authorized by the Governor to designate regional boundaries defining areas and jurisdictions to be considered for joint development of solid waste management plans. Only those solid waste planning units meeting the standards established in this chapter will be considered. Any group of jurisdictions may petition the director for designation as a solid waste planning unit, and, if the proposed region meets the standards established for designation, the director shall approve the request.
9VAC20-130-190. Development of designated solid waste planning units. (Repealed.)
A. At least 14 days prior to designating a regional boundary for solid waste management planning, the director shall place a notice of the proposed regional boundary and an opportunity to comment in the Virginia Register of Regulations and in a newspaper of general circulation within the proposed solid waste planning unit.
B. If, as a result of the notices required by subsection A of this section, the director feels a significant need exists to hold a public hearing on the issues, a public hearing shall be held in the proposed region prior to the designation. At least 14 days prior to the public hearing, a notice of the proposed public hearing shall appear in the same publications as the notice under subsection A of this section.
9VAC20-130-200. Considerations in designating solid waste planning unit boundaries. (Repealed.)
1. Geographic areas or jurisdictions which have a history of cooperating to solve problems in environmental or other related matters;
2. Existing regional management systems, authorities or similar institutions;
3. The size, configuration and location of the regional areas should have sufficient solid waste contribution and market availability to support the solid waste management system;
5. Geologic, hydrologic, soil and groundwater conditions; availability of land and soils; and natural barriers and ecosystems; and
1. A local area may include a city, town or county and any towns within the county that through mutual agreement join with the county for the purpose of developing a plan.
9VAC20-130-210. Criteria for designating a solid waste planning unit. (Repealed.)
A. The director may authorize an official committee or public body as authorized to develop, adopt and promulgate the solid waste management plan.
1. Demonstrated ability to plan, manage or operate solid waste management and recycling services; or
4. Have an established methodology for resolving conflicts, making planning decisions and providing public participation in the development of the plan;
9VAC20-130-220. Amendment of solid waste planning unit boundaries. (Repealed.)
The director may amend a solid waste planning unit's boundary based on an application from the governing body or bodies of the solid waste planning unit. Along with the application, each locality (within the original region and any locality being added) must submit a letter acknowledging the change in the boundary.
B. The director may grant the variance or an exemption provided the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the director that: 1. The the solid waste planning unit has demonstrated that it has made a good faith effort to comply with the minimum recycling rates and with the requirements of this chapter before that unit petitioned for a variance; and:
2. (i) 1. If the minimum recycling rate is addressed in the petition, and strict application of the minimum recycling rates will result in undue hardship as a result of the solid waste planning unit's particular market conditions that are beyond the planning unit's control; or (ii) if
2. If the recycling rate is not addressed in the petition and, granting the variance will not have an adverse impact on the integrity of the overall solid waste management plan.
4. A description of need and justification for the proposed action, including impacts from existing operations and market conditions (if the planning unit chooses to petition for subdivision B 2 (i) 1 of this section);
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (9VAC20-130)
Paint Filter Liquids Test, Method 9095, USEPA Publication SW-846.
VA.R. Doc. No. R19-4196; Filed November 28, 2018, 9:51 a.m.