B. VWP general permit coverage may be
modified under the following circumstances:
1. Additional impacts to surface waters are
necessary, provided that:
a. The additional
impacts are proposed prior to impacting the additional areas.
b. The proposed additional impacts are
located within the project boundary as depicted in the application for coverage
or are located in areas of directly-related off-site work, unless otherwise
prohibited in this chapter.
c. The
permittee has provided sufficient documentation that the department may
reasonably determine that the additional impacts will not impact federal or
state listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat,
or result in a taking of threatened or endangered species. The department
recommends that the permittee verify that the project will not impact any
proposed threatened or endangered species or proposed critical
habitat.
d. The cumulative,
additional permanent wetland or open water impacts for one or more notices of
planned change do not exceed 0.25 acre.
e. The cumulative, additional permanent
stream impacts for one or more notices of planned change do not exceed 100
linear feet.
f. Documentation is
provided demonstrating that the proposed surface water impacts have been
avoided to the maximum extent practicable in accordance with the informational
requirements of
9VAC25-680-60
B12.
g. Compensatory mitigation for
the proposed impacts, if required, meets the requirements of §
62.1-44.15:23 of the Code of Virginia,
9VAC25-210-116, and
9VAC25-680-70. Prior
to a planned change approval, the Department of Environmental Quality may
require submission of a compensatory mitigation plan for the additional
impacts.
h. Where such additional
impacts are temporary, and prior to initiating the impacts, the permittee
provides a written statement to the department that the area to be temporarily
impacted will be restored to its preconstruction elevations and contours with
topsoil from the impact area where practicable, such that the previous acreage
and functions are restored in accordance with Parts I A 3 and B 11 of
9VAC25-680-100.
The additional temporary impacts shall not cause the cumulative total impacts
to exceed the general permit threshold for use. The proposed temporary impacts
shall be deemed approved if DEQ does not respond within 10 days of receipt of
the request for authorization to temporarily impact additional surface
waters.
i. The additional proposed
impacts do not change the category of the project, based on the original impact
amounts as specified in
9VAC25-680-50 A2.
However, the applicant may submit a new permit application for the total
impacts to be considered under this VWP general permit, another VWP general
permit, or a VWP individual permit.
2. A reduction in wetland or stream impacts.
Compensatory mitigation requirements may be modified in relation to the
adjusted impacts, provided that the adjusted compensatory mitigation meets the
initial compensatory mitigation goals. DEQ shall not be responsible for
ensuring refunds for mitigation bank credit purchases or in-lieu fee program
credit purchases.
3. A change in
project plans or use that does not result in a change to authorized project
impacts other than those allowed in subdivisions 1 and 2 of this
subsection.
4. Substitute a
specific, DEQ-approved mitigation bank or in-lieu fee program with another
DEQ-approved mitigation bank or in-lieu fee program or substitute all or a
portion of the prior authorized permittee-responsible compensation with a
purchase of mitigation credits in accordance with § 62.1-44.15:23 of the
Code of Virginia and
9VAC25-210-116 C
from a DEQ-approved mitigation bank or in-lieu fee program. The amount of
credits proposed to be purchased shall be sufficient to meet the compensatory
mitigation requirement for which the compensatory mitigation is proposed to
replace.
5. Correct typographical
errors.