Virginia Administrative Code
Title 9 - ENVIRONMENT
Agency 5 - STATE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
Chapter 70 - AIR POLLUTION EPISODE PREVENTION
Section 9VAC5-70-70 - Local air pollution control agency participation

Universal Citation: 9 VA Admin Code 5-70-70

Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 3, September 23, 2024

A. Local air pollution control agencies shall develop local plans which will establish standard operating procedures and allocation of responsibilities (including public information) to be placed in effect in the event of an air pollution episode. Two copies of such plans and any subsequent changes to the plans shall be furnished to the board.

B. The statewide episode control center will be located in Richmond. Operational, communication and public information procedures for the control of air pollution episodes by the state episode control center will be promulgated by the board to all local air pollution control agencies and regional offices.

PREPLANNED ABATEMENT STRATEGIES

TABLE VII-A

ALERT STAGE.

I. General.
A. There shall be no open burning by any owner or other person.

B. The use of incinerators for the disposal of any form of solid waste shall be limited to the hours between noon and 4 p.m.

C. Owners of fuel burning equipment which require boiler lancing or soot blowing shall perform such operations only between the hours of noon and 4 p.m.

D. Owners operating motor vehicles shall eliminate all unnecessary operations.

II. Source curtailment.
A. Owners of coal or oil-fired electric power generating facilities shall take the following control actions:
1. Substantial reduction by utilization of fuels having low ash and sulfur content;

2. Maximum utilization of midday (noon to 4 p.m.) atmospheric turbulence for boiler lancing and soot blowing; and

3. Substantial reduction by diverting electric power generation to facilities outside of alert areas.

B. Owners of coal and oil-fired process steam generating facilities shall take the following control actions:
1. Substantial reduction by utilization of fuels having low ash and sulfur content;

2. Maximum utilization of midday (noon to 4 p.m.) atmospheric turbulence for boiler lancing and soot blowing; and

3. Substantial reduction of steam load demands consistent with continuing plant operations.

C. Owners of manufacturing industries (of the following classifications: primary metals industries, petroleum refining operations, chemical industries, mineral processing industries, paper and allied products industries, grain industries) shall take the following control actions:

1. Substantial reduction of air pollutants from manufacturing operations by curtailing, postponing or deferring production and allied operations;

2. Maximum reduction by deferring trade waste disposal operations which emit solid particles, gases, vapors or malodorous substances;

3. Maximum reduction of heat load demands for processing; and

4. Maximum utilization of midday (noon to 4 p.m.) atmospheric turbulence for boiler lancing and soot blowing.

TABLE VII-B

WARNING STAGE.

I. General.
A. There shall be no open burning by any owner or other person.

B. The use of incinerators for the disposal of any form of solid waste or liquid waste is prohibited.

C. Owners of fuel burning equipment which require boiler lancing or soot blowing shall perform such operations only between the hours of noon and 4 p.m.

D. Owners operating motor vehicles shall reduce operations by the use of car pools and increased use of public transportation and elimination of unnecessary operations.

II. Source curtailment.
A. Owners of coal or oil-fired electric power generating facilities shall take the following control actions:
1. Maximum reduction by utilization of fuels having lowest ash and sulfur content;

2. Maximum utilization of midday (noon to 4 p.m.) atmospheric turbulence for boiler lancing and soot blowing; and

3. Maximum reduction by diverting electric power generation to facilities outside of warning areas.

B. Owners of coal and oil-fired process steam generating facilities shall take the following control actions:
1. Maximum reduction by utilization of fuels having the lowest available ash and sulfur content;

2. Maximum utilization of midday (noon to 4 p.m.) atmospheric turbulence for boiler lancing and soot blowing; and

3. Making ready for use a plan of action to be taken if an emergency develops.

C. Owners of manufacturing industries (which require considerable lead time for shutdown including the following classifications: petroleum refining operations, chemical industries, primary metals industries, glass industries, paper and allied products industries) shall take the following control actions:
1. Maximum reduction of air pollutants from manufacturing operations by, if necessary, assuming reasonable economic hardships by postponing production and allied operations;

2. Maximum reduction by deferring trade waste disposal operations, which emit solid particles, gases, vapors or malodorous substances;

3. Maximum reduction of heat load demands for processing; and

4. Maximum utilization of midday (noon to 4 p.m.) atmospheric turbulence for boiler lancing or soot blowing.

D. Owners of manufacturing industries (which require relatively short lead times for shutdown including the following classifications: primary metals industries, chemical industries, mineral processing industries, grain industries) shall take the following control actions:

1. Elimination of air pollutants from manufacturing operations by ceasing, curtailing, postponing or deferring production and allied operations to the extent possible without causing injury to persons or damage to equipment;

2. Elimination of air pollutants from trade waste disposal processes which emit solid particles, gases, vapors or malodorous substances;

3. Maximum reduction of heat load demands for processing; and

4. Maximum utilization of midday (noon to 4 p.m.) atmospheric turbulence for boiler lancing or soot blowing.

TABLE VII-C

EMERGENCY STAGE.

I. General.
A. There shall be no open burning by any owner or other person.

B. The use of incinerators for the disposal of any form of solid or liquid waste is prohibited.

C. All places of employment described below shall immediately cease operations.
1. Mining and quarrying of nonmetallic minerals.

2. All construction work except that which must proceed to avoid emergent physical harm.

3. All manufacturing establishments except those required to have in force an air pollution emergency plan.

4. All wholesale trade establishments; i.e., places of business primarily engaged in selling merchandise to retailers, or industrial, commercial, institutional or professional users, or to other wholesalers, or acting as agents in buying merchandise for or selling merchandise to such persons or companies, except those engaged in the distribution of drugs, surgical supplies and food.

5. All offices of local, county and state government including authorities, joint meetings and other public bodies excepting such agencies which are determined by the chief administrative officer of local, county or state government authorities, joint meetings and other public bodies to be vital for public safety and welfare and the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.

6. All retail trade establishments except pharmacies, surgical supply distributors, and stores primarily engaged in the sale of food.

7. Banks; credit agencies other than banks; securities and commodities brokers, dealers, exchanges and services; offices of insurance carriers, agents and brokers; real estate offices.

8. Wholesale and retail laundries; laundry services and cleaning and dyeing establishments; photographic studios; beauty shops; barber shops; shoe repair shops.

9. Advertising offices; consumer credit reporting, adjustment and collection agencies; duplicating, addressing, blueprinting, photocopying, mailing, mailing list and stenographic services; equipment rental services; commercial testing laboratories.

10. Automobile repair, automobile services, garages.

11. Establishments rendering amusement and recreational services including motion picture theaters.

12. Elementary and secondary schools, colleges, universities, professional schools, junior colleges, vocational schools and public and private libraries.

D. All commercial and manufacturing establishments not included in this order shall institute such actions as will result in maximum reduction of air pollutants from their operation by ceasing, curtailing or postponing operations which emit air pollutants to the extent possible without causing injury to persons or damage to equipment.

E. The use of motor vehicles is prohibited except in emergencies with the approval of local or state police.

II. Source curtailment.
A. Owners of coal or oil-fired electric power generating facilities shall take the following control actions:
1. Maximum reduction by utilization of fuels having lowest ash and sulfur content;

2. Maximum utilization of midday (noon to 4 p.m.) atmospheric turbulence for boiler lancing or soot blowing; and

3. Maximum reduction by diverting electric power generation to facilities outside of emergency areas.

B. Owners of coal and oil-fired process steam generating facilities shall take the following control actions:
1. Maximum reduction by reducing heat and steam demands to absolute necessities consistent with preventing equipment damage;

2. Maximum utilization of midday (noon to 4 p.m.) atmospheric turbulence for boiler lancing and soot blowing; and

3. Taking the action called for in the emergency plan.

C. Owners of manufacturing industries (of the following classifications: primary metals industries, petroleum refinishing operations, chemical industries, mineral processing industries, grain industries, paper and allied products industries) shall take the following control actions:
1. Elimination of air pollutants from manufacturing operations by ceasing, curtailing, postponing or deferring production and allied operations to the extent possible without causing injury to persons or damage to equipment;

2. Elimination of air pollutants from trade waste disposal processes which emit solid particles, gases, vapors or malodorous substances;

3. Maximum reduction of heat load demands for processing; and

4. Maximum utilization of midday (noon to 4 p.m.) atmospheric turbulence for boiler lancing or soot blowing.

Statutory Authority

§§ 10.1-1307 and 10.1-1308 of the Code of Virginia.

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