Cal. Code Regs. tit. 17 § 94525

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 45, November 8, 2024

Section 94525 - Variances

(a) Any person who cannot comply with the requirements set forth in section 94522, because of extraordinary reasons beyond the person's reasonable control may apply in writing to the Executive Officer for a variance. The variance application shall set forth:

(1) the specific grounds upon which the variance is sought;

(2) the proposed date(s) by which compliance with the provisions of section 94522 will be achieved, and

(3) a compliance report reasonably detailing the method(s) by which compliance will be achieved.

(b) Upon receipt of a variance application containing the information required in subsection (a), the Executive Officer shall hold a public hearing to determine whether, under what conditions, and to what extent, a variance from the requirements in section 94522 is necessary and will be permitted. A hearing shall be initiated no later than 75 working days after receipt of a variance application. Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be sent to the applicant by certified mail not less than 30 days prior to the hearing. Notice of the hearing shall also be submitted for publication in the California Regulatory Notice Register and sent to every person who requests such notice, not less than 30 days prior to the hearing. The notice shall state that the parties may, but need not be, represented by counsel at the hearing. At least 30 days prior to the hearing, the variance application shall be made available to the public for inspection. Information submitted to the Executive Officer by a variance applicant may be claimed as confidential, and such information shall be handled in accordance with the procedures specified in Title 17, California Code of Regulations, sections 91000-91022. The Executive Officer may consider such confidential information in reaching a decision on a variance application. Interested members of the public shall be allowed a reasonable opportunity to testify at the hearing and their testimony shall be considered.

(c) No variance shall be granted unless all of the following findings are made:

(1) that, because of reasons beyond the reasonable control of the applicant, requiring compliance with section 94522 would result in extraordinary economic hardship.

(2) that the public interest in mitigating the extraordinary hardship to the applicant by issuing the variance outweighs the public interest in avoiding any increased emissions of air contaminants which would result from issuing the variance.

(3) that the compliance report proposed by the applicant can reasonably be implemented, and will achieve compliance as expeditiously as possible.

(d) Any variance order shall specify a final compliance date by which the requirements of section 94522 will be achieved. Any variance order shall contain a condition that specifies increments of progress necessary to assure timely compliance, and such other conditions that the Executive Officer, in consideration of the testimony received at the hearing, finds necessary to carry out the purposes of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code.

(e) A variance shall cease to be effective upon failure of the party to whom the variance was granted to comply with any term or condition of the variance.

(f) Upon the application of any person, the Executive Officer may review, and for good cause, modify or revoke a variance from the requirements of section 94522 after holding a public hearing in accordance with the provisions of subsection 94525(b).

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 17, § 94525

1. New section filed 1-8-96; operative 1-8-96 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(d) (Register 96, No. 2).
2. Amendment of subsections (a), (a)(2), (b), (c)(1), (d) and (f) filed 9-17-2014; operative 1-1-2015 (Register 2014, No. 38).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 39600, 39601 and 41712, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 39002, 39600, 40000 and 41712, Health and Safety Code.