Additional information

The Virginia Administrative Code is published by Lawyers Cooperative Publishing under authority, guidance and direction of the Virginia Code Commission. The Virginia Administrative Code is the only official compilation of the rules and regulations adopted by the agencies, departments, boards, commissions and other authorities of the Commonwealth empowered to make regulations. The Virginia Administrative Code provides the public with the flexibility of reviewing and purchasing all or part of Virginia's administrative regulations. For more information, contact Lawyers Cooperative Publishing at 1-800-762-5272.

The Administrative Law Appendix, published annually under the supervision of the Virginia Code Commission, lists all regulatory authorities; the statutory authority for each regulation; the current regulation reference including number, name, effective dates and amendment dates; forms; and general policies. The Appendix may be obtained from Lawyers Cooperative Publishing at 1-800-762-5272.

The Virginia Register of Regulations publishes all proposed regulations, final regulations, governor's executive orders, general notices, executive and legislative meeting calendars and other information on the current business of Virginia's government. The Virginia Register, a biweekly publication, supplements the Virginia Administrative Code. Individuals may get more information or subscribe to the Virginia Register by contacting:

Registrar of Regulations
General Assembly Building
910 Capitol Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 786-3591

Each agency has a designated agency regulatory coordinator who is responsible for the proper development and promulgation of regulations. This individual can answer questions about regulations being developed and make referrals to other people in the agency.

The Small Business Assistance Program is a non-regulatory office of the Department of Environmental Quality's Air Division. The program ensures that small business stationary air emission sources have access to free technical assistance and compliance information to help them comply with the 1990 Clean Air Act, state air regulations and any related environmental requirements. The Small Business Assistance Program can help owners and operators of qualifying small businesses by:

Explaining air quality laws and regulations
Answering questions and providing advice on air quality requirements
Helping determine whether a permit is needed
Helping identify options to reduce emissions
Conducting workshops and training sessions on air regulations
Providing assistance on compliance issues.

Qualifying businesses are those that:

Employ fewer than 100 people
Are not major stationary sources of air emissions (i.e., those that emit less than 100 tons per year of criteria pollutants or less than 10 tons per year of hazardous air pollutants)
Emit less than 50 tons per year of any regulated pollutant
Emit less than 75 tons per year of all regulated pollutants.

In addition, the Small Business Assistance Program provides an ombudsman to represent small business interests during the development of environmental laws and regulations. A seven-member advisory panel oversees and independently determines the effectiveness of the program and the ombudsman.

For more information, contact:

DEQ Small Business Assistance Program
P.O. Box 1105
Richmond, Virginia 23218
(804) 698-4394 or 1-800-592-5482

The DEQ Office of Innovative Technology encourages technological innovation for improving environmental quality while sustaining economic growth. New technologies can help Virginians to better and more cost-effectively protect the environment. Improved processes and devices can improve business productivity while reducing the generation of waste and pollution. At the same time innovators and investors join together to create businesses and industries that produce new environmentally favorable goods and services.

The DEQ innovative technology program has several components, including:

Encouraging participation in demonstration/validation programs (such as EPA's Environmental Technology Verification program) that generate credible performance data
Exploring opportunities to join with other states in reciprocal acceptance of new technologies and removal of impediments to new technology
Enhancing awareness of new technologies by potential users and regulators
Connecting technology developers and entrepreneurs to supporting business and technical resources
Performing outreach and helping companies to showcase new environmentally preferable technologies.

DEQ collaborates with industry, environmental organizations, other agencies, and other stakeholder groups supporting environmental protection and technology-based business development. For more information, please contact:

DEQ Office of Innovative Technology
P.O. Box 1105
Richmond, Virginia 23218
(804) 698-4382

The DEQ Office of Pollution Prevention offers free, voluntary, non-regulatory technical assistance to businesses, industries, governments and institutions on avoiding waste generation within manufacturing and other operations. The goal of the program is to eliminate or reduce the volume and toxicity of wastes and thus the problems and costs associated with out-of-process recycling, treatment and disposal.

Services provided include access to the Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse library and to EPA and other databases; case studies of Virginia industrial programs; customized research and training workshops; engineering assistance and industry-specific reports on pollution prevention; and the quarterly "Pollution Prevention Virginia" newsletter. Consultant and vendor files also are maintained to assist Virginia companies in obtaining pollution prevention services. For more information contact:

DEQ Office of Pollution Prevention
P.O. Box 1105
Richmond, Virginia 23218
(804) 698-4384

The DEQ Division of Environmental Enhancement provides operational and educational grants to Virginia localities and associated entities in support of their litter prevention and recycling programs. Most localities use these grants to finance curbside or drop-off recycling programs, special materials collection events, or for the development and dissemination of educational pieces on litter prevention, recycling and environmental stewardship. Virginia businesses, industry and institutions play an important role in these programs by providing or supporting recycling centers, educational events, litter clean up events, and through their on-site litter prevention and recycling activities. Recycling data from these businesses, industries or institutions often provide a base line for the locality's annual recycling rate calculations that are submitted to DEQ. This information then becomes part of an annual report to the Virginia General Assembly. For information on these grants, litter prevention and recycling programs, or the report, contact:

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Environmental Enhancement
Litter Prevention and Recycling Programs
P.O. Box 1105
Richmond, Virginia 23218
(804) 698-4029

Existing Industry Development is the Virginia Department of Business Assistance's outreach to existing manufacturers. Assistance is available in a variety of forms, reflecting the wide array of opportunities and challenges facing Virginia's highly diverse industrial base. Companies requiring assistance with permitting or operating in Virginia are encouraged to access these economic development resources by contacting:

Existing Industry Development
Virginia Department of Business Assistance
P.O. Box 798
Richmond, Virginia 23218-0798
(804) 371-8215

All employers in Virginia must comply with Virginia's Occupational Safety and Health Program requirements and labor laws, which are administered by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry.

To help employers better understand and voluntarily comply with VOSH standards, the department provides on-site consultation services. This program helps employers identify and correct potential safety and health hazards. Services include safety and health walk-through surveys, abatement advice and training. Priority is given to employers of 250 or fewer employees. For more information about consultation services, contact:

Consultation Services, Office of Cooperative Programs
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry
13 South Thirteenth Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 786-8707

The Department of Labor and Industry's Apprenticeship Marketing Program maintains a statewide system of apprenticeship training, including registration and certification. This program assists employers in developing training programs and recruiting both sponsoring employers and qualified applicants for participation. For more information, contact:

Apprenticeship Program, Office of Cooperative Programs
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry
13 South Thirteenth Street
Richmond, Va. 23219
(804) 786-2382

Under Section 40.1-51.20 of the Code of Virginia and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, Virginia businesses are required to notify the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry and the Environmental Protection Agency of proposed asbestos abatement projects. The department's Division of Occupational Health Compliance is available to provide guidance to companies involved in worksite asbestos abatement activities. The division also conducts inspections to determine compliance with the Commonwealth's Asbestos Licensing Law and occupational safety and health standards.

In 1994, the Environmental Protection Agency published a proposed rule on requirements for lead-based paint activities. Under these regulations, which are currently under development, and legislation adopted by the 1995 Virginia General Assembly, companies must notify the Department of Labor and Industry of proposed lead-based paint abatement projects. The Division of Occupational Health Compliance is available to provide guidance on such worksite activities. It also conducts inspections of lead abatement contractors. To obtain additional information on worksite asbestos and lead-based paint activities, contact:

Division of Occupational Health Compliance
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry
13 South Thirteenth Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 786-7770

Pollution Control and Recycling Tax Incentive Programs

There are several tax credits and exemptions for businesses investing in pollution control and recycling equipment in Virginia.

Recycling Credit

Beginning January 1, 1991, through January 1, 1997, a state income tax credit is available to manufacturers for the purchase of machinery and equipment for processing recyclable materials. The credit is equal to 10 percent of the original total capitalized cost of the equipment, and the total credit allowed cannot exceed 40 percent of the Virginia income tax liability in any taxable year. The unused amount of the credit can be carried over for five years. For certification of applicable equipment, contact:

Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Technical Assistance -- Waste
P.O. Box 1105
Richmond, Virginia 23218
(804) 698-4217

Sales and Use Tax Exemptions

Manufacturers and other commercial enterprises receive exemptions from state sales and use taxes for the purchase of pollution control equipment certified by the agency requiring the equipment as a permit condition. Applicability of this exemption to a specific project can be determined during project planning when preliminary discussions are held between the permit applicant and the pollution control agency.

Local Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Exemptions

Local governments in Virginia have the option of exempting or partially exempting pollution control and recycling facilities and equipment from property tax. The current list of localities with the exemption programs is available from: