Variance Requests
Variance requests allow permittees to seek relief from specific permit conditions under clearly defined circumstances.
Water quality variances modify water quality criteria for specific pollutants when natural conditions, background levels, or economic considerations justify the modification.
Fundamentally different factors variances allow categorical effluent guidelines to be modified when a facility's circumstances differ significantly from the assumptions underlying the guideline.
Variances are time-limited and require extensive documentation — they're not blanket relief from compliance, and they're not appropriate when the issue is operational or financial rather than fundamental.
Engage variance discussions early; the variance request process typically takes significant time and resources, and starting late makes the variance useless even if eventually granted.
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