RCW 82.34.100 Revision of prior findings of appropriate control agency—Grounds for modification or revocation of certificate or supplement—Exemptions from revocation.

(1) The department of ecology, after notice to the department and the applicant and after affording the applicant an opportunity for a hearing, shall, on its own initiative or on complaint of the local or regional air pollution control agency in which an air pollution control facility is located, or is expected to be located, revise the prior findings of the appropriate control agency whenever any of the following appears:

(a) The certificate or supplement thereto was obtained by fraud or misrepresentation, or the holder of the certificate has failed substantially without good cause to proceed with the construction, reconstruction, installation or acquisition of a facility or without good cause has failed substantially to operate the facility for the purpose specified by the appropriate control agency in which case the department shall modify or revoke the certificate. If the certificate and/or supplement are revoked, all applicable taxes from which an exemption has been secured under this chapter or against which the credit provided for by this chapter has been claimed shall be immediately due and payable with the maximum interest and penalties prescribed by applicable law. No statute of limitations shall operate in the event of fraud or misrepresentation.

(b) The facility covered by the certificate or supplement thereto is no longer operated primarily for the purpose of the control or reduction of water pollution or the control, capture, and removal of pollutants from the air, as the case may be, or is no longer suitable or reasonably adequate to meet the intent and purposes of chapter 70.94 RCW or chapter 90.48 RCW, in which case the certificate shall be modified or revoked.

(2) A certificate, or supplement thereto, issued pursuant to RCW 82.34.030 may not be revoked if:

(a) The facility is modified, but is still operated primarily for the purpose of the control or reduction of water pollution or the control, capture, and removal of pollutants from the air and is reasonably adequate to meet the intent and purposes of chapter 70.94 or 90.48 RCW;

(b) The facility is replaced by a new or different facility that is still operated primarily for the purpose of the control or reduction of water pollution or the control, capture, and removal of pollutants from the air and is reasonably adequate to meet the intent and purposes of chapter 70.94 or 90.48 RCW;

(c) The facility is modified or removed as a result of an alteration of the production process and the alteration results in reasonably adequate compliance with the intent and purposes of chapter 70.94 or 90.48 RCW;

(d) The industrial, manufacturing, waste disposal, utility, or other commercial establishment in which the facility was installed ceases operations and the cessation of operation results in reasonably adequate compliance with the intent and purposes of chapter 70.94 or 90.48 RCW;

(e) Part of an industrial, manufacturing, waste disposal, utility, or other commercial establishment in which the facility was installed ceases operations and the cessation of operation results in reasonably adequate compliance with the intent and purposes of chapter 70.94 or 90.48 RCW; or

(f) The industrial, manufacturing, waste disposal, utility, or other commercial establishment in which the facility was installed is altered and the alteration results in reasonably adequate compliance with the intent and purposes of chapter 70.94 or 90.48 RCW.

(3) Upon the date of mailing by certified mail to the certificate holder of notice of the action of the department modifying or revoking a certificate or supplement, the certificate or supplement shall cease to be in force or shall remain in force only as modified.

[ 1998 c 9 § 1; 1988 c 127 § 37; 1967 ex.s. c 139 § 10.]