The department may grant a participant a variance from a requirement in South Carolina environmental law that would otherwise apply to a facility covered by a cooperative agreement if the variance does one or more of the following:
(1) achieves measurable emissions reductions or reductions in discharges of waste that exceed otherwise applicable statutory and regulatory requirements through the use of innovative environmental approaches;
(2) provides for alternative monitoring, testing, recordkeeping, notification, or reporting requirements that reduce the administrative burden on the department or the participant and that provides the information needed to ensure compliance with the cooperative agreement and the provisions of South Carolina environmental law for which the cooperative agreement does not grant a variance; or
(3) achieves natural resource conservation or reductions in the use of natural resources or energy consumption.
HISTORY: 2002 Act No. 318, Section 1.