If a business is or will be in violation of a District Rule and there is good reason why immediate compliance cannot be attained, and the business must continue operating in noncompliance, then the business has the option of petitioning for a variance from the
Hearing Board. A variance is an administrative order granting temporary relief from a District rule for a specific period of time. A variance, if granted, allows a business to operate while steps are taken to come into compliance.
Besides hearing requests for variances from air quality rules, the Hearing Board also hears appeals of operating permits issued by the District and considers District requests for permit revocations and abatement orders. The Hearing Board does not have jurisdiction over Notices of Violation issued by the District.
