<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".31" citation="COMAR 09.12.01.31" title_num="09" subtitle_num="12" chapter_num="01" heading="Variance from Regulation.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>A person who believes that a regulation is unreasonable or imposes an undue burden on an owner may request the Board of Boiler Rules to grant a variance from that regulation.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>An application for variance shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Be in writing;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Specify the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Name and address of the applicant,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Regulation from which the applicant seeks a variance,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Location, equipment, and practices involved;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>State:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>In detail, the reasons why the applicant requests the variance, and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The steps the applicant has taken and will take, with specific dates when appropriate, to protect employees and the public against the hazard covered by the regulation;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Certify that the applicant has given appropriate notice of the application to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The applicant's employees affected by the variance,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>All authorized representatives of the affected employees, and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Other persons affected by the condition for which a variance is sought;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Include a:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Copy or description of the required notice, and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>List of the names and addresses of persons entitled to notice.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Order of Variance.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>After an investigation and such hearing as it may direct, the Board of Boiler Rules may grant a variance from a regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An order of variance may impose special conditions necessary to ensure equivalent safety.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>When there is reason to believe, or when a complaint is received, that a variance does not provide safety equivalent to the regulation, the Board of Boiler Rules may continue, suspend, revoke, or modify the conditions specified in a variance order after:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Notice to the owner and to the complainant, if any; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Such investigation and hearing as the Board of Boiler Rules may direct.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>A declaration, act, or omission of the Board of Boiler Rules, the chief boiler inspector, a deputy boiler inspector, or a special inspector, other than a written order authorizing a variance in accordance with this regulation, may not exempt an owner from full compliance with this chapter.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>