{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/62.1-44.15_58.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/62.1-44.15_58.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/62.1-44.15_58.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/62.1-44.15_58.1.html"}],"law_id":68747,"edition_id":1,"section_id":68747,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:58.1","catch_line":"Inspections; land-disturbing activities of natural gas pipelines; stop work instructions","history":"2018, c. 297; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 277.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Department is authorized to conduct inspections of the land-disturbing activities of interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline companies that have approved annual standards and specifications pursuant to § 62.1-44.15:55 as such land-disturbing activities relate to construction of any natural gas transmission pipeline equal to or greater than 24 inches inside diameter to determine (i) compliance with such annual standards and specifications, (ii) compliance with any site-specific plans, and (iii) if there have been or are likely to be adverse impacts to water quality as a result of such land-disturbing activities, including instances where (a) there has been a violation of any water quality standard adopted pursuant to the State Water Control Law (§ 62.1-44.2 et seq.), (b) sediment has been deposited in significant amounts in areas where those deposits are not contained by best management practices, (c) there are repeated instances of adverse impacts or likely adverse impacts within a 30-day period, or (d) there have been widespread and repeated instances of adverse impacts or likely impacts. When the Department determines that there has been a substantial adverse impact to water quality or that an imminent and substantial adverse impact to water quality is likely to occur as a result of such land-disturbing activities, the Department may issue a stop work instruction, without advance notice or hearing, requiring that all or part of such land-disturbing activities on the part of the site that caused the substantial adverse impacts to water quality or are likely to cause imminent and substantial adverse impacts to water quality be stopped until corrective measures specified in the stop work instruction have been completed and approved by the Department. Where substantial adverse impacts or likely adverse impacts are found on a repeated, frequent, and widespread basis, the Department may issue a stop work instruction for every work area in Virginia until the Department determines that any systemic cause that contributed to such occurrences has been corrected.\n\t\t\tSuch stop work instruction shall become effective upon service on the company by email or other technology agreed to in writing by the Department and the company, by mailing with confirmation of delivery to the address specified in the annual standards and specifications, if available, or by delivery at the site to a person previously identified to the Department by the company. Upon request by the company, the Director or his designee shall review such stop work instruction within 48 hours of issuance.B\n\nWithin 10 business days of issuance of a stop work instruction, the Department shall promptly provide to such company an opportunity for an informal fact-finding proceeding concerning the stop work instruction and any review by the Director or his designee. Reasonable notice as to the time and place of the informal fact-finding proceeding shall be provided to such company. Within 10 business days of the informal fact-finding proceeding, the Department shall affirm, modify, amend, or cancel such stop work instruction. Upon written documentation from the company of the completion and approval by the Department in writing of the corrective measures specified in the stop work instruction, the instruction shall be immediately lifted.C\n\nThe company may appeal such stop work instruction or preliminary decision rendered by the Director or his designee to the circuit court of the jurisdiction wherein the land-disturbing activities subject to the stop work instruction occurred, or to another appropriate court, in accordance with the requirements of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.). Any person violating or failing, neglecting, or refusing to obey a stop work instruction issued by the Department may be compelled in a proceeding instituted in the circuit court of the jurisdiction wherein the violation was alleged to have occurred or other appropriate court to obey same and to comply therewith by injunction, mandamus, or other appropriate remedy. Nothing in this section shall prevent the Board or the Department from taking any other action authorized by this chapter.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":248873,"text":"The Department is authorized to conduct inspections of the land-disturbing activities of interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline companies that have approved annual standards and specifications pursuant to § 62.1-44.15:55 as such land-disturbing activities relate to construction of any natural gas transmission pipeline equal to or greater than 24 inches inside diameter to determine (i) compliance with such annual standards and specifications, (ii) compliance with any site-specific plans, and (iii) if there have been or are likely to be adverse impacts to water quality as a result of such land-disturbing activities, including instances where (a) there has been a violation of any water quality standard adopted pursuant to the State Water Control Law (§ 62.1-44.2 et seq.), (b) sediment has been deposited in significant amounts in areas where those deposits are not contained by best management practices, (c) there are repeated instances of adverse impacts or likely adverse impacts within a 30-day period, or (d) there have been widespread and repeated instances of adverse impacts or likely impacts. When the Department determines that there has been a substantial adverse impact to water quality or that an imminent and substantial adverse impact to water quality is likely to occur as a result of such land-disturbing activities, the Department may issue a stop work instruction, without advance notice or hearing, requiring that all or part of such land-disturbing activities on the part of the site that caused the substantial adverse impacts to water quality or are likely to cause imminent and substantial adverse impacts to water quality be stopped until corrective measures specified in the stop work instruction have been completed and approved by the Department. Where substantial adverse impacts or likely adverse impacts are found on a repeated, frequent, and widespread basis, the Department may issue a stop work instruction for every work area in Virginia until the Department determines that any systemic cause that contributed to such occurrences has been corrected.\n\t\t\tSuch stop work instruction shall become effective upon service on the company by email or other technology agreed to in writing by the Department and the company, by mailing with confirmation of delivery to the address specified in the annual standards and specifications, if available, or by delivery at the site to a person previously identified to the Department by the company. Upon request by the company, the Director or his designee shall review such stop work instruction within 48 hours of issuance.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":248874,"text":"Within 10 business days of issuance of a stop work instruction, the Department shall promptly provide to such company an opportunity for an informal fact-finding proceeding concerning the stop work instruction and any review by the Director or his designee. Reasonable notice as to the time and place of the informal fact-finding proceeding shall be provided to such company. Within 10 business days of the informal fact-finding proceeding, the Department shall affirm, modify, amend, or cancel such stop work instruction. Upon written documentation from the company of the completion and approval by the Department in writing of the corrective measures specified in the stop work instruction, the instruction shall be immediately lifted.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":248875,"text":"The company may appeal such stop work instruction or preliminary decision rendered by the Director or his designee to the circuit court of the jurisdiction wherein the land-disturbing activities subject to the stop work instruction occurred, or to another appropriate court, in accordance with the requirements of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.). Any person violating or failing, neglecting, or refusing to obey a stop work instruction issued by the Department may be compelled in a proceeding instituted in the circuit court of the jurisdiction wherein the violation was alleged to have occurred or other appropriate court to obey same and to comply therewith by injunction, mandamus, or other appropriate remedy. Nothing in this section shall prevent the Board or the Department from taking any other action authorized by this chapter.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15073,"edition_id":1,"name":"Erosion and Sediment Control Law for Localities Not Administering a Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program","identifier":"2.4","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13014,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:52:00","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:52:00","permalink":{"id":269623,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15073,"identifier":"2.4","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4","url":"\/62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13014,"edition_id":1,"name":"State Water Control Law","identifier":"3.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12909,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:08","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:08","permalink":{"id":269169,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13014,"identifier":"3.1","token":"62.1\/3.1","url":"\/62.1\/3.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12909,"edition_id":1,"name":"Waters of the State, Ports and Harbors","identifier":"62.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:00","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:00","permalink":{"id":268199,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12909,"identifier":"62.1","token":"62.1","url":"\/62.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":59976,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:51","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/62.1-44.15_51\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_51","metadata":false},{"id":77325,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:51.1","catch_line":"Applicability","url":"\/62.1-44.15_51.1\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_51.1","metadata":false},{"id":57827,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:52","catch_line":"Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program","url":"\/62.1-44.15_52\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_52","metadata":false},{"id":58461,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:53","catch_line":"Certification of program personnel","url":"\/62.1-44.15_53\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_53","metadata":false},{"id":59360,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:54","catch_line":"Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program","url":"\/62.1-44.15_54\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_54","metadata":false},{"id":73356,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:55","catch_line":"Regulated land-disturbing activities; submission and approval of erosion and sediment control plan","url":"\/62.1-44.15_55\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_55","metadata":false},{"id":71858,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:55.1","catch_line":"Department review of erosion and sediment control plans for solar projects","url":"\/62.1-44.15_55.1\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_55.1","metadata":false},{"id":63528,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:56","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/62.1-44.15_56\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_56","metadata":false},{"id":60412,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:56.1","catch_line":"Department acceptance of plans in lieu of plan review","url":"\/62.1-44.15_56.1\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_56.1","metadata":false},{"id":78583,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:57","catch_line":"Approved plan required for issuance of grading, building, or other permits; security for performance","url":"\/62.1-44.15_57\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_57","metadata":false},{"id":58785,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:58","catch_line":"Monitoring, reports, and inspections","url":"\/62.1-44.15_58\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_58","metadata":false},{"id":68747,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:58.1","catch_line":"Inspections; land-disturbing activities of natural gas pipelines; stop work instructions","url":"\/62.1-44.15_58.1\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_58.1","metadata":false},{"id":68955,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:59","catch_line":"Reporting","url":"\/62.1-44.15_59\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_59","metadata":false},{"id":66328,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:60","catch_line":"Right of entry","url":"\/62.1-44.15_60\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_60","metadata":false},{"id":86487,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:61","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/62.1-44.15_61\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_61","metadata":false},{"id":63162,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:62","catch_line":"Judicial appeals","url":"\/62.1-44.15_62\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_62","metadata":false},{"id":70738,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:63","catch_line":"Penalties, injunctions and other legal actions","url":"\/62.1-44.15_63\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_63","metadata":false},{"id":57476,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:64","catch_line":"Stop work orders by Board; civil penalties","url":"\/62.1-44.15_64\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_64","metadata":false},{"id":67572,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:65","catch_line":"Authorization for more stringent ordinances","url":"\/62.1-44.15_65\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_65","metadata":false},{"id":73284,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:66","catch_line":"No limitation on authority of Department of Energy","url":"\/62.1-44.15_66\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_66","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":58785,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:58","catch_line":"Monitoring, reports, and inspections","url":"\/62.1-44.15_58\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_58","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":68955,"structure_id":15073,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:59","catch_line":"Reporting","url":"\/62.1-44.15_59\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_59","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/62.1-44.15:58.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2018. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 297<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":86911,"section_number":"2.2-4000","catch_line":"Short title; purpose","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-4000\/"},{"id":73356,"section_number":"62.1-44.15:55","catch_line":"Regulated land-disturbing activities; submission and approval of erosion and sediment control plan","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-44.15_55\/"},{"id":54640,"section_number":"62.1-44.2","catch_line":"Short title; purpose","order_by":null,"url":"\/62.1-44.2\/"}],"permalink":{"id":269669,"object_type":"law","relational_id":68747,"identifier":"62.1-44.15:58.1","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_58.1","url":"\/62.1-44.15_58.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/62.1-44.15_58.1\/","token":"62.1\/3.1\/2.4\/62.1-44.15_58.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Inspections; land-disturbing activities of natural gas pipelines; stop work instructions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 62.1-44.15:58.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Department<\/span> is authorized to conduct inspections of the land-disturbing activities of interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline companies that have approved annual standards<\/span> and specifications pursuant to § 62.1-44.15:55<\/a> as such land-disturbing activities relate to construction of any natural gas transmission pipeline equal to or greater than 24 inches inside diameter to determine (i) compliance with such annual standards<\/span> and specifications, (ii) compliance with any site-specific plans<\/span>, and (iii) if there have been or are likely to be adverse impacts to water quality as a result of such land-disturbing activities, including instances where (a) there has been a violation of any water quality standard adopted pursuant to the State Water Control Law<\/span> (§ 62.1-44.2<\/a> et seq.), (b) sediment has been deposited in significant amounts in areas where those deposits are not contained by best management practices, (c) there are repeated instances of adverse impacts or likely adverse impacts within a 30-day period, or (d) there have been widespread and repeated instances of adverse impacts or likely impacts. When the Department<\/span> determines that there has been a substantial adverse impact to water quality or that an imminent and substantial adverse impact to water quality is likely to occur as a result of such land-disturbing activities, the Department<\/span> may issue<\/span> a stop work instruction, without advance notice or hearing<\/span>, requiring that all or part of such land-disturbing activities on the part of the site that caused the substantial adverse impacts to water quality or are likely to cause imminent and substantial adverse impacts to water quality be stopped until corrective measures specified in the stop work instruction have been completed and approved by the Department<\/span>. Where substantial adverse impacts or likely adverse impacts are found on a repeated, frequent, and widespread basis, the Department<\/span> may issue<\/span> a stop work instruction for every work area in Virginia until the Department<\/span> determines that any systemic cause that contributed to such occurrences has been corrected.\n\t\t\tSuch stop work instruction shall become effective upon service on the company by email or other technology agreed to in writing by the Department<\/span> and the company, by mailing with confirmation of delivery to the address specified in the annual standards<\/span> and specifications, if available, or by delivery at the site to a person<\/span> previously identified to the Department<\/span> by the company. Upon request by the company, the Director<\/span> or his designee shall review such stop work instruction within 48 hours of issuance. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Within 10 business days of issuance of a stop work instruction, the Department<\/span> shall promptly provide to such company an opportunity for an informal fact<\/span>-finding<\/span> proceeding concerning the stop work instruction and any review by the Director<\/span> or his designee. Reasonable notice as to the time and place of the informal fact<\/span>-finding<\/span> proceeding shall be provided to such company. Within 10 business days of the informal fact<\/span>-finding<\/span> proceeding, the Department<\/span> shall affirm<\/span>, modify, amend<\/span>, or cancel such stop work instruction. Upon written documentation from the company of the completion and approval by the Department<\/span> in writing of the corrective measures specified in the stop work instruction, the instruction shall be immediately lifted. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The company may appeal<\/span> such stop work instruction or preliminary decision rendered by the Director<\/span> or his designee to the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of the jurisdiction<\/span> wherein the land-disturbing activities subject to the stop work instruction occurred, or to another appropriate court<\/span>, in accordance with the requirements of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000<\/a> et seq.). Any person<\/span> violating or failing, neglecting, or refusing to obey a stop work instruction issued by the Department<\/span> may be compelled in a proceeding instituted in the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of the jurisdiction<\/span> wherein the violation was alleged to have occurred or other appropriate court<\/span> to obey same and to comply therewith by injunction<\/span>, mandamus, or other appropriate remedy. Nothing in this section shall prevent the Board<\/span> or the Department<\/span> from taking any other action authorized by this chapter. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nINSPECTIONS; LAND-DISTURBING ACTIVITIES OF NATURAL GAS PIPELINES; STOP WORK\nINSTRUCTIONS (\u00a7 62.1-44.15:58.1)\n\nA. The Department is authorized to conduct inspections of the land-disturbing\nactivities of interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline companies that have\napproved annual standards and specifications pursuant to § 62.1-44.15:55 as\nsuch land-disturbing activities relate to construction of any natural gas\ntransmission pipeline equal to or greater than 24 inches inside diameter to\ndetermine (i) compliance with such annual standards and specifications, (ii)\ncompliance with any site-specific plans, and (iii) if there have been or are\nlikely to be adverse impacts to water quality as a result of such\nland-disturbing activities, including instances where (a) there has been a\nviolation of any water quality standard adopted pursuant to the State Water\nControl Law (§ 62.1-44.2 et seq.), (b) sediment has been deposited in\nsignificant amounts in areas where those deposits are not contained by best\nmanagement practices, (c) there are repeated instances of adverse impacts or\nlikely adverse impacts within a 30-day period, or (d) there have been widespread\nand repeated instances of adverse impacts or likely impacts. When the Department\ndetermines that there has been a substantial adverse impact to water quality or\nthat an imminent and substantial adverse impact to water quality is likely to\noccur as a result of such land-disturbing activities, the Department may issue a\nstop work instruction, without advance notice or hearing, requiring that all or\npart of such land-disturbing activities on the part of the site that caused the\nsubstantial adverse impacts to water quality or are likely to cause imminent and\nsubstantial adverse impacts to water quality be stopped until corrective\nmeasures specified in the stop work instruction have been completed and approved\nby the Department. Where substantial adverse impacts or likely adverse impacts\nare found on a repeated, frequent, and widespread basis, the Department may\nissue a stop work instruction for every work area in Virginia until the\nDepartment determines that any systemic cause that contributed to such\noccurrences has been corrected.\n\t\t\tSuch stop work instruction shall become effective upon service on the company\nby email or other technology agreed to in writing by the Department and the\ncompany, by mailing with confirmation of delivery to the address specified in\nthe annual standards and specifications, if available, or by delivery at the\nsite to a person previously identified to the Department by the company. Upon\nrequest by the company, the Director or his designee shall review such stop work\ninstruction within 48 hours of issuance.\n\nB. Within 10 business days of issuance of a stop work instruction, the\nDepartment shall promptly provide to such company an opportunity for an informal\nfact-finding proceeding concerning the stop work instruction and any review by\nthe Director or his designee. Reasonable notice as to the time and place of the\ninformal fact-finding proceeding shall be provided to such company. Within 10\nbusiness days of the informal fact-finding proceeding, the Department shall\naffirm, modify, amend, or cancel such stop work instruction. Upon written\ndocumentation from the company of the completion and approval by the Department\nin writing of the corrective measures specified in the stop work instruction,\nthe instruction shall be immediately lifted.\n\nC. The company may appeal such stop work instruction or preliminary decision\nrendered by the Director or his designee to the circuit court of the\njurisdiction wherein the land-disturbing activities subject to the stop work\ninstruction occurred, or to another appropriate court, in accordance with the\nrequirements of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.). Any\nperson violating or failing, neglecting, or refusing to obey a stop work\ninstruction issued by the Department may be compelled in a proceeding instituted\nin the circuit court of the jurisdiction wherein the violation was alleged to\nhave occurred or other appropriate court to obey same and to comply therewith by\ninjunction, mandamus, or other appropriate remedy. Nothing in this section shall\nprevent the Board or the Department from taking any other action authorized by\nthis chapter.\n\nHISTORY: 2018, c. 297; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 277.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}