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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>58075</law_id><section_number>10.1-2132</section_number><catch_line>Nonpoint source pollution funding; conditions for approval</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="10.1">Conservation</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Activities Administered by Other Entities</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="21.1">Virginia Water Quality Improvement Act of 1997</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="4">Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The Department of Conservation and Recreation shall be the lead state agency for determining the appropriateness of any grant related to <span class="dictionary">nonpoint source pollution</span> to be made from the <span class="dictionary">Fund</span> to restore, protect and improve the quality of <span class="dictionary">state waters</span>. <a id="paragraph-212724" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-2132/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation shall, subject to available <span class="dictionary">funds</span> and in coordination with the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality, direct the State Treasurer to make <span class="dictionary">Water Quality Improvement Grants</span> in accordance with the guidelines established pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Agency coordination; conditions of grants" href="/10.1-2129/">10.1-2129</a>. The Director shall manage the allocation of grants from the <span class="dictionary">Fund</span> to ensure the full funding of executed grant agreements. <a id="paragraph-212725" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-2132/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Grant funding may be made available to <span class="dictionary">local governments</span>, soil and water conservation districts, <span class="dictionary">institutions of higher education</span> and <span class="dictionary">individuals</span> who propose specific initiatives that are clearly demonstrated as likely to achieve reductions in <span class="dictionary">nonpoint source pollution</span>, including, but not limited to, excess nutrients and suspended solids, to improve the quality of <span class="dictionary">state waters</span>. Such projects may include, but are in no way limited to, the acquisition of conservation easements related to the protection of water quality and stream buffers; conservation planning and design assistance to develop nutrient management plans for agricultural operations; instructional education directly associated with the implementation or maintenance of a specific <span class="dictionary">nonpoint source pollution</span> reduction initiative; the replacement or modification of residential onsite sewage systems to include nitrogen removal capabilities; implementation of cost-effective nutrient reduction practices; and reimbursement to <span class="dictionary">local governments</span> for tax credits and other kinds of authorized local tax relief that provides incentives for water quality improvement. The Director shall give priority consideration to the distribution of grants from the <span class="dictionary">Fund</span> for the purposes of implementing any applicable regulations, permits, or the Chesapeake Bay TMDL Watershed Implementation Plan, with a priority given to agricultural practices. In no single year shall more than 60 percent of the moneys be used for projects or practices exclusively within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. <a id="paragraph-212726" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-2132/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation shall manage the allocation of <span class="dictionary">Water Quality Improvement Grants</span> from the Virginia Natural Resources Commitment <span class="dictionary">Fund</span> established under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund established" href="/10.1-2128.1/">10.1-2128.1</a>. <a id="paragraph-212727" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/10.1-2132/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1997, cc. 21, 625, 626; 1999, cc. 257, 509, 549; 2005, cc. 704, 707, 709; 2008, cc. 643, 701; 2009, c. 695; 2015, c. 164.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
