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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>67720</law_id><section_number>28.2-809</section_number><catch_line>Emergency closing of ground</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="28.2">Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Tidal Fisheries</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="8">Health and Sanitation Provisions</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="2">Control of Crustacea, Finfish and Shellfish; Violations and Penalties</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The State Health <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> may close any <span class="dictionary">crustacea</span>, <span class="dictionary">finfish</span> or <span class="dictionary">shellfish</span> growing area without a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> or an investigation, if he has substantial <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> or information that such area is polluted or likely to be polluted. In such event, the State Health <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall, within thirty days after such closure or declaration, either reopen the area or make the examination, inspection, and analysis provided for in &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Examination, analysis and inspection" href="/28.2-803/">28.2-803</a> through <a class="law" title="Periods of condemnation" href="/28.2-808/">28.2-808</a>. If such grounds or area is not reopened or declared not polluted within thirty days after closure or declaration of pollution, any leaseholder in the growing area may demand and have a public <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> as to the conditions of the ground or area.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 28-162; 1962, c. 406, &#xA7; 28.1-178; 1992, c. 836.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
