<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>73080</law_id><section_number>3.2-406</section_number><catch_line>Penalties; injunctions; enforcement actions</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="3.2">Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">General Provisions; Protection and Promotion of Agriculture</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="4">Agricultural Stewardship</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any person violating &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Issuance of corrective orders" href="/3.2-403/">3.2-403</a> or <a class="law" title="Right of entry; court enforcement" href="/3.2-404/">3.2-404</a> shall be subject to a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> not to exceed $5,000 for every violation assessed by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> or <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. Each day the violation continues is a separate <span class="dictionary">offense</span>. Payments to satisfy such penalties shall be deposited in a nonreverting, special fund to be used by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Conservation and Recreation to provide financial assistance to persons implementing <span class="dictionary">measures</span> specified in the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Manual. No person who has been assessed a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> under this section shall be eligible for such financial assistance until the violation has been corrected and the <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> paid. <a id="paragraph-263157" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-406/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> In determining the amount of any <span class="dictionary">penalty</span>, factors to be considered shall include the willfulness of the violation, any history of noncompliance, the actions of the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> or <span class="dictionary">operator</span> in notifying, containing and cleaning up any discharge, the damage or injury to <span class="dictionary">state waters</span> or the impairment of its uses, and the nature and degree of injury to or interference with general health, welfare and property. <a id="paragraph-263158" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-406/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> shall, upon request, bring an action for an <span class="dictionary">injunction</span> or other appropriate legal action on behalf of the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> or <span class="dictionary">Board</span> to enforce the provisions of this chapter. <a id="paragraph-263159" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/3.2-406/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1996, c. 773, &#xA7; 10.1-559.7; 2008, c. 860.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
