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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>85305</law_id><section_number>3.2-702</section_number><catch_line>Abundance surveys; eradication or suppression of pests</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="7">Tree and Crop Pests</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Pests</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall direct abundance surveys for plant <span class="dictionary">pests</span> and may carry out operations or measures to locate, <span class="dictionary">suppress</span>, control, eradicate, prevent, or retard the spread of <span class="dictionary">pests</span>. When the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> determines that a new or dangerous or highly injurious plant <span class="dictionary">pest</span> exists within the Commonwealth or that an established <span class="dictionary">pest</span> requires control and the nature of the <span class="dictionary">pest</span> dictates immediate action, he may proceed with eradication or suppression. Provided further, that whenever the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> intends to go upon any property for the purpose of eradicating or suppressing <span class="dictionary">pests</span>, he shall before entering upon any such property, give a written notice to the owner or occupant thereof at least 24 hours prior to such entry, setting forth in detail the purpose or purposes for which such entry shall be made.
		In the event the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> determines a plant <span class="dictionary">pest</span> does not require immediate action, he shall report his <span class="dictionary">findings</span>, including the nature of the <span class="dictionary">pest</span> and method of proposed treatment, to the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> in writing and to the property owners or <span class="dictionary">persons</span> in charge of the property concerned by printing a copy thereof, at least once, in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the locality concerned. In case of objection to the action proposed, an <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> shall lie to the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. Such <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> shall be taken within seven days from the <span class="dictionary">issue</span> of the notice and shall act as a <span class="dictionary">stay</span> of proceedings insofar as the property of the <span class="dictionary">person</span> noting the <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> is concerned until it is heard and decided.</p></section></text><history>1975, c. 29, &#xA7; 3.1-188.22; 1980, c. 291; 2008, c. 860.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
