<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>78314</law_id><section_number>45.2-1643</section_number><catch_line> Interference by injection wells with groundwater supply</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="45.2">Mines, Minerals, and Energy</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Gas and Oil</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="16">Virginia Gas and Oil Act</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="3">Regulation of Gas and Oil Development and Production</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> For purposes of this section:
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Beneficial use</span>&#x201D; means the same as that term is defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/62.1-255/">62.1-255</a>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Groundwater</span>&#x201D; means the same as that term is defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/62.1-255/">62.1-255</a>. <a id="paragraph-280720" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1643/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any person who owns or operates an <span class="dictionary">injection well</span> in a manner that proximately causes the contamination or diminution of <span class="dictionary">groundwater</span> used for a <span class="dictionary">beneficial use</span> by any person who resides within the lesser of (i) the area of review required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the permitting of such <span class="dictionary">injection well</span> or (ii) a one-half-mile radius of the well shall provide the person with a replacement water supply. A replacement water supply shall provide the person with water of equivalent quality and quantity as was provided by <span class="dictionary">groundwater</span> prior to the contamination or diminution of the water supply resulting from the operation of the <span class="dictionary">injection well</span>. A replacement water supply shall include the provision of necessary storage and service facilities. <a id="paragraph-280721" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1643/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> This section shall apply to any <span class="dictionary">injection well</span> operating under a permit from the <span class="dictionary">Director</span>. <a id="paragraph-280722" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1643/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1992, c. 324, &#xA7; 45.1-361.41; 1993, c. 276; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
