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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>84825</law_id><section_number>62.1-257</section_number><catch_line>When Board may initiate a ground water management area study proceeding; hearing required</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="62.1">Waters of the State, Ports and Harbors</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="25">Ground Water Management Act of 1992</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> upon its own <span class="dictionary">motion</span> or, in its discretion, upon receipt of a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> by any county, city or town within the area in question, may initiate a <span class="dictionary">ground water</span> management area proceeding, whenever in its <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> there may be reason to believe that: <a id="paragraph-303924" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-257/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> <span class="dictionary">Ground water</span> levels in the area are declining or are expected to decline excessively; <a id="paragraph-303925" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-257/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The wells of two or more <span class="dictionary">ground water</span> users within the area are interfering or may reasonably be expected to interfere substantially with one another; <a id="paragraph-303926" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-257/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The available <span class="dictionary">ground water</span> supply has been or may be overdrawn; or <a id="paragraph-303927" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-257/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The <span class="dictionary">ground water</span> in the area has been or may become polluted. Such pollution includes any alteration of the physical, chemical or biological properties of <span class="dictionary">ground water</span> which has a harmful or detrimental effect on the quality or quantity of such waters. <a id="paragraph-303928" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-257/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> finds that any one of the conditions required above exists, and further finds that the public welfare, safety and health require that regulatory efforts be initiated, the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall by regulation declare the area in question to be a <span class="dictionary">ground water</span> management area. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall include in its regulation a definition of the boundaries of the <span class="dictionary">ground water</span> management area. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall mail a copy of the regulation to the mayor or chairman of the governing body of each county, city or town within which any part of the area lies. <a id="paragraph-303929" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-257/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1992, c. 812.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
