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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>87379</law_id><section_number>62.1-44.19:6</section_number><catch_line>Citizen right-to-know provisions</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="3.1">State Water Control Law</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="4.01">Water Quality Monitoring, Information and Restoration Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, based on the information in the 303(d) and 305(b) reports, shall: <a id="paragraph-312884" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-44.19_6/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Request the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Wildlife Resources or the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to post notices at public access points to all <span class="dictionary">toxic impaired waters</span>. The notice shall be prepared by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> and shall contain (i) the basis for the impaired designation and (ii) a statement of the potential health risks provided by the Virginia <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Health. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall annually notify local newspapers, and <span class="dictionary">persons</span> who request notice, of any posting and its contents. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall coordinate with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Wildlife Resources to assure that adequate notice of posted waters is provided to those purchasing hunting and fishing licenses. <a id="paragraph-312885" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-44.19_6/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Maintain a &#x201C;citizen hot-line&#x201D; for citizens to obtain, either telephonically or electronically, information about the condition of waterways, including information on <span class="dictionary">toxics</span>, toxic discharges, permit violations and other water quality related <span class="dictionary">issues</span>. <a id="paragraph-312886" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-44.19_6/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Make information regarding the presence of <span class="dictionary">toxics</span> in fish tissue and sediments available to the public on the Internet and through other reasonable means for at least five years after the information is received by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Environmental Quality. The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Environmental Quality shall post on the Internet and in the Virginia Register on or about January 1 and July 1 of each year an announcement of any new data that has been received over the past six months and shall make a copy of the information available upon request. <a id="paragraph-312887" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-44.19_6/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Environmental Quality shall provide to the Virginia <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Health and local newspapers, television stations, and radio stations, and shall disseminate via official social media accounts and email notification lists, the discharge information reported to the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Environmental Quality pursuant to subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Prohibition of waste discharges or other quality alterations of state waters except as authorized by permit; notification required" href="/62.1-44.5/">62.1-44.5</a>, when the Virginia <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Health determines that the discharge may be detrimental to the public health or the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> determines that the discharge may impair <span class="dictionary">beneficial uses</span> of <span class="dictionary">state waters</span>. <a id="paragraph-312888" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-44.19_6/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1997, c. 519; 2000, cc. 17, 1043; 2020, cc. 958, 1182.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
