<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82013</law_id><section_number>62.1-44.34:14</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-8</reference><reference>62.1-44.15</reference><reference>62.1-44.15:4.1</reference><reference>62.1-44.34:11</reference></referred_to_by><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="11">Discharge of Oil Into Waters</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this article unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Aboveground storage tank</span>&#x201D; means any one or combination of <span class="dictionary">tanks</span>, including pipes, used to contain an accumulation of <span class="dictionary">oil</span> at atmospheric pressure, and the volume of which, including the volume of the pipes, is more than ninety percent above the surface of the ground. This term does not include line pipe and breakout <span class="dictionary">tanks</span> of an interstate <span class="dictionary">pipeline</span> regulated under the Hazardous Liquid <span class="dictionary">Pipeline</span> Safety Act of 1979 or the Natural Gas <span class="dictionary">Pipeline</span> Safety Act of 1968, as amended.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Containment and cleanup</span>&#x201D; means abatement, containment, removal and disposal of <span class="dictionary">oil</span> and, to the extent possible, the restoration of the environment to its existing state prior to an <span class="dictionary">oil</span> <span class="dictionary">discharge</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Discharge</span>&#x201D; means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying or dumping.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Facility</span>&#x201D; means any development or installation within the Commonwealth that deals in, stores or handles <span class="dictionary">oil</span>, and includes a <span class="dictionary">pipeline</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Oil</span>&#x201D; means <span class="dictionary">oil</span> of any kind and in any form, including, but not limited to, petroleum and petroleum by-products, fuel <span class="dictionary">oil</span>, lubricating <span class="dictionary">oils</span>, sludge, <span class="dictionary">oil</span> refuse, <span class="dictionary">oil</span> mixed with <span class="dictionary">other wastes</span>, crude <span class="dictionary">oils</span> and all other liquid hydrocarbons regardless of specific gravity.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Operator</span>&#x201D; means any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who owns, operates, charters, rents or otherwise exercises control over or responsibility for a <span class="dictionary">facility</span> or a <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> or vessel.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Person</span>&#x201D; means any firm, corporation, association or partnership, one or more individuals, or any governmental unit or agency thereof.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Pipeline</span>&#x201D; means all new and existing pipe, rights-of-way, and any equipment, <span class="dictionary">facility</span>, or building used in the transportation of <span class="dictionary">oil</span>, including, but not limited to, line pipe, valves and other appurtenances connected to line pipe, pumping units, fabricated assemblies associated with pumping units, metering and delivery stations and fabricated assemblies therein, and breakout <span class="dictionary">tanks</span>.
		&#x201C;Tank&#x201D; means a device designed to contain an accumulation of <span class="dictionary">oil</span> and constructed of nonearthen <span class="dictionary">materials</span>, such as concrete, steel or plastic, which provide structural support. This term does not include flow-through process <span class="dictionary">tanks</span> as defined in 40 CFR Part 280.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Tank vessel</span>&#x201D; means any vessel used in the transportation of <span class="dictionary">oil</span> as cargo.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Vehicle</span>&#x201D; means any motor <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span>, rolling stock or other artificial contrivance for transport whether self-propelled or otherwise, except <span class="dictionary">vessels</span>.
		&#x201C;Vessel&#x201D; includes every description of watercraft or other contrivance used as a means of transporting on water, whether self-propelled or otherwise, and shall include barges and tugs.</p></section></text><history>1973, c. 417; 1976, c. 51; 1978, c. 816; 1990, c. 917; 1992, c. 456; 1994, c. 277; 1996, c. 737.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
