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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>55912</law_id><section_number>62.1-44.34:39</section_number><catch_line>Enforcement; civil penalties</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="14">Hazardous Substance Facility Response Plans</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In the event of a (i) violation of any provision of this article or a related <span class="dictionary">regulation</span> or administrative or judicial order or term or condition of approval issued under this article or (ii) failure to comply with a <span class="dictionary">special order</span> issued by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> pursuant to this section, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> is authorized to proceed by <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> to obtain an <span class="dictionary">injunction</span> of such violation, to obtain any affirmative <span class="dictionary">equitable</span> relief that is appropriate, and to recover all costs, <span class="dictionary">damages</span>, and civil penalties resulting from such violation or failure to comply. The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall be entitled to an award of reasonable attorney fees and costs in any action in which it is a prevailing <span class="dictionary">party</span>. <a id="paragraph-204831" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-44.34_39/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> that negligently, willfully, or knowingly (i) <span class="dictionary">discharges</span> or causes to <span class="dictionary">discharge</span> a <span class="dictionary">hazardous substance</span> from a <span class="dictionary">facility</span> or (ii) fails to implement or comply with an <span class="dictionary">EPA</span>-approved <span class="dictionary">facility</span> response plan is subject to a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> of not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000 for the initial violation and $1,000 per day for each day of such violation thereafter. Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> that fails to report a <span class="dictionary">discharge</span> or willfully or knowingly makes any false statement or representation regarding such <span class="dictionary">discharge</span> as described is subject to a civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> of not less than $1,000 nor more than $50,000 for the initial violation and $10,000 for each day of such violation thereafter. Such civil penalties shall be paid into the state treasury and deposited by the State Treasurer into the Virginia Environmental Emergency Response Fund established pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Virginia Environmental Emergency Response Fund established" href="/10.1-2500/">10.1-2500</a>. <a id="paragraph-204832" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-44.34_39/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2025, c. 279.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
