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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>55763</law_id><section_number>62.1-44.5</section_number><catch_line>Prohibition of waste discharges or other quality alterations of state waters except as authorized by permit; notification required</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>62.1-44.19:6</reference><reference>62.1-44.3</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="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Except in compliance with a <span class="dictionary">certificate</span>, <span class="dictionary">land-disturbance approval</span>, or permit issued by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> or other entity authorized by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> to <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a <span class="dictionary">certificate</span>, <span class="dictionary">land-disturbance approval</span>, or permit pursuant to this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any <span class="dictionary">person</span> to: <a id="paragraph-204327" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-44.5/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Discharge into <span class="dictionary">state waters</span> <span class="dictionary">sewage</span>, <span class="dictionary">industrial wastes</span>, <span class="dictionary">other wastes</span>, or any noxious or deleterious substances; <a id="paragraph-204328" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-44.5/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> <span class="dictionary">Excavate</span> in a wetland; <a id="paragraph-204329" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-44.5/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Otherwise alter the physical, chemical, or biological properties of <span class="dictionary">state waters</span> and make them detrimental to the public health, or to animal or aquatic life, or to the uses of such waters for domestic or industrial consumption, or for recreation, or for other uses; <a id="paragraph-204330" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-44.5/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> On and after October 1, 2001, conduct the following activities in a wetland:
				a. New activities to cause draining that significantly alters or degrades existing wetland acreage or functions;
				b. Filling or dumping;
				c. Permanent flooding or impounding; or
				d. New activities that cause significant alteration or degradation of existing wetland acreage or functions; or <a id="paragraph-204331" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-44.5/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Discharge stormwater into <span class="dictionary">state waters</span> from <span class="dictionary">Municipal Separate Storm Sewer</span> Systems or land disturbing activities. <a id="paragraph-204332" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-44.5/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> in violation of the provisions of subsection A who discharges or causes or allows (i) a discharge of <span class="dictionary">sewage</span>, industrial waste, <span class="dictionary">other wastes</span>, or any noxious or deleterious substance into or upon <span class="dictionary">state waters</span> or (ii) a discharge that may reasonably be expected to enter <span class="dictionary">state waters</span> shall, upon learning of the discharge, promptly notify, but in no case later than 24 hours the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Environmental Quality, or the coordinator of emergency services appointed pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Powers and duties of political subdivisions" href="/44-146.19/">44-146.19</a> for the political subdivision reasonably expected to be affected by the discharge. Written notice to the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Environmental Quality shall follow initial notice within the time frame specified by the federal Clean Water Act. <a id="paragraph-204333" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/62.1-44.5/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 62.1-17; 1968, c. 659; 1970, c. 638; 1990, c. 717; 1996, c. 119; 2000, cc. 1032, 1054; 2001, cc. 354, 383; 2004, c. 372; 2013, cc. 756, 793; 2016, cc. 68, 758.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
