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2001 SESSION


CHAPTER 831
An Act to amend and reenact § 62.1-44.19:3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to sewage sludge.
[H 2827]
Approved April 4, 2001

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 62.1-44.19:3 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 62.1-44.19:3. Prohibition on land application, marketing and distribution of sewage sludge without permit.

A. No owner of a sewage treatment works shall land apply, market or distribute sewage sludge from such treatment works except in compliance with a valid Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit issued by the Board.

B. No person shall contract or propose to contract, with the owner of a sewage treatment works, to land apply, market or distribute sewage sludge in the Commonwealth, nor shall any person land apply, market or distribute sewage sludge in the Commonwealth without a current Virginia Pollution Abatement Permit from the Board or a current permit from the State Health Commissioner authorizing land application, marketing or distribution of sewage sludge and specifying the location or locations, and the terms and conditions of such land application, marketing or distribution.

C. Any county, city or town may adopt an ordinance that provides for the testing and monitoring of the land application of sewage sludge within its political boundaries to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

D. Not later than January 1, 2003, the Board of Health shall adopt regulations requiring the payment of a fee for the land application of sewage sludge, pursuant to permits issued under subsection B, in counties, cities or towns that have adopted ordinances in accordance with subsection C. The person land applying sewage sludge shall (i) provide advance notice of the estimated fee to the generator of the sewage sludge unless notification is waived, (ii) collect the fee from the generator, and (iii) remit the fee to the Department of Health as provided for by regulation. The fee shall not exceed the amount necessary to reimburse the direct costs for a reasonable amount of testing and for the monitoring of the land application of sewage sludge by counties, cities and towns that have adopted such ordinances. The fee shall be imposed on each dry ton of sewage sludge that is land applied in such counties, cities and towns in accordance with the regulations adopted by the Board of Health. The regulations shall include requirements and procedures for:

1. Collection of fees by the Department of Health;

2. Retention of proceeds in a special nonreverting fund to be administered by the Department of Health; and

3. Disbursement of proceeds by the Department of Health to reimburse counties, cities and towns with duly adopted ordinances providing for the testing and monitoring of the land application of sewage sludge, as provided for in this subsection.