SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2016 SESSION

  • | print version

SB 118 Ground water conservation incentive program; State Water Control Bd. to establish voluntary program.

Introduced by: L. Louise Lucas | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Conservation of ground water. Directs the State Water Control Board to establish a voluntary ground water conservation incentive program. The program is designed to provide incentives to those ground water permittees who agree to adopt measures that would (i) substantially reduce their reliance on ground water, (ii) transition to alternative water sources, or (iii) develop necessary infrastructure. The permittee would have to agree to either a 50 percent reduction in the amount authorized by its permit or certificate that is in effect on January 1, 2015, or achieve a comparable level of conservation by any combination of authorized withdrawal amount reduction and alternative options approved by the Board. These conditions are referred to as "qualification criteria" and will be used to determine the permittee's eligibility for the program. If a permittee is accepted into the program he will have a transition period, not to exceed 15 years, to meet the criteria. Each permittee that agrees to the qualification will have the benefit of a "regulatory certainty" period of 20 years during which the amount of withdrawal cannot be reduced, except in limited circumstances.


FULL TEXT

HISTORY