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1998 SESSION
980366719
[ Whereas, Smith Mountain Lake experienced significant water quality
problems during the summer of 1997, including e. coli contamination, which may
result from the discharge of sewage from boats; and
Whereas, contact with water contaminated with e. coli can have severe
health effects, and several people were sickened by e. coli contamination in
Smith Mountain Lake; and Whereas, Smith Mountain Lake was recently
approved as a safe source for public drinking water; and ]
Whereas, prohibiting the discharge of sewage from boats would improve water quality in Smith Mountain Lake; and
Whereas, Section 312 of the federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1322) provides that a "State may completely prohibit the discharge from all vessels of any sewage, whether treated or not, into [any] waters, except that no such prohibition shall apply until the Administrator determines that adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary removal and treatment from all vessels are reasonably available for such water to which such prohibition would apply"; now, therefore
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. § 1. That the State Water Control Board shall petition the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency to approve the designation of Smith Mountain Lake as a no-discharge zone for boat sewage. If such approval is granted, the Board shall prohibit the discharge from all vessels of any sewage into Smith Mountain Lake.