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1999 SESSION

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984406316
HOUSE BILL NO. 891 Offered January 26, 1998 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 5 of Title 7.1 a section numbered 7.1-40.11, relating to the designation of a state soil. ----------
Patrons-- May, Abbitt, Almand, Barlow, Bryant, Davies, Davis, Day, Diamonstein, Dickinson, Dillard, Grayson, Ingram, Johnson, Katzen, Morgan, Murphy, Ruff, Wagner and Wardrup; Senators: Colgan, Holland, Marye, Miller, K.G., Mims, Norment, Saslaw and Schrock
---------- Referred to Committee on General Laws ----------

Whereas, soil plays a vital role in crop production, protection of the environment and augmentation of our other natural resources; and

Whereas, soil is important to the residents of the Commonwealth, because without soil, life as we know it could not exist; and

Whereas, Virginia is blessed with rivers whose watersheds cover several physiographic regions and a history that goes back to the beginnings of our state, and beyond; and

Whereas, Pamunkey soil, named after the Pamunkey River, was originally formed as sediments which were deposited on the floodplains and delta of the James River which crosses the entire state; and

Whereas, used first by the River Indian Nations to grow their crops, and eventually by the settlers at Jamestown, Pamunkey soil created an environment which was conducive to plant growth; and

Whereas, this soil's high natural fertility makes it one of Virginia's prime agricultural soils; and

Whereas, the richness of the soil in Virginia was a significant factor in the successful founding of the Virginia colony which led to the formation of the United States of America; and

Whereas, designating Pamunkey soil as the state soil will encourage public recognition of the significance of soil in our lives and will promote the wise use and conservation of valuable soil resources; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 5 of Title 7.1 a section numbered 7.1-40.11 as follows:

§ 7.1-40.11. Official soil.

Pamunkey soil is hereby designated as the official soil of the Commonwealth.