The Board, in meeting its responsibilities under the cooperative program established by this article, after consultation with other appropriate agencies, is authorized and has the duty to:

Terms Used In Virginia Code 10.1-2125

  • Board: means the State Water Control Board. See Virginia Code 10.1-2123
  • Chesapeake Bay Agreement: means the Chesapeake Bay Agreement of 2000 and any amendments thereto. See Virginia Code 10.1-2117
  • Department: means the Department of Environmental Quality. See Virginia Code 10.1-2123
  • Fund: means the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund established by Article 4 (§ 10. See Virginia Code 10.1-2117
  • Nonpoint source pollution: means pollution of state waters washed from the land surface in a diffuse manner and not resulting from a discernible, defined or discrete conveyance. See Virginia Code 10.1-2117
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands. See Virginia Code 1-245
  • State waters: means all waters on the surface or under the ground, wholly or partially within or bordering the Commonwealth or within its jurisdictions. See Virginia Code 10.1-2117
  • Water Quality Improvement Grants: means grants available from the Fund for projects of local governments, institutions of higher education, and individuals (i) to achieve nutrient reduction goals in regulations, permits, or the Chesapeake Bay TMDL Watershed Implementation Plan or (ii) to achieve other water quality restoration, protection or enhancement benefits. See Virginia Code 10.1-2117

1. Encourage and promote nonpoint source pollution control and prevention, including nutrient control and prevention, for the: (i) protection of public drinking water supplies; (ii) promotion of water resource conservation; (iii) protection of existing high quality state waters and restoration of all other state waters to a condition or quality that will permit all reasonable beneficial uses and will support the propagation and growth of all aquatic life, including finfish and shellfish, which might reasonably be expected to inhabit them; (iv) protection of all state waters from nonpoint source pollution; (v) prevention of any increase in nonpoint source pollution; (vi) reduction of existing nonpoint source pollution; (vii) attainment and maintenance of water quality standards established under subdivisions (3a) and (3b) of § 62.1-44.15; and (viii) attainment of commitments made by the Commonwealth to water quality restoration, protection and enhancement including the goals of the Chesapeake Bay Agreement, as amended, all in order to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the present and future citizens of the Commonwealth.

2. Provide technical assistance and advice to local governments and individuals concerning aspects of water quality restoration, protection and improvement relevant to nonpoint source pollution.

3. Apply for, and accept, federal funds and funds from any other source, public or private, that may become available and to transmit such funds to the Fund for the purpose of providing Water Quality Improvement Grants as prescribed in Article 4 (§ 10.1-2128 et seq.) of this chapter.

4. Enter into contracts necessary and convenient to carry out the provisions of this article.

5. Seek the assistance of other state agencies and entities including but not limited to the Department of Forestry and the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board as appropriate in carrying out its responsibilities under this chapter.

1997, cc. 21, 625, 626; 2005, c. 41.