Virginia Law

A. A locality's VSMP authority shall incorporate components from subdivisions 1 and 2 of this subsection.

1. Informal and formal administrative enforcement procedures may include:

a. Verbal warnings and inspection reports;

b. Notices of corrective action;

c. Consent special orders and civil charges in accordance with subdivision 6 of § 62.1-44.15:25 and § 62.1-44.15:48 D 2 of the Code of Virginia;

d. Notices to comply in accordance with § 62.1-44.15:37 of the Code of Virginia;

e. Special orders in accordance with subdivision 6 of § 62.1-44.15:25 of the Code of Virginia;

f. Emergency special orders in accordance with subdivision 6 of § 62.1-44.15:25 of the Code of Virginia; and

g. Public notice and comment periods for proposed settlements and consent special orders pursuant to 9VAC25-870-660.

2. Civil and criminal judicial enforcement procedures may include:

a. Schedule of civil penalties in accordance with § 62.1-44.15:48 of the Code of Virginia;

b. Criminal penalties in accordance with § 62.1-44.15:48 B and C of the Code of Virginia; and

c. Injunctions in accordance with §§ 62.1-44.15:25, 62.1-44.15:42, and 62.1-44.15:48 D 1 of the Code of Virginia.

B. A locality's VSMP authority shall develop policies and procedures that outline the steps to be taken regarding enforcement actions under the Stormwater Management Act and attendant regulations and local ordinances.

C. Pursuant to § 62.1-44.15:48 A of the Code of Virginia, the locality's VSMP authority has the discretion to impose a maximum penalty of $32,500 per violation per day in accordance with § 62.1-44.15:48 A of the Code of Virginia. Such penalty may reflect the degree of harm caused by the violation and take into account the economic benefit to the violator from noncompliance. Violations include, but are not limited to:

1. No state permit registration;

2. No SWPPP;

3. Incomplete SWPPP;

4. SWPPP not available for review;

5. No approved erosion and sediment control plan;

6. Failure to install stormwater BMPs or erosion and sediment controls;

7. Stormwater BMPs or erosion and sediment controls improperly installed or maintained;

8. Operational deficiencies;

9. Failure to conduct required inspections;

10. Incomplete, improper, or missed inspections.

D. Pursuant to subdivision 2 of § 62.1-44.15:25 of the Code of Virginia, authorization to administer a VSMP program shall not remove from the department the authority to enforce the provisions of the Act and attendant regulations.

E. The department may terminate state permit coverage during its term and require application for an individual state permit or deny a state permit renewal application for failure to comply with state permit conditions or on its own initiative in accordance with the Act and this chapter.

F. Pursuant to § 62.1-44.15:48 A of the Code of Virginia, civil penalties recovered by a locality's VSMP authority shall be paid into the treasury of the locality in which the violation occurred and are to be used for the purpose of minimizing, preventing, managing, or mitigating pollution of the waters of the locality and abating environmental pollution therein in such manner as the court may, by order, direct.

G. The VSMP authority may use additional guidance concerning suggested penalty amounts provided by the department.