Section 30. Purpose

This chapter implements the requirement of § 62.1-44.34:15 of the Code of Virginia for the development of tank vessel contingency plans by operators of tank vessels transporting or transferring oil as cargo upon state waters. Contingency plans must address concerns for the effect of oil discharges on the environment as well as considerations of public health and safety. The oil discharge contingency plans will ensure that the applicant can take such steps as are necessary to protect environmentally sensitive areas; to respond to the threat of an oil discharge; and to contain, clean up and mitigate an oil discharge within the shortest feasible time. This chapter also provides acceptable means of demonstrating the level of financial responsibility required by § 62.1-44.34:16 of the Code of Virginia, therefore providing the Commonwealth with the assurance that an operator of a tank vessel has the necessary financial stability to conduct a proper response to a discharge of oil.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 14, Issue 18, eff. June 24, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 02, eff. November 3, 2004.

Statutory Authority

§§ 62.1-44.15, 62.1-44.34:16 and 62.1-44.34:21 of the Code of Virginia.