Coal ash ponds; mandatory testing of drinking water wells in Chesapeake Bay watershed. (SB765)

Introduced By

Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Mount Vernon) with support from co-patrons Sen. Amanda Chase (R-Midlothian), and Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Coal ash ponds; mandatory testing of drinking water wells. Requires the owner or operator of any coal ash pond in the Chesapeake Bay watershed that is closed by capping in place to complete a survey of all drinking water wells within one mile of the pond by October 1, 2018. The bill requires the utility to commission an independent well water test on behalf of the owner of each such well by January 1, 2019, and requires such a test once per year during each of the five years following the approval of the closure of the coal ash pond, and once every five years thereafter. The bill provides that if any test exceeds groundwater quality standards for constituents associated with coal ash, the Board shall instruct the utility to provide alternate water supplies to the owner of the well. The bill requires the Department of Environmental Quality to consider the results of the tests in its permitting, monitoring, or enforcement proceedings. Read the Bill »

Status

02/07/2018: Failed to Pass in Committee

History

DateAction
01/10/2018Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18104578D
01/10/2018Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
01/24/2018Impact statement from DPB (SB765)
02/01/2018Rereferred from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (11-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/01/2018Rereferred to Commerce and Labor
02/07/2018Continued to 2019 in Commerce and Labor (15-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)