Code of Virginia
Chapter 16 - Virginia Gas and Oil Act
§ 45.2-1643. Interference by injection wells with groundwater supply

A. For purposes of this section:
"Beneficial use" means the same as that term is defined in § 62.1-255.
"Groundwater" means the same as that term is defined in § 62.1-255.
B. Any person who owns or operates an injection well in a manner that proximately causes the contamination or diminution of groundwater used for a beneficial use by any person who resides within the lesser of (i) the area of review required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the permitting of such injection well or (ii) a one-half-mile radius of the well shall provide the person with a replacement water supply. A replacement water supply shall provide the person with water of equivalent quality and quantity as was provided by groundwater prior to the contamination or diminution of the water supply resulting from the operation of the injection well. A replacement water supply shall include the provision of necessary storage and service facilities.
C. This section shall apply to any injection well operating under a permit from the Director.
1992, c. 324, § 45.1-361.41; 1993, c. 276; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.

Structure Code of Virginia

Code of Virginia

Title 45.2 - Mines, Minerals, and Energy

Chapter 16 - Virginia Gas and Oil Act

§ 45.2-1600. Definitions

§ 45.2-1601. Regulation of coal surface mining not affected by chapter

§ 45.2-1602. Construction; purposes

§ 45.2-1603. Virginia Gas and Oil Board; membership; compensation

§ 45.2-1604. Duties and responsibilities of the Director; Virginia Gas and Oil Inspector

§ 45.2-1605. Exclusivity of regulation and enforcement

§ 45.2-1606. Confidentiality

§ 45.2-1607. Expenditure of funds

§ 45.2-1608. Violations; penalties

§ 45.2-1609. Appeals; venue; standing

§ 45.2-1610. Copy of lease to lessor

§ 45.2-1611. Objections by coal owner

§ 45.2-1612. Distance limitations of certain wells

§ 45.2-1613. Meetings of the Board; notice; general powers and duties

§ 45.2-1614. Additional duties and responsibilities of the Board

§ 45.2-1615. Applicability and construction

§ 45.2-1616. Statewide spacing of wells

§ 45.2-1617. Voluntary pooling of interests in drilling units; validity of unit agreements

§ 45.2-1618. Notice of hearing; standing; form of hearing

§ 45.2-1619. Field rules and drilling units for wells; hearings and orders

§ 45.2-1620. Pooling of interests in drilling units

§ 45.2-1621. Coalbed methane gas; ownership

§ 45.2-1622. Pooling of interests for coalbed methane gas wells; conflicting claims to ownership

§ 45.2-1623. Conflicting claims of ownership; arbitration

§ 45.2-1624. Release of funds held in escrow or suspense because of conflicting claims to coalbed methane gas

§ 45.2-1625. Appeals of the Director's decisions; notices; hearings and orders

§ 45.2-1626. Enforcement

§ 45.2-1627. Standing when Director or Board fails to act

§ 45.2-1628. Recording of orders

§ 45.2-1629. Duties, responsibilities, and authority of the Director

§ 45.2-1630. Powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Inspector

§ 45.2-1631. Permit required; gas, oil, or geophysical operations; coalbed methane gas wells; environmental assessment

§ 45.2-1632. Notice of permit applications and permit modification applications required; content

§ 45.2-1633. Bonding and financial security required

§ 45.2-1634. Gas and Oil Plugging and Restoration Fund

§ 45.2-1635. Expiration of permits

§ 45.2-1636. Abandonment or cessation of well or corehole operation; plugging required

§ 45.2-1637. Objections to permits; hearing

§ 45.2-1638. Appeals of Director's decisions to the Board

§ 45.2-1639. Persons required to register; designated agents

§ 45.2-1640. Report of permitted activities and production required; contents

§ 45.2-1641. Developing a gas or oil well as a water well

§ 45.2-1642. Orphaned Well Fund; orphaned wells

§ 45.2-1643. Interference by injection wells with groundwater supply

§ 45.2-1644. Safety in coalbed methane gas, oil, and geophysical operations

§ 45.2-1645. Chesapeake Bay; drilling for gas or oil prohibited

§ 45.2-1646. Tidewater Virginia; drilling for gas or oil prohibited in certain areas

§ 45.2-1647. Hydraulic fracturing; groundwater management area

§ 45.2-1648. Operator's right to sample water

§ 45.2-1649. Replacement of water supply