12 Va. Admin. Code § 5-135-40 - Procedures for beach monitoring
Current through Register Vol.. 38, No. 17, April 11, 2022
The procedures for beach monitoring are as follows:
1. The department shall collect public beach
water samples on a weekly basis from the middle of May through September or as
otherwise determined by the department based on factors such as the size of the
beach-going population and the climate at any particular public
beach.
2. The department shall
analyze public beach water samples using methods approved by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
3.
If the department does not collect and test a public beach water sample as
scheduled, the commissioner shall issue a beach warning, or if there is an
existing beach advisory, the commissioner shall continue the beach
advisory.
4. If multiple public
beach water samples are taken at several sites within public beach water, the
department may average and compare the samples with the BAV. If the average
result of the public beach water samples is equal to or greater than the BAV,
then the commissioner shall issue a beach advisory.
5. If a public beach water sample is equal to
or greater than the BAV, the commissioner-issued beach advisory shall remain in
effect until follow-up samples can be taken that demonstrate that levels are
less than the BAV.
6. In the event
of the issuance of a beach advisory, the department shall collect and analyze
follow-up public beach water samples as soon as reasonably possible. Follow-up
public beach water samples that are equal to or greater than the BAV shall
result in a continuation of the beach advisory.
Notes
Statutory Authority: § 32.1-12 of the Code of Virginia.
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