Sec. 23.1-20. Monitoring, inspections, compliance, and restoration.

(a) The wetlands board chair may require a permittee to implement monitoring and reporting procedures the chair believes are reasonably necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of the permit and this chapter.

(b) The wetlands board chair may require such on-site inspections as the chair believes are reasonably necessary to determine whether the measures required by the permit are being properly performed, or whether the provisions of this chapter are being violated. Prior to conducting any inspection, the wetlands board chair shall provide notice to the resident owner, occupier, or operator, who shall be given an opportunity to accompany the site inspector. If it is determined that there is a failure to comply with the permit, the wetlands board chair shall serve notice upon the permittee at the address specified in his/her permit application or by delivery at the site of the permitted activities to the person supervising those activities and designated in the permit to receive the notice. The notice shall describe the measures needed for compliance and the time within which these measures shall be completed. Failure of the person to comply within the specified period is a violation of this section.

(c) Upon receipt of a sworn complaint of a substantial violation of this chapter from the designated enforcement officer, the wetlands board chair may, in conjunction with or subsequent to a notice to comply as specified in this section, issue an order requiring all or part of the activities on the site to be stopped until the specified corrective measures have been taken. In the case of an activity not authorized under this chapter or where the alleged permit noncompliance is causing, or is in imminent danger of causing, significant harm to the wetlands protected by this chapter, the order may be issued without regard to whether the person has been issued a notice to comply pursuant to this section. Otherwise, the order may be issued only after the permittee has failed to comply with the notice to comply. The order shall be served in the same manner as a notice to comply, and shall remain in effect for a period of seven (7) days from the date of service pending application by the enforcing authority, permittee, resident owner, occupier, or operator for appropriate relief to the circuit court of the county. Upon completion of corrective action, the order shall immediately be lifted. Nothing in this section shall prevent the wetlands board chair from taking any other action specified in section 28.2-1316, Code of Virginia.

(d) Upon receipt of a sworn complaint of a substantial violation of this chapter from a designated enforcement officer, the wetlands board may order that the affected site be restored to predevelopment conditions if the board finds that restoration is necessary to recover lost resources or to prevent further damage to resources. The order shall specify the restoration necessary and establish a reasonable time for its completion. The order shall be issued only after a hearing with at least thirty (30) days' notice to the affected person of the hearing's time, place, and purpose, and shall become effective immediately upon issuance by the board. The board shall require any scientific monitoring plan it believes necessary to ensure the successful re-establishment of wetlands protected by this chapter and may require that a prepaid contract acceptable to the board be in effect for the purpose of carrying out the scientific monitoring plan. The board may also require a reasonable bond or letter of credit in an amount and with surety and conditions satisfactory to it securing to the Commonwealth compliance with the conditions set forth in the restoration order. The appropriate court, upon petition by the board, may enforce any such restoration order by injunction, mandamus, or other appropriate remedy. Failure to complete the required restoration is a violation of this chapter.

(e) The duties of the wetlands board chair may be delegated to a designee; however, this designee shall not be a designated enforcement officer.

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