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Subcommittee adopts narrow pump‑and‑haul amendment for agritourism activities
Summary
An amendment to HB728 introduced by Delegate Leftwich would permit limited pump‑and‑haul sewage disposal for agritourism activities when connection to sewer or an on‑site system is infeasible and only with VDH approval; the amendment was adopted and the bill reported as amended 7–1.
Delegate Leftwich offered an amendment to HB728 to allow an agritourism activity to use pump‑and‑haul wastewater disposal in very limited circumstances when it cannot connect to existing sewer and cannot establish an on‑site sewage system. The language was provided by the Virginia Department of Health, Leftwich said, and is intended to preserve agricultural enterprises that otherwise would be forced to close or sell for development.
Leftwich described a specific local example involving an 800‑acre family farm that had become an agritourism destination and faced wastewater constraints. Committee members asked whether VDH or the locality would have final approval authority; Leftwich said VDH would have the final say and that the mechanism would be deployed sparingly.
The amendment was adopted and HB728 was reported as amended by a vote of 7–1.
