CHAPTER 302

AN ACT to prohibit, insofar as the State is authorized to do, the dredging
of the James River or the disposal of waste materials in connection
therewith, that would interfere with or damage the oyster bottoms,
public or private in the James River, between certain points thereon,
without the recommendation of the Commission of Fisheries, and
the approval of the Governor.

[S 267]

Approved March 12, 1958

Whereas it is proposed to dredge the James River between Hampton
Roads and the ports of Hopewell and Richmond, and such dredging will
require large disposal areas, and the area involved embraces both public
and private oyster bottoms, including seed oyster bottoms, all of which are
the most valuable in the entire country and these seed oyster bottoms are
the foundation upon which the entire oyster industry of this State depends;
now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. Insofar as the State has the power to prohibit the same, it shall
be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, association, or government
or agency of any or all of any of the foregoing to dredge a ship channel in
the James River between the James River Bridge and Jamestown Island
and to employ or make use of disposal areas to place material so dredged,
except for the ordinary maintenance of the existing ship channel at its
established depth, unless application to accomplish such dredging, which
application shall show specifically the areas to be dredged and the disposal
areas proposed to be used, has been made to and approved by the Governor
upon the recommendation of the Commission of Fisheries.