Chap. 472.—An ACT to amend Chapter 266 of the Acts of Assembly of 1946,
approved March 25, 1946, which authorized the Governor to execute in the
name of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a deed conveying, subject to certain
jurisdictional and other limitations, to the United States of America certain
submerged lands containing approximately 3,400 acres, situate in Hampton
Roads area, by adding a new section numbered Section 2, relating to claims
for damages as may occur to public or leased oyster beds. [H 381]

Approved April 2, 1948

Whereas, it is the desire and intention of the Federal government
to construct and develop a disposal area for dredged material in Hampton
Roads provided the necessary submerged lands are acquired in accord-
ance with House Document No. 563, 79th Congress, 2nd Session,
adopted by the River and Harbor Act of 24 July 1946; and

Whereas, the title to a part of the lands necessary in connection with
the construction and development of such disposal area is in the Common-
wealth of Virginia; and

Whereas, such a disposal area will contribute much to the develop-
ment of the Hampton Roads area and the Commonwealth of Virginia;
now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That chapter two hundred sixty-six of the Acts of Assembly of
nineteen hundred forty-six, approved March twenty-five, nineteen hun-
dred forty-six, be amended by adding a new section numbered section
two as follows:

Section 2. The Commonwealth of Virginia by this act does hereby
release the United States of America from all claims for damages as may
occur to public or leased oyster beds from the constitution, operation and
maintenance of this project excepting that the United States shall con-
pensate, at the time of its occupancy, all oyster growers for crops in
production who hold leases from the Commonwealth of Virginia in the
submerged lands above described or any other submerged lands on the
south side of Hampton Roads which may be necessary for the construc-
tion, operation and maintenance of the aforesaid project, including dredg-
ing for fill material adjacent to the disposal area.

2. An emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.