Prior to the creation of a surface water management area, or the issuance of a permit within one, the Board shall consult and cooperate with, and give full consideration to the written recommendations of, the following agencies: the Department of Wildlife Resources, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, the Department of Health, and any other interested and affected agencies. Such consultation shall include the need for development of a means in the surface water management area for balancing instream uses with offstream uses. Agencies may submit written comments on proposed permits within forty-five days after notification by the Board. The Board shall assume that if written comments are not submitted by an agency, within the time period, the agency has no comments on the proposed permits.
1989, c. 721; 2020, c. 958.