The 1968 General Assembly of Virginia adopted two resolutions, one of which directed the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council to study the desirability of licensing water and sewage plant operators and, the other directed the Virginia. Advisory Legislative Council to study matters relating to waste materials and their proper disposal.

The Council, in organizing the studies it was directed to conduct, determined that these two resolutions related, generally, to the same subject, to-wit, the disposal of waste, sewage and trash, and as a result, the preliminary study could be undertaken by one committee. Honorable James M. Thomson, Alexandria, member of the House of Delegates and a member of the Council was selected Chairman of the Committee to make a preliminary study and report its findings and recommendations to the Council.

The following persons were chosen to serve with Mr. Thomson as members of this Committee: Honorable Willis M. Anderson, Roanoke, member of the House of Delegates; R. L. Argus, Yorktown; Jacob Brown, Richmond; B. Calvin Burns, Woodbridge; W. C; Chapman, Franklin; A. J. Chewning, III, Virginia Beach; James J. Corbalis, Jr., Alexandria; Claiborne D. Gregory, Richmond; John H. Hackney, Jr., Richmond; Harry L. Hale, Fairfax; Colonel John W. Knapp, Lexington; E. C. Meredith, Richmond; L. Bert Nye, Jr., Washington, D. C.; A.H. Paessler, Richmond; Clinton E. Parker, Charlottesville; N. C. Sharp, Manassas; Marion A. Steele, .Manassas; Honorable Stanley C. Walker, Norfolk, member, House of Delegates; and William R. Walker, Blacksburg.

At the organizational meeting of this Committee, it was decided to form three subcommittees each of which would concentrate on one of three areas of study and make recommendations to the full Committee. One of the subcommittees was headed by Mr. Thomson and studied the feasibility of licensing water and sewage plant operators. Another was headed by Stanley C. Walker and studied the disposal of solid wastes affecting water. The third was headed by Willis M. Anderson and was concerned with the disposal of wastes which did not affect water, or in more mundane language, littering. Each subcommittee thoroughly considered its assigned topic and reported its findings and recommendations to the full Committee. The office of the Secretary to the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council served as secretariat to the Committee, Frank R. Dunham representing it.

After the subcommittees had reported, the Committee held public hearings in Richmond and Norfolk, where all interested persons were given an opportunity to be heard. Further, portions of the proposed legislation were sent to interested persons and their written comments were requested and received. In addition, the Committee made on-site inspections of waste disposal facilities in the Norfolk and Alexandria areas.

After studying all facets of the waste-disposal problem in the State, the Committee made a written report to the Council.