{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/45.2-726.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/45.2-726.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/45.2-726.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/45.2-726.html"}],"law_id":66755,"edition_id":1,"section_id":66755,"structure_id":13643,"section_number":"45.2-726","catch_line":" Mine openings","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 45-71, 45-71.1; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, \u00a7\u00a7 45.1-94, 45.1-95; 1984, c. 228; 1985, c. 395; 1990, c. 372; 1992, c. 360; 1994, c. 28, \u00a7 45.1-161.162; 1996, c. 774; 1999, c. 256; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.","full_text":"A\n\nExcept as provided in § 45.2-728, there shall be at least two travel ways, entries, or openings to the surface from each section of a mine worked. Each longwall panel shall be developed with at least three entries; however, if new technology becomes available pursuant to which a two-entry system can be safely developed, such technology may be used, with the approval of the Chief.B\n\nOne of the required travel ways may be the haulage road.C\n\nThe first opening shall not be made through an adjoining mine. The second opening may be made through an adjoining mine.D\n\nOne of the required travel ways shall be designated as the primary escapeway and shall be in an intake airway.E\n\nAny surface structure where miners congregate or where the mine map or other official records are kept at the mine shall be offset at least 15 feet from the nearest side of any mine opening or otherwise located to be out of the zone of danger if an explosion occurs, unless otherwise approved by the Chief.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":242101,"text":"Except as provided in § 45.2-728, there shall be at least two travel ways, entries, or openings to the surface from each section of a mine worked. Each longwall panel shall be developed with at least three entries; however, if new technology becomes available pursuant to which a two-entry system can be safely developed, such technology may be used, with the approval of the Chief.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":242102,"text":"One of the required travel ways may be the haulage road.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":242103,"text":"The first opening shall not be made through an adjoining mine. The second opening may be made through an adjoining mine.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":242104,"text":"One of the required travel ways shall be designated as the primary escapeway and shall be in an intake airway.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":242105,"text":"Any surface structure where miners congregate or where the mine map or other official records are kept at the mine shall be offset at least 15 feet from the nearest side of any mine opening or otherwise located to be out of the zone of danger if an explosion occurs, unless otherwise approved by the Chief.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13643,"edition_id":1,"name":"Mine Openings and Escapeways","identifier":"6","label":"article","depth":5,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12987,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:27","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:27","permalink":{"id":223213,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13643,"identifier":"6","token":"45.2\/II\/B\/7\/6","url":"\/45.2\/II\/B\/7\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12987,"edition_id":1,"name":"Requirements Applicable to Underground Coal Mines; Mine Construction","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12986,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:06","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:06","permalink":{"id":223097,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12987,"identifier":"7","token":"45.2\/II\/B\/7","url":"\/45.2\/II\/B\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12986,"edition_id":1,"name":"Underground Coal Mines","identifier":"B","label":"part","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12985,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:06","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:06","permalink":{"id":223095,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12986,"identifier":"B","token":"45.2\/II\/B","url":"\/45.2\/II\/B\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12985,"edition_id":1,"name":"Coal Mining","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12713,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:06","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:06","permalink":{"id":222647,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12985,"identifier":"II","token":"45.2\/II","url":"\/45.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12713,"edition_id":1,"name":"Mines, Minerals, and Energy","identifier":"45.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":222539,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12713,"identifier":"45.2","token":"45.2","url":"\/45.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":66755,"structure_id":13643,"section_number":"45.2-726","catch_line":" Mine openings","url":"\/45.2-726\/","token":"45.2\/II\/B\/7\/6\/45.2-726","metadata":false},{"id":54616,"structure_id":13643,"section_number":"45.2-727","catch_line":" Separation of openings","url":"\/45.2-727\/","token":"45.2\/II\/B\/7\/6\/45.2-727","metadata":false},{"id":84251,"structure_id":13643,"section_number":"45.2-728","catch_line":" Number of miners in openings","url":"\/45.2-728\/","token":"45.2\/II\/B\/7\/6\/45.2-728","metadata":false},{"id":72886,"structure_id":13643,"section_number":"45.2-729","catch_line":" Maintenance of mine openings","url":"\/45.2-729\/","token":"45.2\/II\/B\/7\/6\/45.2-729","metadata":false},{"id":71999,"structure_id":13643,"section_number":"45.2-730","catch_line":" Signs, life lines, and equipment","url":"\/45.2-730\/","token":"45.2\/II\/B\/7\/6\/45.2-730","metadata":false},{"id":74102,"structure_id":13643,"section_number":"45.2-731","catch_line":" Examination of escapeways","url":"\/45.2-731\/","token":"45.2\/II\/B\/7\/6\/45.2-731","metadata":false},{"id":76098,"structure_id":13643,"section_number":"45.2-732","catch_line":" Longwall escape routes and plan","url":"\/45.2-732\/","token":"45.2\/II\/B\/7\/6\/45.2-732","metadata":false},{"id":66484,"structure_id":13643,"section_number":"45.2-733","catch_line":" Fire protection","url":"\/45.2-733\/","token":"45.2\/II\/B\/7\/6\/45.2-733","metadata":false},{"id":83265,"structure_id":13643,"section_number":"45.2-734","catch_line":" Unused openings","url":"\/45.2-734\/","token":"45.2\/II\/B\/7\/6\/45.2-734","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":54616,"structure_id":13643,"section_number":"45.2-727","catch_line":" Separation of openings","url":"\/45.2-727\/","token":"45.2\/II\/B\/7\/6\/45.2-727","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/45.2-726\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 9 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1954, chapter 191; in 1966, chapter 594; in 1984, chapter 228; in 1985, chapter 395; in 1990, chapter 372; in 1992, chapter 360; in 1994, chapter 28<\/a>; in 1996, chapter 774<\/a>; in 1999, chapter 256<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":84251,"section_number":"45.2-728","catch_line":" Number of miners in openings","order_by":null,"url":"\/45.2-728\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":84251,"section_number":"45.2-728","catch_line":" Number of miners in openings","order_by":null,"url":"\/45.2-728\/"}],"permalink":{"id":223215,"object_type":"law","relational_id":66755,"identifier":"45.2-726","token":"45.2\/II\/B\/7\/6\/45.2-726","url":"\/45.2-726\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/45.2-726\/","token":"45.2\/II\/B\/7\/6\/45.2-726","dublin_core":{"Title":" Mine openings","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 45.2-726","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Except as provided in § 45.2-728<\/a>, there shall be at least two travel ways, entries, or openings to the surface from each section of a mine worked. Each longwall panel<\/span> shall be developed with at least three entries; however, if new technology becomes available pursuant to which a two-entry system can be safely developed, such technology may be used, with the approval of the Chief<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> One of the required travel ways may be the haulage road. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The first opening shall not be made through an adjoining mine. The second opening may be made through an adjoining mine. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> One of the required travel ways shall be designated as the primary escapeway and shall be in an intake airway. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Any surface structure where miners congregate or where the mine map or other official records are kept at the mine shall be offset at least 15 feet from the nearest side of any mine opening or otherwise located to be out of the zone of danger if an explosion occurs, unless otherwise approved by the Chief<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\n MINE OPENINGS (\u00a7 45.2-726)\n\nA. Except as provided in § 45.2-728, there shall be at least two travel\nways, entries, or openings to the surface from each section of a mine worked.\nEach longwall panel shall be developed with at least three entries; however, if\nnew technology becomes available pursuant to which a two-entry system can be\nsafely developed, such technology may be used, with the approval of the Chief.\n\nB. One of the required travel ways may be the haulage road.\n\nC. The first opening shall not be made through an adjoining mine. The second\nopening may be made through an adjoining mine.\n\nD. One of the required travel ways shall be designated as the primary escapeway\nand shall be in an intake airway.\n\nE. Any surface structure where miners congregate or where the mine map or other\nofficial records are kept at the mine shall be offset at least 15 feet from the\nnearest side of any mine opening or otherwise located to be out of the zone of\ndanger if an explosion occurs, unless otherwise approved by the Chief.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 45-71, 45-71.1; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, \u00a7\u00a7\n45.1-94, 45.1-95; 1984, c. 228; 1985, c. 395; 1990, c. 372; 1992, c. 360; 1994,\nc. 28, \u00a7 45.1-161.162; 1996, c. 774; 1999, c. 256; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}