A. The Director shall by regulation establish performance standards that meet the requirement of § 515 of the federal act, are consistent with regulations adopted thereunder by the Secretary, and are applicable to all coal surface mining and reclamation operations except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
B. Any permit issued pursuant to this chapter to conduct a coal surface mining operation shall require that such operation meets all applicable performance standards established by the Director.
C. The Director shall include in such regulations special procedures and standards, consistent with regulations adopted by the Secretary, for the issuance of permits for mountaintop removal operations, without regard to requirements to restore to approximate original contour, and for variances from such requirements for steep-slope operations.
D. The Director may adopt, with the approval of the Secretary, alternative performance standards and procedures for administering and enforcing the program created pursuant to this chapter.
E. The Director, with the approval of the Secretary, may authorize departures on an experimental basis from the environmental protection performance standards adopted under this section and § 45.2-1018.