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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>66753</law_id><section_number>45.2-1206</section_number><catch_line> Operations plan; reclamation; policy of Director</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>45.2-1203</reference><reference>45.2-1205</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="45.2">Mines, Minerals, and Energy</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Mineral Mines</unit><unit label="part" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="A">Mineral Mines Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="12">Permits for Certain Mining Operations; Reclamation of Land</unit><unit label="article" level="5" order_by="1" identifier="2">Regulation of Mining Activity</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Each application for a permit shall be accompanied by an operations plan that follows the form and contains the accompanying <span class="dictionary">material</span> that the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> requires. The operations plan shall describe the specifications for surface grading and restoration, including sketches delineating placement of <span class="dictionary">spoil</span>, stockpiles, and tailing ponds, to a surface that is suitable for the proposed subsequent use of the land after <span class="dictionary">reclamation</span> is completed. <a id="paragraph-242095" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1206/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The operations plan shall include a provision for <span class="dictionary">reclamation</span> of all land estimated to be affected by the <span class="dictionary">mining operation</span> for which the permit is sought. The <span class="dictionary">reclamation</span> provision shall follow the form and contain the accompanying <span class="dictionary">material</span> that the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> requires and shall state: <a id="paragraph-242096" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1206/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The planned use to which the affected land is to be returned through <span class="dictionary">reclamation</span>; and <a id="paragraph-242097" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1206/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The proposed actions to ensure suitable <span class="dictionary">reclamation</span> of the affected land for the planned use to be carried out by the applicant as an integral part of the proposed <span class="dictionary">mining operation</span> and to be conducted simultaneously insofar as practicable. The <span class="dictionary">Director</span> shall set <span class="dictionary">schedules</span> for the integration of <span class="dictionary">reclamation</span> with the <span class="dictionary">mining operation</span> according to the various individual <span class="dictionary">mineral</span> types. <a id="paragraph-242098" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1206/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> It is the policy of the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> to encourage adoption of productive land use, such as use for pasture, agricultural purposes, recreational areas, sanitary landfills, forestry and timberland operations, and industrial and building sites, and to consider the general original contour in determining the particular <span class="dictionary">reclamation</span> program for the acreage. The <span class="dictionary">Director</span> may require an amendment to the operations plan to meet the exigencies of any unanticipated circumstance or event. <a id="paragraph-242099" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1206/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1977, c. 312, &#xA7; 45.1-182.1; 1984, c. 590; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
