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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>63673</law_id><section_number>45.2-1230</section_number><catch_line> Agreements with owners or lessees; reclamation by Director</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><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="3">Orphaned Lands</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The <span class="dictionary">Director</span> is authorized to enter into agreements with owners or lessees of orphaned land when the owners agree to the <span class="dictionary">reclamation</span> of such land by the <span class="dictionary">Division</span> to the extent and in the manner deemed appropriate or reasonable by the <span class="dictionary">Director</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Director</span> shall not return orphaned land to any use other than the minimum potential use of the land that existed prior to the initiation of <span class="dictionary">mining operations</span> unless the landowner or owners, or lessee or lessees, agree to bind themselves to the payment of the additional cost upon terms that the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> deems reasonable. In entering into such agreements, the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> shall be guided by the priorities for <span class="dictionary">reclamation</span> established by him and shall not enter into any such agreement unless funds are immediately available for the performance of the agreement by the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> as provided in this article.</p></section></text><history>1978, c. 634, &#xA7; 45.1-197.5; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
