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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82168</law_id><section_number>45.2-1502</section_number><catch_line> Standards for regulations</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="C">Surface Mineral Mines</unit><unit label="chapter" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="15">Requirements Applicable to Surface Mineral Mines</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>In adopting regulations pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title=" Regulations governing conditions and practices at surface mineral mines" href="/45.2-1501/">45.2-1501</a>, the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> shall consider:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Standards utilized and generally recognized by the surface mineral mining industry; <a id="paragraph-294534" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1502/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Standards established by recognized professional mineral mining organizations and groups; <a id="paragraph-294535" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1502/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The federal mine safety <span class="dictionary">law</span>; <a id="paragraph-294536" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1502/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Research, demonstrations, experiments, and any other information available regarding the maintenance of a reasonable degree of safety protection, including the latest available scientific data in the field, the technical and economic feasibility of such standards, and the experience gained under the Act and other mine safety <span class="dictionary">laws</span>; and <a id="paragraph-294537" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1502/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Any other criteria necessary to ensure the safety and health of miners and other persons or property likely to be endangered by any surface mineral mine or related operation. <a id="paragraph-294538" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-1502/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1994, c. 28, &#xA7; 45.1-161.306; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
