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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>75577</law_id><section_number>45.2-1644</section_number><catch_line> Safety in coalbed methane gas, oil, and geophysical operations</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="IV">Gas and Oil</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="16">Virginia Gas and Oil Act</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="3">Regulation of Gas and Oil Development and Production</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The <span class="dictionary">Director</span> shall inspect permitted coalbed methane <span class="dictionary">well</span> and related facility operations to ensure the safety of persons on permitted sites. If an inspection reveals any hazardous condition that creates an imminent danger, the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a closure <span class="dictionary">order</span> pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title=" Duties, responsibilities, and authority of the Director" href="/45.2-1629/">45.2-1629</a> requiring the area to be cleared or the equipment removed from use, except for (i) work necessary to continue to vent methane from an active underground <span class="dictionary">mine</span> if such work can be done safely and (ii) any work necessary to correct or eliminate the imminent danger. The <span class="dictionary">Director</span> shall lift the closure <span class="dictionary">order</span> when he finds that the imminent danger has been corrected or eliminated. If an inspection reveals any other condition that creates a risk to the safety or health of any person on the permitted site, the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> shall notify the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Labor and Industry for actions under Title 40.1, as applicable.</p></section></text><history>1997, c. 421, &#xA7; 45.1-361.42; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
