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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>80532</law_id><section_number>45.2-620</section_number><catch_line> Emergency notification and evacuation plan</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="II">Coal Mining</unit><unit label="part" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="A">Coal Mines Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="6">Coal Mining Property, Interests, Adjacent Owners, and Dams</unit><unit label="article" level="5" order_by="1" identifier="4">Coal Mine Refuse Impoundments and Retaining Dams</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> On or before July 1 of each year, the <span class="dictionary">operator</span> of any <span class="dictionary">retaining dam</span> or <span class="dictionary">mine refuse impoundment</span> that meets the criteria of subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title=" Design and construction of retaining dam or mine refuse impoundment; designs and other data to be submitted to Chief" href="/45.2-618/">45.2-618</a> shall submit to the <span class="dictionary">Chief</span> an emergency notification and evacuation plan. If there are no changes to a plan at the time the updated plan is due, the <span class="dictionary">operator</span> may submit a notice that there are no changes to the plan in lieu of submitting an updated plan to the <span class="dictionary">Chief</span>. <a id="paragraph-288511" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-620/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The plan and attendant maps, appropriate for the level of hazard of the <span class="dictionary">retaining dam</span> or <span class="dictionary">mine refuse impoundment</span>, shall describe the <span class="dictionary">retaining dam</span> or <span class="dictionary">mine refuse impoundment</span> and shall include: <a id="paragraph-288512" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-620/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The name and address of the <span class="dictionary">operator</span> owning, operating, or controlling the structure; <a id="paragraph-288513" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-620/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The identification numbers of the structure as assigned by the <span class="dictionary">Chief</span>, MSHA, and the Office of Surface Mining; <a id="paragraph-288514" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-620/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The location of the structure indicated on (i) a current United States Geological Survey 7.5-minute or 15-minute topographic quadrangle map, (ii) an equivalent digital map, or (iii) a topographic map of a scale approved by the <span class="dictionary">Chief</span>; <a id="paragraph-288515" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-620/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The name and size in acres of the watershed in which the structure is located; <a id="paragraph-288516" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-620/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> A description of the physical and engineering properties of the foundation <span class="dictionary">materials</span> on which the structure is to be or was constructed; <a id="paragraph-288517" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-620/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> The location of existing or proposed instrumentation; <a id="paragraph-288518" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-620/#B6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> A statement of the runoff attributable to the probable maximum precipitation of six-hour duration and the calculations used in determining such runoff; <a id="paragraph-288519" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-620/#B7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> A statement of the runoff attributable to the storm for which the structure is designed and the calculations used in determining such runoff; <a id="paragraph-288520" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-620/#B8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> The location of any surface or underground coal mine, including the depth and extent of such workings, under and within 1,000 feet around the perimeter of the <span class="dictionary">retaining dam</span> or <span class="dictionary">mine refuse impoundment</span>, and the area of impounded <span class="dictionary">material</span>, shown at a scale not to exceed one inch equals 1,000 feet; <a id="paragraph-288521" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-620/#B9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B10" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> A map depicting the impoundment area and downstream and adjacent drainways, streambeds, roads, structures, and other public areas that could be affected if an accident were to occur at the impoundment. The map shall be at a scale not to exceed one inch equals 1,000 feet; <a id="paragraph-288522" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-620/#B10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B11" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> The names of persons who are familiar with the plan protocols and can take actions necessary to eliminate the hazard and minimize the impact to miners, the community, and the environment; <a id="paragraph-288523" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-620/#B11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B12" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> A location where a command and communication center could be established for the company team and emergency response personnel to report during an impoundment event; <a id="paragraph-288524" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-620/#B12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B13" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">13.</span> The location of potential evacuation centers where affected parties could take shelter during an impoundment event; <a id="paragraph-288525" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-620/#B13"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B14" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">14.</span> An emergency contact list for agencies that would respond to an impoundment event; and <a id="paragraph-288526" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-620/#B14"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B15" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">15.</span> A list of miners employed at the site and businesses, community buildings, residences, and other occupied buildings within the impact zone that could be affected by an impoundment event, or other effective means of identifying such impact zone. <a id="paragraph-288527" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-620/#B15"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2005, c. 3, &#xA7; 45.1-224.1; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
