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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>67640</law_id><section_number>45.2-902</section_number><catch_line> Standards for regulations</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>45.2-933</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="II">Coal Mining</unit><unit label="part" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="C">Surface Coal Mines</unit><unit label="chapter" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="9">Requirements Applicable to Surface Coal Mines</unit><unit label="article" level="5" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>In adopting regulations pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title=" Regulations governing conditions and practices at surface coal mines" href="/45.2-901/">45.2-901</a>, the <span class="dictionary">Chief</span> shall consider:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Standards utilized and generally recognized by the surface coal mining industry; <a id="paragraph-245049" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-902/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Standards established by recognized professional coal mining organizations and groups; <a id="paragraph-245050" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-902/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Standards established by federal mine safety <span class="dictionary">laws</span>; <a id="paragraph-245051" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-902/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Research, demonstrations, experiments, and such other information that is available regarding the maintenance of the highest degree of safety protection, including the latest available scientific data in the field, the technical feasibility of the standards, and the experience gained under the Act and other mine safety <span class="dictionary">laws</span>; and <a id="paragraph-245052" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-902/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Such other criteria necessary for the protection of the safety and health of miners and other persons or property likely to be affected by surface coal mines or related operations. <a id="paragraph-245053" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-902/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 45-8, 45-84; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, &#xA7; 45.1-104; 1972, c. 784; 1974, c. 323; 1975, c. 520; 1978, c. 120; 1982, c. 118; 1990, c. 963; 1994, c. 28, &#xA7; 45.1-161.255; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
