                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

 ENFORCEMENT OF CHAPTER GENERALLY (§ 45.2-1020)

A. If the Director determines that any condition or practice or any violation by
a permittee of any requirement of this chapter, regulation adopted hereunder, or
permit condition (i) creates an imminent danger to the health or safety of the
public or (ii) is causing or can reasonably be expected to cause significant,
imminent environmental harm to land, air, or water resources, the Director shall
immediately order a cessation of the coal surface mining and reclamation
operation or the portion thereof relevant to the condition, practice, or
violation. Such cessation order shall remain in effect until the Director
determines that the condition, practice, or violation has been abated or until
such order is modified, vacated, or terminated by the Director. Whenever the
Director finds that the ordered cessation of coal surface mining and reclamation
operations, or any portion thereof, is not expected to completely abate the
imminent danger to health or safety of the public or the significant imminent
environmental harm to land, air, or water resources, the Director shall, in
addition to ordering the cessation of the operation, impose affirmative
obligations on the operator and require such operator to take whatever steps the
Director determines necessary to abate the imminent danger or the significant
environmental harm.

B. If the Director determines that a permittee is in violation of any
requirement of this chapter, any regulation adopted hereunder, or any permit
condition, but such violation does not create an imminent danger to the health
or safety of the public or cannot reasonably be expected to cause significant,
imminent environmental harm to land, air, or water resources, the Director shall
issue a notice of violation to the permittee or his agent setting a reasonable
period of not more than 90 days for the abatement of the violation and shall
provide an opportunity for public hearing.

C. Upon expiration of the period of time originally set pursuant to subsection B
or subsequently extended for good cause shown upon the written finding of the
Director, if the Director finds that a violation has not been abated, he shall
immediately order a cessation of coal surface mining and reclamation operations
or the portion thereof relevant to the violation. Such cessation order shall
remain in effect until the Director determines that the violation has been
abated or until such order is modified, vacated, or terminated by the Director
pursuant to subsection E. The Director shall include in the cessation order the
necessary measures to abate the violation in the most expeditious manner
possible.

D. Whenever the Director determines that a pattern of violations of the
requirements of this chapter, any regulation adopted hereunder, or any permit
condition exists or has existed, and if the Director also finds that such
violations are (i) caused by the unwarranted failure of the permittee to comply
with any such requirements or (ii) willfully caused by the permittee, the
Director shall promptly issue an order to the permittee to show cause as to why
the permit should not be suspended or revoked and shall provide opportunity for
a formal public hearing. If a hearing is requested, the Director shall inform
all interested parties of the time and place of the hearing. Upon the
permittee&#8217;s failure to show cause as to why the permit should not be
suspended or revoked, the Director shall promptly suspend or revoke the permit.

E. Each notice or order issued pursuant to this section shall set forth with
reasonable specificity the nature of the violation and the remedial action
required, the period of time established for abatement, and a reasonable
description of the portion of the coal surface mining and reclamation operation
to which the notice or order applies. Each notice or order shall be given
promptly to the permittee or his agent by the Director and shall be in writing
and signed by the Director. Any notice or order issued pursuant to this section
may be modified, vacated, or terminated by the Director. Any notice or order
issued pursuant to this section that requires cessation of mining by the
operator shall expire within 30 days of actual notice to the operator unless an
informal public hearing is held at the site or close enough to the site to allow
viewings thereof during the course of the public hearing. Such informal public
hearing may be waived by the operator.

F. The Director may institute a civil action for injunctive or other relief in
any court of competent jurisdiction whenever any permittee or his agent, or any
other person:

   1. Violates or fails or refuses to comply with any order or decision issued by
   the Director;

   2. Interferes with, hinders, or delays the Director in carrying out the
   provisions of this chapter or the regulations adopted hereunder;

   3. Refuses to admit the Director to a mine;

   4. Refuses to permit inspection of a mine;

   5. Refuses to furnish any information or report requested by the Director
   pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or the regulations adopted
   hereunder;

   6. Refuses to permit access to, and copying of, such records as the Director
   determines necessary in carrying out the provisions of this chapter or the
   regulations adopted hereunder; or

   7. Conducts any coal surface mining or coal exploration operation without
   first obtaining a permit, after a permit has lapsed, or after suspension or
   revocation of a permit.

HISTORY: 1979, c. 290, § 45.1-245; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.