                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

 STATE RECLAMATION PROGRAM (§ 45.2-1031)

A. The Commonwealth&#8217;s program for the reclamation of land and water
adversely affected by past mining shall include the State Reclamation Plan, the
Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund created pursuant to &#xA7; 45.2-1032, and annual
reclamation projects, as provided for in this article.

B. The Director is authorized to develop and submit to the Secretary for
approval a State Reclamation Plan in accordance with the provisions of Title IV
of the federal act and of this article. The plan shall generally identify the
areas to be reclaimed, the purposes for which the reclamation is proposed, the
relationship of the lands to be reclaimed and the proposed reclamation to
surrounding areas, the specific criteria for ranking and identifying projects to
be funded, and the programmatic capability of the Division to perform such work,
and shall include such regulations, policies, and procedures as may be necessary
to establish and implement the plan and annual reclamation projects and to carry
out the provisions of this article. The Director may from time to time develop
and submit to the Secretary amendments and revisions to the plan consistent with
this article.

C. The Director may:

   1. Prepare and submit to the Secretary annual applications for the support of
   the State Reclamation Program and implementation of specific reclamation
   projects;

   2. Enter into agreements with the Secretary for the emergency restoration,
   reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of the adverse effects of coal
   mining practices;

   3. Administer the State Reclamation Plan and annual reclamation projects and
   receive and administer grants from the Secretary therefor; and

   4. Prepare and submit such information and reports as the Secretary requests.

D. The Director and the Department, in carrying out the functions of preparing
and revising the State Reclamation Plan and developing annual reclamation
projects, shall provide appropriate opportunities for public involvement.

HISTORY: 1979, c. 290, § 45.1-260; 1984, c. 590; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.