                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

 POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE DIVISION (§ 45.2-110)

The Division has the following powers and duties:

1. Examination of the geological formations of the Commonwealth and the
resources contained therein, with special reference to both economic products
and energy resources, including coal, ore, clay, feldspar, lime, natural gas,
oil, cement, sand and gravel, stone, materials suitable for use in building and
road construction, mineral water, other mineral substances, and geothermal
energy resources.

2. Examination of latent resources and waste minerals to determine the best
methods of utilizing them and study of the soils and weathered residuum as
related to parent rock.

3. Maintenance of repositories for representative rock and mineral materials
from various wells, mines, excavations, and naturally occurring exposures.

4. Maintenance of records and statistics of the mineral industry and geological
conditions of the Commonwealth.

5. Performance of chemical and physical tests, including test borings, to
acquire subsurface information relative to mineral deposits masked by soils and
rock overburden.

6. Examination of the physical features of the Commonwealth with reference to
their practical bearing upon the occupation and well-being of the people.

7. Preparation of special geological and economic maps and displays to
illustrate the resources of the Commonwealth.

8. Preparation of regular and special reports, with necessary illustrations and
maps, that embrace both a general and detailed description of the geology and
mineral resources of the Commonwealth.

9. Consideration of such other scientific and economic questions that in the
judgment of the Director are deemed of value to the people of the Commonwealth.

10. Arrangement for the investigation and reporting of the geology of the
Commonwealth with the Director or the representative of the United States
Geological Survey (USGS) in regard to cooperation between the USGS and the
Department in topographic and geologic work when deemed necessary and of
advantage to the Commonwealth. The Director may accept or reject the work of the
USGS.

11. Participation in matters requiring advice and guidance sought by state
agencies and institutions concerning geological and mineral resources as related
to state lands.

12. Provision of basic research and the development of methods utilized in the
determination of characteristics, structure, and origin for geological
formations and economic mineral deposits.

HISTORY: 1984, c. 590, § 45.1-386; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.