                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

 MAPS OF MINES REQUIRED TO BE MADE; CONTENTS; EXTENSION AND PRESERVATION; USE BY
DEPARTMENT; RELEASE; POSTING OF MAP (§ 45.2-1131)

A. Prior to commencing mining activity, the licensed operator of a mineral mine
or his agent shall submit, unless already submitted, an accurate map of such
mine. The scale of such map shall be stated thereon and shall be between 100
feet and 400 feet to the inch. Such map shall show the openings or excavations,
shafts, slopes, entries, headings, rooms, pillars, permanent explosive
magazines, permanent fuel storage facilities, and airways with darts or arrows
showing direction of air currents. Such map shall also show any portion of such
mine that has been abandoned and any portion of the property lines and the
outcrop of the mineral of the tract of land on which the mine is located that
are located within 1,000 feet of any part of the workings of such mine. For an
underground mine only, such map shall show the general inclination of the
mineral strata.

B. The licensed operator of such mine shall annually, beginning on the
anniversary date of the mine permit issued pursuant to Chapter 12 (&#xA7;
45.2-1200 et seq.) and continuing while the mine is in operation, cause such map
to be extended so as to accurately show the progress of the workings, and the
property lines and outcrop as described in subsection A, and shall forward such
updated map to the Department to be kept on record, subject to the conditions
stated in subsection D. If there are no changes in the information required by
this section, the licensed operator shall not be required to submit an updated
map to the Department.

C. Each map required pursuant to this section shall be filed and preserved among
the records of the Department. The Department shall make such map available at a
reasonable cost to any person owning, leasing, or residing on or having an
equitable interest in any surface area or coal or mineral interest within 1,000
feet of such mining operation upon written proof satisfactory to the Director
and upon a sworn affidavit that such person requesting a map has the required
legal or equitable interest. However, the Director shall provide to such person
only that portion of the map that abuts or is contiguous to the property in
which such requesting party has a legal or equitable interest. In no case shall
any copy of such map be made for any person who does not possess the required
legal or equitable interest without the consent of the licensed operator or his
agent. The Director shall promptly deliver notice of such request to the
licensed operator of such mining operation.

D. The original version of a map required by this section, or a true copy
thereof, shall be kept by the licensed operator at the active mine, open at all
reasonable times for the examination and use of the mine inspector.

E. Copies of the maps required pursuant to this section shall be made available
at a reasonable cost to the governing body of any locality in which the mine is
located upon written request; however, such copies shall be provided on the
condition that they not be released to any person who does not have a legal or
equitable interest in any surface area or mineral interest within 1,000 feet of
the mining operation without the written consent of the licensed operator or his
agent. The governing body shall promptly deliver notice of any such request for
a copy of a map to the licensed operator or his agent.

HISTORY: 1997, c. 390, § 45.1-161.292:37; 1998, c. 695; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c.
387.