Part 772. Requirements for Coal Exploration
4VAC25-130-772.1. Scope and purpose.
This Part establishes the requirements and procedures applicable to coal exploration operations on all lands except for Federal lands subject to the requirements of 43 CFR Parts 3480-3487.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-03-19 § 772.1, eff. December 15, 1981; amended, eff. June 28, 1982; October 28, 1982; December 14, 1982; October 11, 1983; December 27, 1983; May 8, 1984; June 22, 1984; August 2, 1984; October 16, 1985; January 7, 1987; July 22, 1987; November 25, 1987; October 12, 1988; December 26, 1990; July 1, 1991; July 17, 1991; November 20, 1991; July 7, 1992; May 5, 1993; October 19, 1994.
4VAC25-130-772.11. Notice requirements for exploration removing 250 tons of coal or less.
(a) Any person who intends to conduct coal exploration operations outside a permit area during which 250 tons or less of coal will be removed shall, before conducting the exploration, file with the division a written notice of intention to explore. Exploration which will take place on lands designated as unsuitable for surface coal mining operations under Subchapter VF, shall be subject to the permitting requirements under 4VAC25-130-772.12. Exploration conducted under a notice of intent shall be subject to the requirements prescribed under 4VAC25-130-772.13.
(b) The notice shall include-
(1) The name, address, and telephone number of the person seeking to explore;
(2) The name, address, and telephone number of the person's representative who will be present at, and responsible for, conducting the exploration activities;
(3) A narrative describing the proposed exploration area and map, at a scale of 1:24,000 or larger, showing the proposed area of exploration and the general location of drillholes and trenches, existing and proposed roads, occupied dwellings, topographic features, bodies of surface water, and pipelines.
(4) A statement of the period of intended exploration; and
(5) A description of the method of exploration to be used and the practices that will be followed to protect the environment from adverse impacts of coal exploration and to reclaim the area of the exploration activities.
(6) Any person who conducts coal exploration activities pursuant to this section which substantially disturb the natural land surface shall comply with Part 815.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-03-19 § 772.11, eff. December 15, 1981; amended, eff. June 28, 1982; October 28, 1982; December 14, 1982; October 11, 1983; December 27, 1983; May 8, 1984; June 22, 1984; August 2, 1984; October 16, 1985; January 7, 1987; July 22, 1987; November 25, 1987; October 12, 1988; December 26, 1990; July 1, 1991; July 17, 1991; November 20, 1991; July 7, 1992; May 5, 1993; October 19, 1994.
4VAC25-130-772.12. Permit requirements for exploration removing more than 250 tons of coal, or occurring on lands designated as unsuitable for surface coal mining ....
(a) Exploration permit. Any person who intends to conduct coal exploration outside a permit area during which more than 250 tons of coal will be removed or which will take place on lands designated as unsuitable for surface mining under Subchapter VF shall, before conducting the exploration, submit an application and obtain written approval from the division in an exploration permit. Such exploration shall be subject to the requirements prescribed under 4VAC25-130-772.13 and 4VAC25-130-772.14.
(b) Application Information. Each application for an exploration permit shall contain, at a minimum, the following information:
(1) The name, address, and telephone number of the applicant.
(2) The name, address, and telephone number of the applicant's representative who will be present at, and responsible for conducting the exploration activities.
(3) A narrative describing the proposed exploration area.
(4) A narrative description of the methods and equipment to be used to conduct the exploration and reclamation.
(5) An estimated timetable for conducting and completing each phase of the exploration and reclamation.
(6) The estimated amount of coal to be removed and a description of the methods to be used to determine the amount.
(7) A statement of why extraction of more than 250 tons of coal is necessary for exploration.
(8) A description of:
(i) Cultural or historic resources listed in the National Register of Historic Places;
(ii) Cultural or historic resources known to be eligible for listing on the National Register for Historic Places; and
(iii) Known archeological resources located within the proposed exploration area.
(9) A description of any endangered or threatened species listed pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 USC § 1531 et seq.) identified within the proposed exploration area.
(10) A description of the measures to be used to comply with the applicable requirements of Part 815.
(11) The name and address of the owner of record of the surface land and of the subsurface mineral estate of the area to be explored.
(12) A map or maps at a scale of 1:24,000 or larger, showing the areas of land to be disturbed by the proposed exploration and reclamation. The map shall specifically show existing roads, occupied dwellings, topographic and drainage features, bodies of surface water, and pipelines; proposed locations of trenches, roads, and other access routes and structures to be constructed; the location of proposed land excavations; the location of exploration holes or other drill holes or underground openings; the location of excavated earth or waste-material disposal areas; and the location of critical habitats of any endangered or threatened species listed pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 USC § 1531 et seq.)
(13) If the surface is owned by a person other than the applicant, a description of the basis upon which the applicant claims the right to enter that land for the purpose of conducting exploration and reclamation.
(14) For any lands listed in 4VAC25-130-761.11, a demonstration that, to the extent technologically and economically feasible, the proposed exploration activities have been designed to minimize interference with the values for which those lands were designated as unsuitable for surface coal mining operations. The application must include documentation of consultation with the owner of the feature causing the land to come under the protection of 4VAC25-130-761.11 and, when applicable, with the agency with primary jurisdiction over the feature with respect to the values that caused the land to come under the protection of 4VAC25-130-761.11.
(c) Public notice and opportunity to comment. Public notice of the application and opportunity to comment shall be provided as follows:
(1) Upon submission of an administratively complete application to the division, the applicant shall place an advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality of the proposed exploration area. A copy of the newspaper advertisement and proof of publication shall be filed with the division no later than four weeks after the date of publication.
(2) The public notice shall state the name and address of the person seeking approval, the filing date of the application, that the application will be available for public inspection in the division's office in Big Stone Gap, the address of the division where written comments on the application may be submitted, the closing date of the comment period, and a description of the area of exploration.
(3) Any person having an interest which is or may be adversely affected shall have the right to file written comments on the application within 30 days after the date of publication of the newspaper notice.
(d) Decisions on applications for exploration.
(1) The division shall act upon an administratively complete application for a coal exploration permit and any written comments within a reasonable period of time. The approval of a coal exploration permit may be based only on a complete and accurate application.
(2) The division shall approve a complete and accurate application for a coal exploration permit filed in accordance with this Part if it finds, in writing, that the applicant has demonstrated that the exploration and reclamation described in the application will:
(i) Be conducted in accordance with this Part, Part 815 of this chapter, and the applicable provisions of the program;
(ii) Not jeopardize the continued existence of an endangered or threatened species listed pursuant to section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 USC § 1533) or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat of those species; and
(iii) Not adversely affect any cultural or historic resources listed on the National Register of Historic Places, pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 USC § 470 et seq., 1976, Supp. V), unless the proposed exploration has been approved by both the division and the agency with jurisdiction over such matters.
(iv) With respect to exploration activities on any lands protected under 4VAC25-130-761.11, minimize interference, to the extent technologically and economically feasible, with the values for which those lands were designated as unsuitable for surface coal mining operations. Before making this finding, the division must provide reasonable opportunity to the owner of the feature causing the land to come under the protection of 4VAC25-130-761.11 and, when applicable, to the agency with primary jurisdiction over the feature with respect to the values that caused the land to come under the protection of 4VAC25-130-761.11, to comment on whether the finding is appropriate.
(3) Terms of approval issued by the division shall contain conditions necessary to ensure that the exploration and reclamation will be conducted in compliance with this Part, Part 815, and the Act.
(e) Notice and hearing.
(1) The division shall notify the applicant, the appropriate local governmental officials, and other commenters on the application, in writing, of its decision on the application. If the application is disapproved, the notice to the applicant shall include a statement of the reason for disapproval. Public notice of the decision on each application shall be posted by the division at the Court House in the county of the proposed exploration operations.
(2) Any person having an interest which is or may be adversely affected by a decision of the division pursuant to Paragraph (e)(1) of this section shall have the opportunity for administrative and judicial review as set forth in Part 775.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-03-19 § 772.12, eff. December 15, 1981; amended, eff. June 28, 1982; October 28, 1982; December 14, 1982; October 11, 1983; December 27, 1983; May 8, 1984; June 22, 1984; August 2, 1984; October 16, 1985; January 7, 1987; July 22, 1987; November 25, 1987; October 12, 1988; December 26, 1990; July 1, 1991; July 17, 1991; November 20, 1991; July 7, 1992; May 5, 1993; October 19, 1994; Volume 29, Issue 13, eff. March 27, 2013.
4VAC25-130-772.13. Coal exploration compliance duties.
(a) All coal exploration and reclamation activities that substantially disturb the natural land surface shall be conducted in accordance with the coal exploration requirements of this Part, Part 815, the regulatory program, and any exploration permit term or condition imposed by the division.
(b) Any person who conducts any coal exploration in violation of the provisions of this Part, Part 815, the regulatory program, or any exploration permit term or condition imposed by the division shall be subject to the provisions of Subchapter VL.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-03-19 § 772.13, eff. December 15, 1981; amended, eff. June 28, 1982; October 28, 1982; December 14, 1982; October 11, 1983; December 27, 1983; May 8, 1984; June 22, 1984; August 2, 1984; October 16, 1985; January 7, 1987; July 22, 1987; November 25, 1987; October 12, 1988; December 26, 1990; July 1, 1991; July 17, 1991; November 20, 1991; July 7, 1992; May 5, 1993; October 19, 1994.
4VAC25-130-772.14. Commercial use or sale.
(a) Except as provided under 4VAC25-130-772.14(b), any person who intends to commercially use or sell coal extracted during coal exploration operations under an exploration permit, shall first obtain a permit to conduct surface coal mining operations for those operations from the division under Parts 773 through 785.
(b) With the prior written approval of the division, no permit to conduct surface coal mining operations is required for the sale or commercial use of coal extracted during exploration operations if such sale or commercial use is for coal testing purposes only. The person conducting the exploration shall file an application for such approval with the division. The application shall demonstrate that the coal testing is necessary for the development of a surface coal mining and reclamation operation for which a surface coal mining operations permit application is to be submitted in the near future, and that the proposed commercial use or sale of coal extracted during exploration operations is solely for the purpose of testing the coal. The application shall contain the following:
(1) The name of the testing firm and the locations at which the coal will be tested.
(2) If the coal will be sold directly to, or commercially used directly by, the intended end user, a statement from the intended end user, or if the coal is sold indirectly to the intended end user through an agent or broker, a statement from the agent or broker. The statement shall include:
(i) The specific reason for the test, including why the coal may be so different from the intended user's other coal supplies as to require testing;
(ii) the amount of coal necessary for the test and why a lesser amount is not sufficient; and
(iii) a description of the specific tests that will be conducted.
(3) Evidence that sufficient reserves of coal are available to the person conducting exploration or its principals for future commercial use or sale to the intended end user, or agent or broker of such user identified above, to demonstrate that the amount of coal to be removed is not the total reserve, but is a sampling of a larger reserve.
(4) An explanation as to why other means of exploration, such as core drilling, are not adequate to determine the quality of the coal and/or the feasibility of developing a surface coal mining operation.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-03-19 § 772.14, eff. December 15, 1981; amended, eff. June 28, 1982; October 28, 1982; December 14, 1982; October 11, 1983; December 27, 1983; May 8, 1984; June 22, 1984; August 2, 1984; October 16, 1985; January 7, 1987; July 22, 1987; November 25, 1987; October 12, 1988; December 26, 1990; July 1, 1991; July 17, 1991; November 20, 1991; July 7, 1992; May 5, 1993; October 19, 1994.
4VAC25-130-772.15. Public availability of information.
(a) Except as provided in Paragraph (b) of this section, all information submitted to the Division under this Part shall be made available for public inspection and copying at the division office.
(b) The Division shall keep information confidential if the person submitting it requests in writing, at the time of submission, that it be kept confidential and the information concerns trade secrets or is privileged commercial or financial information relating to the competitive rights of the persons intending to conduct coal exploration.
(c) Information requested to be held as confidential under Paragraph (b) of this section shall not be made publicly available until after notice and opportunity to be heard is afforded persons both seeking and opposing disclosure of the information.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-03-19 § 772.15, eff. December 15, 1981; amended, eff. June 28, 1982; October 28, 1982; December 14, 1982; October 11, 1983; December 27, 1983; May 8, 1984; June 22, 1984; August 2, 1984; October 16, 1985; January 7, 1987; July 22, 1987; November 25, 1987; October 12, 1988; December 26, 1990; July 1, 1991; July 17, 1991; November 20, 1991; July 7, 1992; May 5, 1993; October 19, 1994.