LIS

Administrative Code

Virginia Administrative Code
11/2/2024

Part 778. Permit Applications-Minimum Requirements for Legal, Financial, Compliance, and Related Information

4VAC25-130-778.1. Scope and purpose.

This Part establishes the minimum legal, financial, compliance, and informational requirements for permit applications for surface coal mining and reclamation operations.

Statutory Authority

§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR480-03-19 § 778.1, 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.

4VAC25-130-778.13. Identification of interests.

An application shall contain the following information:

(a) A statement as to whether the applicant or the operator, if different from the applicant, is a corporation, partnership, single proprietorship, association, or other business entity.

(b) The name, address, telephone number and, as applicable, employer identification number of the:

(1) Applicant;

(2) Applicant's resident agent; and

(3) Operator, if different from the applicant; and

(4) Each business entity in the applicant's and operator's organizational structure, up to and including the ultimate parent entity of the applicant and operator. For every such business entity, provide the required information for every president, chief executive officer, partner, member, and/or director or persons in similar positions, and every person who owns of record 10% or more of the entity.

(c) For the applicant and operator, if different from the applicant, information required by subsection (d) of this section for every:

(1) Officer;

(2) Partner;

(3) Member;

(4) Director;

(5) Person performing a function similar to a director; and

(6) Person who owns, of record, 10% or more of the entity.

(d) For each person listed from subdivision (c) of this section:

(1) The person's name, address, and telephone number;

(2) The person's position title and relationship to the applicant or operator, including percentage of ownership and location in the organizational structure; and

(3) The date the person began functioning in that position.

(e) A list of all the names under which the applicant, operator, partners, or principal shareholders, and the operator's partners or principal shareholders operate or previously operated a surface coal mining operation in the United States within a five-year period preceding the date of submission of the application, including the name, address, identifying numbers, including employer identification number, Federal or State permit number and MSHA number, the date of issuance of the MSHA number, and the regulatory authority.

(f) For the applicant and operator, if different from the applicant, a list of any pending permit applications for surface coal mining operators filed in the United States, identifying each application by its application number, jurisdiction, or by other identifying information when necessary.

(g) For any surface coal mining operation the applicant or operator owned or controlled within a five-year period preceding the submission of the permit application, and for any surface coal mining operation the applicant or operator controlled on that date, the:

(1) Permittee's and operator's name, address, and tax identification numbers;

(2) Name of the regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the permit with the corresponding federal or state permit number and MSHA number; and

(3) The permittee's and operator's relationship to the operation, including the percentage of ownership and location in the organizational structure.

(h) The name and address of each legal or equitable owner of record of the surface and mineral property to be mined, each holder of record of any leasehold interest in the property to be mined, and any purchaser of record under a real estate contract for the property to be mined.

(i) The name and address of each owner of record of all property (surface and subsurface) contiguous to any part of the proposed permit area.

(j) The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) numbers for all mine-associated structures that require MSHA approval.

(k) A statement of all lands, interest in lands, options, or pending bids on interests held or made by the applicant for lands contiguous to the area described in the permit application. If requested by the applicant, any information required by this subdivision that is not on public file pursuant to state law shall be held in confidence by the division, as provided under 4VAC25-130-773.13(d)(3)(ii).

(l) Each application shall contain a list of all other licenses and permits needed by the applicant to conduct the proposed surface mining activities. This list shall identify each license and permit by:

(1) Type of permit or license;

(2) Name and address of issuing authority;

(3) Identification numbers of applications for those permits or licenses or, if issued, the identification numbers of the permits or licenses; and

(4) If a decision has been made, the date of approval or disapproval by each issuing authority.

(m) After an applicant is notified that his application is approved, but before the permit is issued, the applicant shall, as applicable, update, correct or indicate that no change has occurred in the information previously submitted under subdivisions (a) through (d) of this section.

(n) The applicant shall submit the information required by this section and by 4VAC25-130-778.14 in any prescribed OSM format that is issued.

Statutory Authority

§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR480-03-19 § 778.13, 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; Volume 29, Issue 13, eff. March 27, 2013.

4VAC25-130-778.14. Violation information.

Each application shall contain the following information:

(a) A statement of whether the applicant or any subsidiary, affiliate, or persons controlled by or under common control with the applicant has:

(1) Had a federal or state coal mining permit suspended or revoked in the five years preceding the date of submission of the application; or

(2) Forfeited a performance bond or similar security deposited in lieu of bond at any time.

(b) A brief explanation of the facts involved if any such suspension, revocation, or forfeiture referred to in subdivisions (a)(1) and (2) of this section has occurred, including:

(1) Identification number and date of issuance of the permit, and the date and amount of bond or similar security;

(2) Identification of the authority that suspended or revoked the permit or forfeited the bond and the stated reasons for the action;

(3) The current status of the permit, bond, or similar security involved;

(4) The date, location, and type of any administrative or judicial proceedings initiated concerning the suspension, revocation, or forfeiture; and

(5) The current status of the proceedings.

(c) For any violation of a provision of the federal Act or this chapter, or of any law, rule or regulation of the United States, or of any state law, rule or regulation enacted pursuant to federal law, rule or regulation pertaining to air or water environmental protection incurred in connection with any surface coal mining operation, a list of all violation notices received by the applicant during the three year period preceding the application date, and a list of all unabated cessation orders and unabated air and water quality violation notices received prior to the date of the application by any surface coal mining and reclamation operation owned or controlled by either the applicant or by the operator. For each violation notice or cessation order reported, the lists shall include the following information, as applicable:

(1) Any identifying numbers for the operation, including the federal or state permit number and MSHA number, the dates of issuance of the violation notice and MSHA number, the name of the person to whom the violation notice was issued, and the name of the issuing regulatory authority, department or agency.

(2) A brief description of the violation alleged in the notice;

(3) The date, location, and type of any administrative or judicial proceedings initiated concerning the violation, including, but not limited to, proceedings initiated by any person identified in subdivision (c) of this section to obtain administrative or judicial review of the violation;

(4) The current status of the proceedings and of the violation notice; and

(5) The actions, if any, taken by any person identified in subdivision (c) of this section to abate the violation.

(d) After an applicant is notified that his application is approved, but before the permit is issued, the applicant shall, as applicable, update, correct or indicate that no change has occurred in the information previously submitted under this section.

Statutory Authority

§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR480-03-19 § 778.14, 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; Volume 29, Issue 13, eff. March 27, 2013.

4VAC25-130-778.15. Right-of-entry information.

(a) An application shall contain a description of the documents upon which the applicant bases his legal right to enter and begin surface coal mining and reclamation operations in the permit area and shall state whether that right is the subject of pending litigation. The description shall identify the documents by type and date of execution, identify the specific lands to which the document pertains, and explain the legal rights claimed by the applicant.

(b) Where the private mineral estate to be mined has been severed from the private surface estate, an applicant shall also submit--

(1) A copy of the written consent of the surface owner for the extraction of coal by surface mining methods; or

(2) A copy of the conveyance that expressly grants or reserves the right to extract coal by surface mining methods; or

(3) If the conveyance does not expressly grant the right to extract the coal by surface mining methods, documentation that under applicable State law, the applicant has the legal authority to extract the coal by those methods.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to provide the division with the authority to adjudicate property rights disputes.

Statutory Authority

§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR480-03-19 § 778.15, 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.

4VAC25-130-778.16. Status of unsuitability claims.

(a) An application shall contain available information as to whether the proposed permit area is within an area designated as unsuitable for surface coal mining and reclamation operations or is within an area under study for designation in an administrative proceeding under Parts 762 and 764.

(b) An application in which the applicant claims the exemption described in 4VAC25-130-762.13(c) shall contain information supporting the assertion that the applicant made substantial legal and financial commitments before January 4, 1977, concerning the proposed surface coal mining and reclamation operations.

(c) An application in which the applicant proposes to conduct surface coal mining activities within 300 feet of an occupied dwelling or within 100 feet of a public road shall contain the necessary information and meet the requirements of 4VAC25-130-761.12.

Statutory Authority

§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR480-03-19 § 778.16, 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.

4VAC25-130-778.17. Permit term.

(a) Each application shall state the anticipated or actual starting and termination date of each phase of the surface coal mining and reclamation operation and the anticipated number of acres of land to be affected during each phase of mining over the life of the mine.

(b) If the applicant requires an initial permit term in excess of 5 years in order to obtain necessary financing for equipment and the opening of the operation, the application shall--

(1) Be complete and accurate covering the specified longer term; and

(2) Show that the proposed longer term is reasonably needed to allow the applicant to obtain financing for equipment and for the opening of the operation with the need confirmed, in writing, by the applicant's proposed source of financing.

Statutory Authority

§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR480-03-19 § 778.17, 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.

4VAC25-130-778.18. Insurance.

Either a certificate of liability insurance or evidence of self-insurance in compliance with 4VAC25-130-800.60 shall be provided prior to application approval and before the permit is issued.

Statutory Authority

§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR480-03-19 § 778.18, 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.

4VAC25-130-778.21. Proof of publication.

A copy of the newspaper advertisement of the application for a permit, significant revision of a permit, or renewal of a permit, and proof of publication of the advertisements which is acceptable to the division shall be filed with the division and made a part of the application no later than 4 weeks after the last date of publication as required by 4VAC25-130-773.13(a)(1).

Statutory Authority

§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR480-03-19 § 778.21, 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.

4VAC25-130-778.22. Facilities or structures used in common.

The plans of a facility or structure that is to be shared by two or more separately permitted mining operations shall be included in one permit application and referenced in the other applications. In accordance with Part 800, the applicant applying for the permit shall bond the facility or structure. The permittees sharing it may agree to an agreement for assuming their respective responsibilities. The application may include a copy of any such agreement between or among the parties setting forth the respective responsibilities of each party for the facility or structure. The agreement shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the division that all responsibilities under this chapter for the facility or structure will be met.

Statutory Authority

§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR480-03-19 § 778.22, 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.

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