Virginia Administrative Code
Title 4 - CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Agency 25 - DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Chapter 130 - COAL SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION REGULATIONS
Part 784 - Underground Mining Permit Applications-Minimum Requirements for Reclamation and Operation Plan
Section 4VAC25-130-784.15 - Reclamation plan; land use information

Universal Citation: 4 VA Admin Code 25-130-784-15

Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 3, September 23, 2024

(a) The plan shall contain a statement of the condition, capability, and productivity of the land within the proposed permit area; including:

(1) A map and supporting narrative of the uses of the land existing at the time of the filing of the application. If the premining use of the land was changed with five years before the anticipated date of beginning the proposed operations, the historic use of the land shall also be described to the extent such information is available.

(2) A narrative of land capability and productivity, which analyzes the land use description under paragraph (a) of this section in conjunction with other environmental resources information. The narrative shall provide analyses of:
(i) The capability of the land before any mining to support a variety of uses, giving consideration to soil and foundation characteristics, topography, vegetative cover, and the hydrology of the proposed permit area; and

(ii) The productivity of the proposed permit area before mining, expressed as average yield of food, fiber, forage, or wood products from such lands obtained under high levels of management. The productivity shall be determined by yield data or estimates for similar sites based on current data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, state agricultural universities, or appropriate state natural resource or agricultural agencies.

(b) Each plan shall contain a detailed description of the proposed use, following reclamation, of the land within the proposed permit area, including a discussion of the utility and capacity of the reclaimed land to support a variety of alternative uses, and the relationship of the proposed use of existing land use policies and plans. This description shall explain:

(1) How the proposed postmining land use is to be achieved and the necessary support activities which may be needed to achieve the proposed land use;

(2) Where a land use different from the premining land use is proposed, all materials needed for approval of the alternative use under 4VAC25-130-816.133; and

(3) The consideration which has been given to making all of the proposed surface mining activities consistent with surface owner plans and applicable state and local land use plans and programs.

(c) The description shall be accompanied by a copy of the comments concerning the proposed use by the legal or equitable owner of record of the surface of the proposed permit area and the state and local government agencies which would have to initiate, implement, approve, or authorize the proposed use of the land following reclamation.

Statutory Authority

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

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