Virginia Administrative Code
Title 4 - CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Agency 25 - DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Chapter 130 - COAL SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION REGULATIONS
Part 817 - Permanent Program Performance Standards-Underground Mining Activities
Section 4VAC25-130-817.15 - Casing and sealing of underground openings; permanent

When no longer needed for monitoring or other use approved by the division upon a finding of no adverse environmental or health and safety effects, or unless approved for transfer as a water well under 4VAC25-130-817.41, each shaft, drift, adit, tunnel, exploratory hole, entranceway or other opening to the surface from underground shall be capped, sealed, backfilled, or otherwise properly managed, as required by the division under 4VAC25-130-817.13 and consistent with 30 CFR 75.1771 and the standards for oil and gas wells of the Virginia division of Mines, as appropriate. Permanent closure measures shall be designed to prevent access to the mine workings by people, livestock, fish and wildlife, and machinery, and to keep acid or other toxic drainage from entering ground or surface waters.

Statutory Authority

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