45.1-260 - State Reclamation Program.
§ 45.1-260. State Reclamation Program.
A. The Commonwealth's program for the reclamation of land and water adverselyaffected by past mining shall include the State Reclamation Plan and fund andannual reclamation projects, as provided for in this article.
B. The Director is authorized to develop and submit to the Secretary for hisapproval a State Reclamation Plan in accordance with the provisions of TitleIV of the federal act and of this article. The plan shall generally identifythe areas to be reclaimed, the purposes for which the reclamation isproposed, the relationship of the lands to be reclaimed and the proposedreclamation to surrounding areas, the specific criteria for ranking andidentifying projects to be funded, and the programmatic capability of theDivision to perform such work, and shall include such regulations, policies,and procedures as may be necessary to establish and implement the plan andannual reclamation projects, and to carry out the provisions of this article.The Director may from time to time develop and submit to the Secretaryamendments and revisions to the plan, consistent with this article.
C. The Director is authorized:
1. To prepare and submit to the Secretary annual applications for the supportof the State Reclamation Program and implementation of specific reclamationprojects;
2. To enter into agreements with the Secretary for the emergency restoration,reclamation, abatement, control or prevention of the adverse effects of coalmining practices;
3. To administer the State Reclamation Plan and the annual reclamationprojects and to receive and administer grants from the Secretary therefor;
4. To prepare and submit such information and reports as the Secretary mayrequest.
D. The Director and the Department, in carrying out the functions ofpreparing and revising the State Reclamation Plan and developing annualreclamation projects, shall provide appropriate opportunities for publicinvolvement.
(1979, c. 290; 1984, c. 590.)