A. On and after eight months from the date on which a permanent state regulatory program is approved for the Commonwealth by the Secretary, no person shall engage in or carry out any coal surface mining operations without having first obtained a permit to engage in the operations issued by the Director, in accordance with the approved state regulatory program, except that a person conducting coal surface mining operations under a valid permit issued by the Director pursuant to Chapter 19 (§ 45.1-226 et seq.) may conduct operations beyond the period if an application for a new permit has been filed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, but the initial administrative decision has not yet been rendered. Operations so conducted pending an administrative decision shall be subject to the penalties and enforcement provisions of §§ 45.1-245, 45.1-246, 45.1-247, 45.1-249, 45.1-250, and 45.1-251 and the penalty and enforcement regulations implementing those sections.

B. No later than two months following the Secretary's approval of the state regulatory program, regardless of any litigation contesting that approval, all operators of coal surface mines expecting to operate such mines after the expiration of eight months from the Secretary's approval shall file an application for a permit with the Director. Such application shall cover those lands to be mined after the expiration of eight months from the Secretary's approval.

C. Coal surface mining permits issued pursuant to the requirements of this chapter shall be for a term of five years. The rights granted under a permit shall not be transferred, assigned, or sold without the written approval of the Director in accordance with regulations promulgated by him. The Director shall also promulgate regulations, meeting the requirements of § 506 of the federal act, for longer permit terms, successors in interest to the permittee, termination of permit for failure to commence operations, right of and procedure for permit renewal, and extension of boundaries of mining operations.

1979, c. 290; 1980, c. 364; 1983, c. 134; 1984, c. 590; 2013, cc. 47, 129.