A. The Director shall, by regulation, establish performance standards meeting the requirement of § 515 of the federal act and consistent with regulations adopted by the Secretary thereunder which shall be applicable to all coal surface mining and reclamation operations, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

B. Any permit issued pursuant to this chapter to conduct coal surface mining operations shall require that such operations meet all applicable performance standards established by the Director.

C. The Director shall include, in his regulations, special procedures and standards, consistent with regulations promulgated by the Secretary, for the issuance of permits for mountain-top removal operations, without regard to requirements to restore to approximate original contour, and for variances from such requirements for steep-slope operations.

D. Because of the diversity in terrain, climate, biologic, chemical and other physical conditions in Virginia, the primary governmental responsibility for developing, authorizing, issuing and enforcing regulations for coal surface mining and reclamation operations should rest with the Commonwealth, and accordingly, the Director is encouraged and authorized to develop and promulgate, with the approval of the Secretary, alternative performance standards and procedures for administering and enforcing the program created pursuant to this chapter.

E. The Director, with the approval of the Secretary, may authorize departures on an experimental basis from the environmental protection performance standards promulgated under this section and § 45.1-243.

1979, c. 290; 1984, c. 590.