A. The Director shall promulgate regulations, consistent with regulations promulgated by the Secretary, establishing procedures, conditions, criteria, and schedules for the forfeiture or release of performance bonds or deposits required under this chapter; however, no bond shall be fully released until all reclamation requirements of this chapter and the regulations thereunder are fully met.

B. Any person with a valid legal interest which might be adversely affected by release of the bond, or the responsible officer or head of any federal, state, or local governmental agency which has jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to any environmental, social, or economic impact involved in the operation, or is authorized to develop and enforce environmental standards with respect to such operations, shall have the right to file written objections to the proposed release from bond by the Director within thirty days after the last publication of notice, as required by regulation. If written objections are filed, and a hearing requested, the Director shall inform all interested parties of the time and place of the hearing and hold a public hearing in the locality of the coal surface mining operation proposed for bond release, or in Richmond at the option of the objector, within thirty days of the request for such hearing.

C. Without prejudice to the rights of the objectors, the applicant, or the responsibilities of the Director pursuant to this section, the Director may establish an informal conference, in accordance with regulations promulgated pursuant to § 45.1-239 B, to resolve written objections.

D. For the purpose of such hearing the Director is authorized to administer oaths, subpoena witnesses, or written or printed materials, compel the attendance of witnesses, or production of materials, and take evidence including but not limited to inspections of the land affected or other coal surface mining operations carried on by the applicant in the general vicinity. A verbatim record of each public hearing shall be made and a transcript made available on the motion of any party or by order of the Director.

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