4VAC25-101-150: Mining within 500 feet of a vertical ventilation hole or gas well

A. Before removing any coal or other mineral, or extending any mine workings or operations within 500 horizontal feet of any permitted or pending vertical ventilation hole or gas well, the mine operator shall give notice by certified mail to the vertical ventilation hole operator and the chief or, in the case of a gas well, the mine operator shall give notice as provided for in §§ 45.2-707 A and 45.2-939 A of the Coal Mine Safety Act.

B. The mine operator shall send to the vertical ventilation hole operator and the chief an accurate map or plat. The map shall show the location of the hole and projected mine workings within 500 horizontal feet of the ventilation hole and shall be shown in accordance with the state plane coordinate system.

C. Once notice and the map have been provided, the mine operator may proceed with mining operations as shown on the map. However, the mine operator shall not remove any coal or other mineral, or conduct any mining operations nearer than 200 horizontal feet, as determined by survey, to any permitted or pending vertical ventilation hole or gas well without the approval of the chief.

D. This provision shall not apply to mining operations in the seam which the vertical ventilation hole or gas well is intended to ventilate if safe mining procedures have been incorporated in the approved bleeder plan as provided in 4VAC25-101-190, unless the casing extends through that seam or if the vertical ventilation hole, gas well, or pipeline is located outside the coal seam outcrop.