4VAC25-40-5770: Mining plan

When mining within 200 feet of a gas or oil well, the mine operator shall submit a plan showing projected pillars of minerals to be left unmined around each well. The pillars shall be situated so that each well is centered within a pillar. The excavated areas adjacent to any pillar may not exceed 20 feet in width without prior approval from the director. In no circumstances may the narrowest pillar dimension be less than twice the width of the excavated area.