W. Va. Code § 5B-13-2: Legislative findings and purpose.

(a) The Legislature finds that certain minerals and materials are essential to national security, the welfare of this state, energy reliability, critical infrastructure, and economic stability, and that their availability is vulnerable to supply disruptions.

(b) The purpose of this article is to:

(1) Promote the development and availability of strategic and critical resources through uniform statewide regulation;

(2) Reserve regulatory authority to the state and federal governments; and

(3) Preempt local regulation, except as expressly provided.