4 Va. Admin. Code § 25-130-740.15

Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 8, December 2, 2024

Section 4VAC25-130-740.15 - Bonds on federal lands

(a) Federal lease bonds.

(1) Each holder of a Federal coal lease that is covered by a Federal lease bond required under 43 CFR 3474 may apply to the authorized officer of the Federal agency that has administrative jurisdiction over the Federal lands for release of liability for that portion of the Federal lease bond that covers reclamation requirements.

(2) The authorized officer may release the liability for that portion of the Federal lease bond that covers reclamation requirements if:

(i) The lessee has secured a suitable performance bond covering the permit area under this Part;

(ii) There are no pending actions or unresolved claims against existing bonds; and

(iii) The authorized officer has received concurrence from the OSM and the Bureau of Land Management.

(b) Performance bonds. The performance bonds required for operations on Federal lands shall be made payable to the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia: Director-Division of Mined Land Repurposing.

(c) Federal lessee protection bonds.

(1) Where leased Federal coal is to be mined and the surface of the land is subject to a lease or permit issued by the United States for purposes other than surface coal mining, the applicant for a mining permit, if unable to obtain the written consent of the permittee or lessee of the surface to enter and commence surface coal mining operations, shall submit to the division with the application evidence of execution of a bond or undertaking which meets the requirements of this section. The Federal lessee protection bond is in addition to the performance bond required by Subchapter VJ. This section does not apply to permits or licenses for the use of the surface that do not convey to the permittee or licensee the right of transfer, sale or consent to other uses.

(2) The bond shall be payable to the United States for the use and benefit of the permittee or lessee of the surface lands involved.

(3) The bond shall secure payment to the surface estate for any damage which the surface coal mining and reclamation operation causes to the crops or tangible improvements of the permittee or lessee of the surface lands.

(4) The amount of the bond shall be determined either by the applicant and the Federal lessee or permittee, or if an agreement cannot be reached, as determined in an action brought against the person conducting surface coal mining and reclamation operations or upon the bond in a court of competent jurisdiction.

(d) Release of bonds.

(1) A Federal lease bond may be released by the OSM upon satisfactory compliance with all applicable requirements of 43 CFR 3480-3487 and 43 CFR 3400 and after the release is approved by the Bureau of Land Management.

(2) A Federal lessee protection bond shall be released by the OSM upon the written consent of the permittee or lessee.

(3) Where surface coal mining and reclamation operations are subject to an approved mining plan, a performance bond shall be released by the division after the release is approved by the OSM.

4 Va. Admin. Code § 25-130-740.15

Derived from VR480-03-19 §740.15, eff. December 15, 1981; amended, eff. June 28, 1982; October 28, 1982; December 14, 1982; October 11, 1983; December 27, 1983; May 8, 1984; June 22, 1984; August 2, 1984; October 16, 1985; January 7, 1987; July 22, 1987; November 25, 1987; October 12, 1988; December 26, 1990; July 1, 1991; July 17, 1991; November 20, 1991; July 7, 1992; May 5, 1993; October 19, 1994; Amended, Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 13, eff. 3/31/2022.

Statutory Authority: § 45.2-103 of the Code of Virginia.