Overview of Programs and Services

History
Mining in Virginia has taken place in one form or another since man’s initial habitation of the land. Gold, copper, arsenic, manganese, iron, and many other minerals have all been mined in Virginia. Sand, clay, limestone, granite, slate, mineral sands, vermiculite, and kyanite are examples of minerals currently being mined in Virginia.   Large portions of the minerals mined are extracted for the construction of roads and commercial and residential buildings.  However, there are other minerals mined that are used for agriculture, high temperature ceramics, and the making of glass.   Over 80 million tons of non-fuel minerals are mined in Virginia annually and contribute approximately $450 million to the economy while providing approximately 5,000 direct jobs.

The Division of Mineral Mining was established April 20, 1987 by merging the safety and reclamation inspection and enforcement responsibilities for non-fuel mineral mining operations into one division. These programs were originally administered separately by DMME’s coal mine safety and reclamation divisions. Realignment of the mineral mining programs greatly enhanced the delivery of services by the Department to its customers and the public.

The Division administers and enforces Chapters 14.1, 14.4:1-14.6,14.7:1 and 18.1 of the Mineral Mine Safety Laws of Virginia and The Minerals Other Than Coal Surface Mining Law, Chapter 16, Title 45.1 of the Code of Virginia.

The enactment of mineral mine safety and reclamation laws indicated that state law-makers recognized the mineral mining industry’s contributions to Virginia’s standard of living. It further recognized that, while providing needed resources for development, uncontrolled mining could result in safety and environmental hazards.

Permitting
The Division of Mineral Mining (DMM) issues mining permits and licenses for all commercial mineral mining operations in the Commonwealth. The permit application includes suitable operating plans to ensure that mining is conducted in an environmentally sound manner.

Before a permit can be issued, applicants must provide suitable operations, drainage, and reclamation plans, which will be reviewed by DMM. A reclamation performance bond must be provided by the permittee to insure that funds are available for DMM to contract final reclamation of the mine in the event that the permittee is unable to complete the reclamation. Through permitting and bonding of mineral mines, reclamation is essentially guaranteed.

Landowners within 1000' of the permit boundaries of a new mineral mining permit application may request a public hearing. DMM has developed a Hearing Brochure to provide information on the hearing process.

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Enforcement
The Division of Mineral Mining (DMM) maintains an inspection staff and conducts safety and reclamation inspections on mineral mining sites. Reclamation inspections are conducted at least twice annually to ensure compliance with state permitting and reclamation laws and regulations. Mines that are not inspected by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration are inspected by DMM at least once per year to ensure compliance with worker safety laws and regulations. DMM does not conduct safety inspections on mineral mines that are inspected by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, but does investigate complaints and serious personal injury accidents on all mineral mines.

The duties and responsibilities of DMM’s mine inspectors are not limited to inspection and enforcement activities. Additional responsibilities include conducting safety, reclamation, and certification training classes for industry personnel, supervising the reclamation of mine sites where the performance bond has been forfeited, providing technical assistance to small mine operators, and assisting with orphaned land reclamation projects. Mine inspectors provide permitting and licensing services ranging from pre-application conferences to processing new permits and renewals to bond release following final reclamation. Mine inspectors also respond to all complaints concerning mining activities, and investigate potential illegal mine sites.

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Accidents and Complaints
Accidents involving serious personal injury and worker or citizen complaints are investigated promptly. The appropriate regulatory measures are taken to resolve or correct the problems. Complaints should be referred to the Division of Mineral Mining office in Charlottesville at (434) 951-6310.

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Public Awareness Program
Brochures, flyers, and presentations are just a few of the means by which the public is made aware of mine safety and reclamation requirements and practices. Information concerning public participation opportunities available to anyone about the impact of existing or proposed mining operations may also be obtained by contacting DMM’s main office in Charlottesville at (434) 951-6310 or via e-mail.

Available brochures include:
Hearings
Division of Mineral Mining
Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy
Orphaned Land

Certification
By authority granted in the Mineral Mine Safety Act of Virginia and under the auspices of the Board of Mineral Mine Examiners, requirements are in effect that certain persons who work at mineral mines in the State of Virginia must become certified by the Board. These include General Mineral Miner certification (applicable to all miners going to work at Virginia mineral mines for the first time), foreman certification (for surface or underground mineral mines), blaster certification (for surface or underground mines), and mineral mine electricians.

The Division of Mineral Mining’s Training and Certification Section administers the certification program on behalf of the Board of Mineral Mine Examiners. This includes management of the processes and records involved in applications, examinations, and certification issuance as well as the scheduling and coordination of training course/class availability statewide. Initial and Renewal certification courses are instructed by DMM’s mine inspection staff.

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Training
Safety and Reclamation Training
The Division conducts regular, on-site safety and reclamation meetings for industry personnel to instill safe work habits and discuss environmental quality at the mine site. This provides an opportunity for the mine inspector to discuss trends and new technologies in worker health and safety and mined land reclamation with miners, mine supervisors, and operators.

Certification Training
DMM offers the only formal training and certification available to many non-fuel mining employees through its Education and Training program. The program is well accepted by the mining industry and may be used to provide training classes to other industries and government agencies that conduct excavation, blasting or other operations of a nature similar to mining. The Division can develop site specific training courses and programs to adequately represent the customer’s needs. Certification courses are offered in the areas of blasting, mine foreman, first aid, electrical repairman and other general mine safety disciplines.

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Orphaned Land Program
Virginia’s Orphaned Land Reclamation Program administered by the Division of Mineral Mining was established in 1978 to alleviate the environmental and public health and safety hazards associated with abandoned mineral mine sites.

Orphaned lands are those areas disturbed by the surface mining of non-fuel minerals, which occurred prior to 1969 and were not required to reclaim. Funds for the reclamation of orphaned mine sites are obtained from interest moneys earned from a state managed, industry self-bonding program. Proposed reclamation projects are identified and then evaluated by an Orphaned Land Advisory Committee composed of individuals from the Division of Geology and Mineral Resources, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Environmental Quality Water Division, the mineral mining industry, and private citizens who assist the Division of Mineral Mining in evaluating the sites and prioritizing reclamation.

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Office Addresses & Phone Numbers
For assistance or additional information concerning the Division of Mineral Mining’s programs and activities please contact:

Division of Mineral Mining
Conrad T. Spangler III, Director
900 Natural Resources Drive, Ste. 400
Charlottesville, Virginia 22903-0727
(434) 951-6312

Division of Mineral Mining
Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy
900 Natural Resources Drive, Ste. 400  Charlottesville VA 22903
(434) 951-6310

Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy
Stephen A. Walz, Director
Washington Building, 8th Floor
1100 Bank Street
Richmond, VA 23219-3402
(804) 692-3200
Fax (804) 692-3237

TTY/TDD 800-828-1120

For additional information about the Division of Mineral Mining, call (434) 951-6310 or by e-mail.