Section 45.1-161.57 of the Coal Mine Safety Laws of Virginia states that no person shall engage in the operation of any coal mine within the Commonwealth without first obtaining a license from Virginia Energy. Click the links below to learn more about our requirements.
- Abandonment Requirements
- Annual Reporting Requirements
- Licensing Requirements and Fees
- Reporting Changes in Licensing Information
Abandonment Requirements
In order to abandon a licensed Virginia coal mine, the operator must submit the following:
- Underground Coal Mines The operator must provide written notice of abandonment to Coal Mine Safety. This notice should include the name of the mine, location of the mine and the operator's name and mailing address, a final mine map and a DM-CM-2 form (tonnage) must be provided. Total tonnage and hours are also needed from January 1, or the date the license was issued in the current year, through the date of abandonment. NOTE: This information is required even if there is zero tonnage for the time period.
- Surface Coal Mines The operator must provide written notice of abandonment to Coal Mine Safety which includes the name of the mine, location of the mine and the operator's name and mailing address. Also, a final mine map when applicable and a DM-CM-2 form (Tonnage) must be provided and completed as described in the underground mines requirements.
Annual Reporting Requirements
In order to abandon a licensed Virginia coal mine, the operator must submit the following:
- Tonnage Reports By February 15th, the operator or his agent of every mine shall annually mail or deliver to Coal Mine Safety a report for the preceding twelve months, ending with December 31. The report shall state the names of the operator, any agent, and officers; the quantity of coal mined; and such other information, not of private nature, as may from time to time be required by the Department on blank forms furnished or approved by the Department. Get form here »
- Affidavits By February 15th, the operator or his agent of every coal mine shall annually mail or deliver to Coal Mine Safety an affidavit, certified by the Commissioner of Revenue of the locality in which the coal mining operations are conducted, stating that all local coal severance taxes enacted with respect to the coal mining operations have been paid; and an affidavit, certified by the Treasurer of the locality in which the coal mining operations are conducted, stating that personal property, real estate and mineral land taxes due with respect to mining operations have been paid.
Licensing Requirements and Fees
The following requirements are to be met to obtain a "New Mine" license or to "Renew" an existing license. Enforcement activities are mandated by the Coal Mine Safety Laws of Virginia and help to ensure that mining operations are conducted in compliance with the minimum standards established by law. The applicant must submit the following:
- $350.00 application fee (Cash, Check/Money Order made payable to the Treasurer of Virginia)
- A completed DM-CM-1 Form (Mine License Application)
The following requirements are to be met to obtain a "Change of Ownership" license. The applicant must submit the following:
- $350.00 application fee (Cash, Check/Money Order made payable to the Treasurer of Virginia)
- A completed DM-CM-1 Form (Mine License Application)
- A DM-CM-2 Form (Tonnage) from the previous operator
- A letter of relinquishment from previous operator
- A final map from the previous operator
No application for a license or a renewal shall be issued unless all requirements are met. In order to ensure your existing mine license does not expire, or when a new mine license or change of ownership license is needed, you should submit your application package at least 10 days prior to the expiration date or desired license date. This will allow sufficient time for review, approval, and mailing of your new license.
Applications for a mine license should be submitted through the eForms center.
If a license is needed immediately, you should contact our office for assistance. All mine licenses are issued out of the Big Stone Gap office. Applications hand delivered or mailed to the Lebanon office will be forwarded to Big Stone Gap for issuance.
Reporting Changes in Licensing Information
The operator shall notify Coal Mine Safety within 30 days after the occurrence of any change in the information currently on file regarding the mine license application. This notification is required in writing to Coal Mine Safety and may be by letter or the DM-LI-1, Notice of Operator Change in Licensing Application form.
An information change of "person with overall responsibility of operating decisions at the mine" (DM-CM-1 Mine License Application) will require a re-print of the mine license. Once the notification has been received in the Big Stone Gap office, a re-print of the license will be issued and mailed.
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