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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>364305</law_id><section_number>45.2-513</section_number><catch_line> Duties of the Chief; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="99" identifier="45.2">Mines, Minerals, and Energy</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="2" identifier="II">Coal Mining</unit><unit label="part" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="A">Coal Mines Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="5">Coal Mine Safety Act</unit><unit label="article" level="5" order_by="2" identifier="2">Chief of the Division of Mines of the Department and Mine Inspectors</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Chief</span> shall (i) supervise execution and enforcement of all <span class="dictionary">laws</span>, including regulations adopted by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> or the Board, pertaining to the health and safety of persons employed within or at coal mines within the Commonwealth and the protection of property used in connection therewith and (ii) perform all other duties required pursuant to the Act. <a id="paragraph-1357220" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-513/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Chief</span> shall keep a record of all inspections of coal mines made by him and the mine inspectors. The <span class="dictionary">Chief</span> shall make a comprehensive report to the <span class="dictionary">Director</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Chief</span> shall also keep a permanent record of such inspections, properly indexed, and such record shall at all times be open to inspection by any citizen of the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-1357221" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-513/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Chief</span> may compel individuals to complete training that addresses the subject of a violation issued to the individual as a condition for abatement of the violation. <a id="paragraph-1357222" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-513/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Chief</span> may require operators to submit for approval action plans to address hazardous conditions or practices. <a id="paragraph-1357223" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-513/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> For the purpose of investigating (i) an accident or (ii) a willful act resulting in a notice of violation or closure <span class="dictionary">order</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Chief</span> may compel the attendance of witnesses and administer <span class="dictionary">oaths</span> or affirmations. Any person who knowingly provides any false statement, representation, or certification during such investigation is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-1357224" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-513/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Chief</span> shall supervise execution and enforcement of all reciprocal agreements made with responsible officers of other states that implicate any part of the Act. <a id="paragraph-1357225" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/45.2-513/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 45-1 to 45-6; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, &#xA7;&#xA7; 45.1-3,45.1-4; 1972, c. 784; 1978, cc. 120, 727; 1981, c. 32; 1984, cc. 184, 337, 590; 1987, Sp. Sess., c. 1; 1994, c. 28, &#xA7; 45.1-161.21; 2005, c. 3; 2011, cc. 826, 862; 2014, c. 145; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
