Section 80. Location of vertical ventilation hole

A. Should the requested location for a vertical ventilation hole allow it to penetrate a minable coal seam or inactive mine, the chief shall, if necessary for safety purposes, alter the location of the hole for fixing it on a tract of land as near to the requested location as possible. Placement of the hole shall allow it to pass through a pillar of suitable size and/or minimize impact on minable reserves. The chief shall take into consideration the dangers from creeps, squeezes or other disturbances caused by the extraction of coal when fixing the location of the hole.

B. If no suitable pillar exists in which to locate the ventilation hole, it may be located and drilled through open workings where, in the judgment of the chief, it is practical and safe to do so. The chief shall take into consideration the dangers from creeps, squeezes and other disturbances caused by the extraction of coal.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 17, Issue 20, eff. July 18, 2001.

Statutory Authority

§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.106, 45.1-161.121, 45.1-161.254 and 45.1-161.292 of the Code of Virginia.