A. There is hereby created the Board of Coal Mining Examiners which shall consist of five members. One member shall be the Chief, and four members shall be appointed by the Governor. One appointed member shall be a miner holding a first class mine foreman’s certificate with at least five years of experience in underground coal mining and who is employed at an underground coal mine in the Commonwealth in a nonmanagerial, nonsupervisory capacity at the time of appointment. One appointed member shall be a miner with at least five years of experience in surface coal mining and who is employed at a surface coal mine in the Commonwealth in a nonmanagerial, nonsupervisory capacity at the time of appointment. One appointed member shall be an individual holding a first class mine foreman’s certificate with at least five years of experience in the operation of underground coal mines, who is (i) an operator of an underground coal mine, (ii) an officer or director of a corporation operating an underground coal mine, (iii) a general partner of a partnership operating an underground coal mine, or (iv) an employee in a managerial or supervisory capacity of an operator of an underground coal mine in the Commonwealth at the time of appointment. One appointed member shall be an individual with at least five years of experience in the operation of surface coal mines, who is (i) an operator of a surface coal mine, (ii) an officer or director of a corporation operating a surface coal mine, (iii) a general partner of a partnership operating a surface coal mine, or (iv) an employee in a managerial or supervisory capacity of an operator of a surface coal mine in the Commonwealth at the time of appointment. All appointed members shall be residents of the Commonwealth.

B. The terms of office of the appointed members of the Board shall be as follows: one shall be appointed for an initial term of one year; one shall be appointed for an initial term of two years; one shall be appointed for an initial term of three years; and one shall be appointed for an initial term of four years. Thereafter, the members shall be appointed for terms of four years. Vacancies occurring on the Board among appointed members shall be filled by the Governor for the unexpired term.

C. The Chief shall serve as chairman of the Board.

History

Code 1950, §§ 45-18 to 45-21; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, § 45.1-7; 1978, c. 729; 1984, c. 590, § 45.1-7; 1994, c. 28.