A. Notwithstanding any licensing requirement under Title 54.1, an operator shall be eligible to bid on contracts to conduct reclamation projects under the State Reclamation Program and the Coal Surface Mining Reclamation Fund in accordance with this article and Article 5 (§ 45.1-270.1 et seq.), provided the Director finds that the following conditions have been met: (i) the operator has had at least three years of relevant mining experience in the Commonwealth pursuant to Chapter 19 (§ 45.1-226 et seq.) and (ii) the operator meets all other applicable requirements of federal, state, and local law.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Title 11, the Director may adjust the amount of required bid or performance bonds for such contracts upon a finding that such amounts are sufficient to protect the public interest.
C. The Director shall promulgate regulations to implement this section.
1984, c. 590, § 45.1-1.2; 1994, c. 28.