45.1-161.316 - Virginia Fuel Commission; powers and duties.
§ 45.1-161.316. Virginia Fuel Commission; powers and duties.
To act for and on behalf of the Governor in the enforcement of the powers andduties set forth in this chapter, the Governor may appoint a commission,known and designated as the Virginia Fuel Commission, hereafter theCommission. The Commission shall be composed of three residents of theCommonwealth, one of whom shall be designated by the Governor as chairman.The Commission, subject to the approval of the Governor, shall have inaddition to such powers and duties incident hereto as the Governor may haveand shall delegate to it, the following powers and duties:
1. To promulgate such rules and regulations and to issue such orders as mayin the judgment of the Commission be necessary to accomplish in full thepurposes of this chapter, which shall have the force and effect of law andthe violation thereof shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor;
2. To appoint and employ such officers and personnel as in its judgment maybe required to carry out the provisions of this chapter and to remove, in itsdiscretion, any and all persons serving thereunder, and to fix, subject toapproval by the Governor, the remuneration of all such officers and otherpersonnel. Such personnel shall work subject to such safety provisions as arein force on the property at time of acquisition;
3. To acquire under the power of eminent domain, or by purchase, lease orotherwise, all the property of any person used in the business of mining,production and marketing coal, including all lands, tipples, mines, ores,rights-of-way, leaseholds, and every character and type of equipment deemedby the Commission necessary and incidental to the continuous mining andproduction of coal; and
4. To operate, manage and control any such properties so acquired; topurchase coal, coke and other fuel and to sell the same, either at retail orat wholesale; to enter into contracts; to allocate and provide for thedistribution of coal and other fuels so as to assure distribution deemed mostlikely to promote the welfare, health and safety of the people of Virginia;and to do any and all things necessary and incident to the mining, productionand marketing of coal.
(Code 1950, § 45-149; 1950, p. 30; 1966, c. 594, § 45.1-149; 1994, c. 28.)