A Virginia Surface Use Agreement refers to a legal contract that governs the occupation and usage of the surface land by individuals or entities engaged in the extraction or exploration of natural resources such as oil, gas, coal, or minerals within the state of Virginia. It establishes the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of both the property owner and the resource developer. The purpose of a Virginia Surface Use Agreement is to ensure the protection and fair utilization of the surface land, taking into consideration the interests of both parties involved. It encompasses various aspects related to the activity, including land access, construction of infrastructure, compensation, environmental protection measures, and restoration of the land after operations have ceased. Keywords: — Virginia: The state where the agreement is applicable. — Surface Use Agreement: The contractual arrangement outlining the terms and conditions of land usage for resource extraction. — Natural resources: Oil, gas, coal, minerals, or other substances found within the land. — Extraction: The process of removing natural resources from the ground. — Exploration: The act of searching for potential natural resource deposits. — Property owner: The individual or entity who owns the surface land. — Resource developer: The party responsible for extracting or exploring natural resources. — Rights and responsibilities: The legal entitlements and duties of each party. — Obligations: The duties and commitments that both the property owner and the resource developer must fulfill. — Land access: Permission required to enter and operate on the property. — Infrastructure construction: Building necessary facilities like drilling rigs, access roads, processing plants, etc. — Compensation: The financial remuneration provided to the property owner for the use of their land. — Environmental protection measures: Precautions taken to minimize the impact of resource extraction on the environment. — Restoration: The process of returning the land to its original condition after the completion of operations. Types of Virginia Surface Use Agreements: 1. Oil Surface Use Agreement: Pertaining specifically to the extraction of oil resources in Virginia. 2. Gas Surface Use Agreement: Focusing on the utilization of natural gas deposits within the state. 3. Coal Surface Use Agreement: Applicable to the extraction of coal resources in Virginia. 4. Mineral Surface Use Agreement: Focusing on the exploration and extraction of various minerals present within the state's land. 5. Multiple Resource Surface Use Agreement: Covering the usage of multiple types of natural resources simultaneously, such as oil, gas, and minerals. It is important for both property owners and resource developers to carefully negotiate and draft a Virginia Surface Use Agreement to ensure the fair and smooth operation of resource extraction activities while safeguarding the rights and interests of all involved parties.