House Joint Resolution No. 31 was adopted by the 1966 General Assembly of Virginia to direct the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council to "study all forms of surface mining other than strip coal mining, with a view to determining the needs for law requiring restoration of mined areas and control of mining operations to minimize their harmful effects on the future use of such areas." As a result of the Council's report in 1968, comprehensive legislation was enacted dealing with the surface mining of minerals other than coal.

At the 1973 General Assembly session, it was decided that further study was necessary concerning surface mining of minerals other than coal particularly regarding the lands mined prior to the adoption of the legislation which were not reclaimed. Also, "for benefit of future generations, it is deemed that the time has come for a reexamination of those laws regulating the surface mining of minerals other than coal and examination of the ways and means of reclaiming the orphaned lands." Senators Barnes, Buchanan and Dalton introduced Senate Joint Resolution No. 78 which directed this study.