Appropriations 1963 1964

General Funds $116,249 $164,385
Special Funds 14,270 14,520

Totals $130,519 $178,905
Staff: 7.

BUREAU OF MINES
Carl A. Schell, Director
City Building, Westernport Telephone: Fleetwood 9-4031

The first Mine Inspectors were appointed by the Governor in 1878
to serve in Allegany and Garrett counties (Chapter 167, Acts of 1878).
These inspectors functioned independently, reporting only to the Gov-
ernor, until 1916, when they were placed within the Board of Labor
and Statistics by Chapter 410, Acts of 1916. The inspection powers
became a function of the Bureau of Mines upon its organization in
1922 as a unit of the Department of Labor and Statistics (Chapter 307,
Acts of 1922). When the Board of Natural Resources was organized in
1941, the Bureau was transferred to the newly created Department of
Geology, Mines and Water Resources. The Director of the Bureau is
appointed by the Governor from a list of eligible persons certified by
the State Commissioner of Personnel. The Bureau of Mines inspects
all mines within the State for proper sanitation, ventilation, and safety
standards in all mining operations. All persons or corporations engag-
ing in open-pit or strip mining operations are required to register with
the Bureau before starting operations and to report periodically dur-
ing such operations. Effective June 1, 1955, all strip-mining operators
must obtain a permit from the Bureau, pay a filing fee of $200, and
furnish bond at $100 per acre, said bond to be released when acreage
has been backfilled and meets with the approval of the Director of
the Bureau. During the 1959 Session, the General Assembly amended
the Strip Mining Law; and, effective June 1, 1959, the operator must
pay a filing fee of $50, and furnish bond at $300 per acre, no bond
being for less than $1,200. By Chapter 618, Acts of 1963, the amount
of bond in Garrett County was increased to $500 per acre. No bond
is to be less than $2,000. No operator who has previously forfeited
any bond posted pursuant to stripping activities or who had failed to
pay royalties or wages due during such activities is to be permitted
to strip any area by open pit mining. In addition, no pond in Garrett
County may be constructed in lieu of back-filling. The Bureau of
Mines examines all applicants for certificates of competency as mine
foremen, assistant mine foremen, and fire bosses. It conducts classes
in mining operations throughout the western part of the State and
furnishes training in gas detection to men applying for first-class cer-
tificates and fire boss certificates of competency. This work is being
done in cooperation with the United States Bureau of Mines (Code
1957, 1963 Supp., Art. 66C, secs. 486-674).

Mine Examining Board

Chairman: Carl A. Schell
Leslie T. Foote, Miners; Arthur P. Hoffa, Sr., Operators

The Mine Examining Board, created by Chapter 307, Acts of 1922,
consists of the Director of the Bureau of Mines, who also acts as
Chairman of the Board, and two persons appointed by the Governor,
one representing the miners and the other the operators. Each appoin-
tee serves until his successor is appointed and qualifies. The Board