ENERGY AND COASTAL ZONE
ADMINISTRATION

Levio E. Zeni, Director

Tawes State Office Building
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 269-2788

This Administration, created by order of the
Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources
on July 1, 1975, and implemented by Chapter
320, Acts of 1976, includes all energy-related
agencies in the Department of Natural Resources.
The common purpose of these agencies is to eval-
uate the production and conservation of energy
while keeping adverse environmental and fiscal
effects to a minimum.

The four operating programs within the Ad-
ministration are Power Plant Siting, Bureau of
Mines, the Coastal Zone Program, and the Ener-
gy Policy Office. All four accomplish their tasks
mainly through special and federal monies.

The Power Plant Siting Program, created by
Chapter 31, Acts of 1971, is responsible for the
administration of a long-range electric power
plant environmental research program, assessing
the impact of existing power plants, evaluating
proposed sites, and acquiring standby sites for a
land bank. Site evaluations calculate the impact
of future power plants at proposed sites. The site
evaluation work forms the basis of program
recommendations to the Public Service Commis-
sion for conditions relating to the design, con-
struction, and operation of a power plant that are
necessary for the protection of the environment.

Research develops the understanding of Mary-
land's environmental resources and socio-eco-
nomic structure necessary to site and operate
power plants successfully with a maximum bene-
fit to society and minimum detriment to the
ecosystem.

Site acquisition identifies, investigates, acquires,
and holds in a land bank an inventory of sites
suitable for the construction and operation of
power plants.

The Bureau of Mines has two distinct areas of
responsibility: environmental control of active
mines and restoration of abandoned mines.

Active Mines: The Bureau evaluates mining
plans for proposed deep and strip coal mines. En-
vironmental controls are established and reclama-
tion plans for the land must be approved before
the mining operation can begin. Active mines are

monitored for compliance with the law and agree-
ment with the approved plans.

Abandoned Mines: Recent legislation makes
possible the restoration of abandoned mines,
which for decades have presented serious environ-
mental problems. Money collected from a sur-
charge on mined coal is used to repair the envi-
ronmental damage caused by abandoned mines.
In addition, abandoned mines are reclaimed in
conjunction with the active Mining Program.

The Coastal Zone Management Program has
been transferred from the Water Resources Ad-
ministration to the Energy and Coastal Zone
Management Administration. The Governor in
March 1973 designated the Department of Natu-
ral Resources as the agency authorized to receive
and administer federal grants pursuant to the
Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972.
Subsequent to that the Secretary of the Depart-
ment of Natural Resources created the Coastal
Zone Unit to develop a program to assure Mary-
land's continued participation in the protection
and wise use of its coastal resources. In May
1978 the Governor signed an Executive Order
stating that the Coastal Zone Management Pro-
gram constitutes State policy with regard to ac-
tivities in Maryland's coastal areas. The Program
provides a framework for cooperative action
among governmental agencies, the public, and in-
dustry to address significant projects in coastal
areas. Federal approval of the program was re-
ceived in September 1978 guaranteeing federal
consistency with Maryland's coastal policies and
federal funds to implement the Program.

The Energy Policy Office implements the State
Energy Conservation Plan, funded under the Na-
tional Energy Policy and Conservation Act. A
State Energy Conservation Board was formed to
assist in this effort. The Office sponsors a variety
of training programs aimed at energy consumers
in the residential, commerical, industrial, trans-
portation, and government areas.

LAND RECLAMATION COMMITTEE

Chairperson: Levio E. Zeni, Administrator, Energy
and Coastal Zone Administration

Executive Secretary: Harry B. Buckley

Department of Natural Resources members: Rob-
ert V. Creter; George Gilmore; Robert Harvey;
Stephen Layton

Craig Hartsock, Allegany County Soil Conservation
District Supervisor: Shaun Sanders, Garrett