278/Maryland Manual

Tim Carney, Allegany County, 1985; June Neder,
Allegany County, 1985; John E. Carey, mining
industry, 1987; James M. Coffroth, mining
industry, 1987; Frances Pope, Garrett County,
1987; Hugh B. Trimble, Garrett County, 1987.

Craig Hartsock, Allegany County Soil Conservation
District; Shaun Sanders, Garrett County Soil
Conservation District; Edward J. Golden,
Stephen Layton, Paul Mateer, Department of
Natural Resources; Robert V. Creter, Depart-
ment of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Executive Secretary: Anthony F. Abar

c/o Bureau of Mines
69 Hill Street
Frostburg 21532 Telephone: 689-4136

The Land Reclamation Committee, originally
established by Chapter 144, Acts of 1967, had its
functions expanded in 1969, 1973, and 1982. The
Committee studies, recommends, and approves
procedures for reclamation, conservation, and re-
vegetation of areas affected by open-pit mining
within the State. The Committee also reviews all
mining and reclamation plans, progress reports,
and final reports. It establishes plans and methods
of procedure, as well as practical guidelines, for the
prompt and adequate reclamation, conservation,
and revegetation of all lands disturbed by open-pit
mining of bituminous coal within the State.

The Committee consists of thirteen members.
Four members of the Department of Natural
Resources, including a chairperson of the Commit-
tee, are appointed by the Secretary of Natural
Resources. One member represents the Allegany
County soil conservation district, and one the
Garrett County soil conservation district. Two
members are appointed by the Governor with the
advice and consent of the Senate for three-year
terms to represent the mining industry. The Plan-
ning and Zoning Commissions of Allegany and
Garrett Counties are each represented by a mem-
ber who serves a three-year term. The Secretary of
Natural Resources appoints for three-year terms
two members from the community who do not
have an interest in any mining operation. One of
these must reside in Allegany County and the
other in Garrett County. One member of the
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is
appointed by the Secretary of Health and Mental
Hygiene (Code Natural Resources Article, secs.
7-205, 7-501 through 7-505, 7-509, 7-510,
7-515).

NATURAL RESOURCES POLICE
FORCE

Roy W. Rafter, Superintendent

Tawes State Office Building
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 269-2247/3181

Created by Chapter 348, Acts of 1972, the
Natural Resources Police Force traces its begin-
nings to 1868, when the State Oyster Police Force
was formed to enforce oyster laws of the State.
Legislation enacted in 1874 brought all forces
afloat under the Commission of Fisheries and
named the new unit the State Fishery Force. In
1922 the Force became a part of the Conservation
Department and was known as the Maryland
Patrol and Inspection Fleet. This provided the
foundation for the present-day marine enforcement
activity of the Natural Resources Police Force.

From a wildlife and inland fisheries standpoint,
the creation of the post of State Game Warden in
1896 was the benchmark for a system that would
bring greater uniformity to the enforcement of
conservation laws across the State. Following the
appointment of a State Game Warden, government
programs began that are responsible for today's
inland enforcement activity of the Natural Re-
sources Police. In 1922 the post of State Game
Warden became a part of the Conservation Depart-
ment along with the State Fishery Force (renamed
the Maryland Patrol and Inspection Fleet). In
1939, the Conservation Department was split into
two separate departments: the Department of
Tidewater Fisheries, and the Game and Inland
Fish Commission (later the Department of Game
and Inland Fish). The Marine Enforcement Fleet
was then named the Division of Inspection and
Patrol, and later renamed the Maryland State
Marine Police in 1962 as the agency widened its
responsibilities to include enforcement of the
Maryland Boat Act of 1960. Following the abolish-
ment of the Department ofChesapeake Bay Affairs
and the Department of Game and Inland Fish, the
Natural Resources Police Force was created in
1972.

The Natural Resources Police Force enforces
State laws and regulations pertaining to commer-
cial seafood harvesting and sport fishing, boating,
waterways pollution, and wildlife conservation. It
also conducts boating and firearms training and
hunting safety educational programs.

The Force inspects boats for conservation and
boating violations. It also inspects seafood process-
ing houses and trucks carrying seafood cargo. It
arrests and issues warnings to violators of boating