1046                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                        [CH. 635

days thereafter, file an amended certificate and additional bond.
If the area actually affected by open pit mining during the year
is less than the estimate, the secretary DIRECTOR shall issue a
release of the surplus of the bond or deposit upon which liability has
not been charged as aforesaid.

648H. If the operator continues to engage in open pit mining of
bituminous coal beyond the period for which the certificate has been
filed, a renewal of the certificate shall be filed with the Bureau of
Mines together with a bond or deposit in accordance therewith, as
hereinbefore provided in the case of the original certificate.

648-1. Within one year after the operation is completed, the
operator shall place sufficient overburden in the open cut to cover the
exposed face of the unmined coal, which shall begin at least three feet
above the top of the coal and shall extend to the bottom of the pit at
an angle not to exceed forty-five (45) degrees, except high walls
where strip mining cuts into active worked out or abandoned deep
mine workings, in which case the angle shall not exceed forty-five
(45) degrees from the top of such wall to the bottom thereof, and
the peaks and ridges of spoilbanks shall be leveled and rounded off to
such an extent as will permit the planting of trees, grasses or shrubs,
and rejected coal and combustive material shall not be used on the
high wall bank: Provided, however, that if the operator desires to
conduct drift mining upon the premises he may designate drift loca-
tions at which places it will not be necessary to so place overburden
over the face of the coal. Such drift locations shall be described in
the completion report and designated on the map attached thereto:
Provided also, that if the operator desires to use the open cut as a
haulageway for the removal of coal from other operations, he may,
with the consent of the Director, postpone the covering of the exposed
face of the unmined coal for the duration of such use.

68J. Within one year after the open pit mining operations on the
premises are terminated, the operator shall plant trees, shrubs or
grasses upon the lands affected by open pit mining, and, if the Di-
rector of the

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BUREAU OF MINES, PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, THAT THE OWNER OR OPERATOR MAY BE EX-
CUSED OR DISCHARGED FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
SECTION IF, IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE DIRECTOR
OF THE BUREAU OF MINES, THE PLANTING OF SUCH AREA
IS NOT PRACTICAL. ANY OWNER OF THE LAND OR AREA
WHICH HAS BEEN STRIPPED MAY, UPON APPROVAL OF
THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF MINES, HAVE THE
RIGHT AND PRIVILEGE TO ESTABLISH A POND IN LIEU
OF BACK-FILLING SAID AREA, PROVIDED THAT THE