Theodore R. McKeldin, Governor                    1461

(7) If the possessor of a permit wishes to dispose of his interest

in the storage project, he shall inform the department of his intention

so to do, and supply the name and address of the person to whom it

two weeks before the intended transfer, and no transfer of permit

shall be made without the prior approval of the department.

(c) (A) Every applicant for a storage permit shall at the time of
application, file with the department a surety bond in the amount of
one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), payable to the Comptroller of the
State of Maryland, which bond shall be on a form approved by the de-
partment DEPARTMENT and executed by a responsible surety com-
pany authorized to do business in the State of Maryland. Such bond
is for the purpose of insuring that necessary safety measures are
maintained, and that any well or other opening used in connection
with the storage project is properly sealed after abandonment of the
project if such action is considered necessary by the department
DEPARTMENT to protect one or more of the natural resources of
the State. Any transferee shall likewise deposit such a bond.

(d) (B) No permeable sand or stratum containing gas, or into which
gas or a liquefied petroleum derivative has been forced under pres-
sure, shall be drilled or left open so that avoidable escape of gas shall
occur. No well connected with such storage reservoir containing
either natural gas or a petroleum derivative stored under pressure,
shall be situated within fifty (50) yards of any existing building
used as a residence or office.

(e) (C) All fresh-water sands penetrated in drilling to a storage
reservoir shall be fully protected by cement grout placed in such man-
ner as to provide an effective seal to the nearest thick clay bed above
the gas storage stratum having a thickness of at least twenty-five (25)
feet, and to provide an effective seal in the nearest thick clay bed
above the gas storage stratum which such clay bed shall be of such
thickness and have such other geologic properties as will, in the
opinion of the Department of Geology, Mines and Water Resources
AND THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL COMMISSION
constitute sufficient protection to the potable fresh-water supplies
existing in any acquifers next above the gas storage stratum
AQUIFERS.

648MM. THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 648HH TO 648LL,
INCLUSIVE, SHALL BE APPLICABLE ONLY TO THE STOR-
AGE OF NATURAL OR ARTIFICIAL GAS AND PETROLEUM
PRODUCTS IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1957.

Approved April 15, 1957.

Before approval of transfer will be made, the department shall
have opportunity to investigate the proposed recipient of the permit

statement concerning the data which would be required of him were
he an original applicant, and shall also state that he will assume full
responsibility for the operation and for compliance with the statute

in the event of the abandonment of the storage projecting conform-

ance with these regulations.