Ch. 297                           MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                               681

CHAPTER 297
(House Bill 304)

AN ACT to add new Sections 674 I, J, and K to Article 66C of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1970 Replacement Volume), title "Natural Resources,"
subtitle "Mining," to follow immediately after Section 674H thereof, and to be
under the new subheading "Interstate Mining Compact," providing for the
adoption of the Interstate Mining Compact, enacting the same into law, and
generally relating thereto.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Sections 674 I, J, and K be and they are hereby added
to Article 66C of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1970 Replacement Volume),
title "Natural Resources," subtitle "Mining," to follow immediately after Section
674H thereof, and to be under the new subheading "Interstate Mining Compact,"
and all to read as follows:

INTERSTATE MINING COMPACT

674-I.

THE INTERSTATE MINING COMPACT IS HEREBY ENACTED INTO
LAW AND ENTERED INTO WITH ALL OTHER JURISDICTIONS
LEGALLY JOINING THEREIN IN THE FORM SUBSTANTIALLY AS
FOLLOWS:

ARTICLE I

FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(A) THE PARTY STATES FIND THAT:

1.    MINING AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THEREOF TO THE
ECONOMY AND WELL-BEING OF EVERY STATE ARE OF BASIC
SIGNIFICANCE.

2.  THE EFFECTS OF MINING ON THE AVAILABILITY OF LAND,
WATER AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR OTHER USES PRESENT
SPECIAL PROBLEMS WHICH PROPERLY CAN BE APPROACHED
ONLY WITH DUE CONSIDERATION FOR THE RIGHTS AND
INTERESTS OF THOSE ENGAGED IN MINING, THOSE USING OR
PROPOSING TO USE THESE RESOURCES FOR OTHER PURPOSES,
AND THE PUBLIC.

3.  MEASURES FOR THE REDUCTION OF THE ADVERSE EFFECTS
OF MINING ON LAND, WATER AND OTHER RESOURCES MAY BE
COSTLY AND THE DEVISING OF MEANS TO DEAL WITH THEM ARE
OF BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CONCERN.

4.  SUCH VARIABLES AS SOIL STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION,
PHYSIOGRAPHY, CLIMATIC CONDITIONS, AND THE NEEDS OF THE
PUBLIC MAKE IMPRACTICABLE THE APPLICATION TO ALL MINING
AREAS OF A SINGLE STANDARD FOR THE CONSERVATION,
ADAPTATION, OR RESTORATION OF MINED LAND, OR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF MINERAL AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES;
BUT JUSTIFIABLE REQUIREMENTS OF LAW AND PRACTICE
RELATING TO THE EFFECTS OF MINING ON LAND, WATER, AND