682                                     LAWS OF MARYLAND                             Ch. 297

OTHER RESOURCES MAY BE REDUCED IN EQUITY OR
EFFECTIVENESS UNLESS THEY PERTAIN SIMILARLY FROM STATE
TO STATE FOR ALL MINING OPERATIONS SIMILARLY SITUATED.

5. THE STATES ARE IN A POSITION AND HAVE THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO ASSURE THAT MINING SHALL BE CONDUCTED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SOUND CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES, AND
WITH DUE REGARD FOR LOCAL CONDITIONS.

(B) THE PURPOSES OF THIS COMPACT ARE TO:

1.  ADVANCE THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF LAND,
WATER AND OTHER RESOURCES AFFECTED BY MINING.

2.     ASSIST IN THE REDUCTION OR ELIMINATION OR
COUNTERACTING OF POLLUTION OR DETERIORATION OF LAND,
WATER AND AIR ATTRIBUTABLE TO MINING.

3.    ENCOURAGE, WITH DUE RECOGNITION OF RELEVANT
REGIONAL, PHYSICAL, AND OTHER DIFFERENCES, PROGRAMS IN
EACH OF THE PARTY STATES WHICH WILL ACHIEVE COMPARABLE
RESULTS IN PROTECTING, CONSERVING, AND IMPROVING THE
USEFULNESS OF NATURAL RESOURCES, TO THE END THAT THE
MOST DESIRABLE CONDUCT OF MINING AND RELATED
OPERATIONS MAY BE UNIVERSALLY FACILITATED.

4.     ASSIST THE PARTY STATES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO
FACILITATE THE USE OF LAND AND OTHER RESOURCES AFFECTED
BY MINING, SO THAT SUCH USE MAY BE CONSISTENT WITH
SOUND LAND USE, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND PUBLIC SAFETY, AND TO
THIS END TO STUDY AND RECOMMEND, WHEREVER DESIRABLE,
TECHNIQUES FOR THE IMPROVEMENT, RESTORATION OR
PROTECTION OF SUCH LAND AND OTHER RESOURCES.

5.   ASSIST IN ACHIEVING AND MAINTAINING AN EFFICIENT
AND PRODUCTIVE MINING INDUSTRY AND IN INCREASING
ECONOMIC AND OTHER BENEFITS ATTRIBUTABLE TO MINING.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS
AS USED IN THIS COMPACT, THE TERM:

(A) "MINING" MEANS THE BREAKING OF THE SURFACE SOIL IN
ORDER TO FACILITATE OR ACCOMPLISH THE EXTRACTION OR
REMOVAL OF MINERALS, ORES, OR OTHER SOLID MATTER; ANY
ACTIVITY OR PROCESS CONSTITUTING ALL OR PART OF A
PROCESS FOR THE EXTRACTION OR REMOVAL OF MINERALS,
ORES, AND OTHER SOLID MATTER FROM ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION;
AND THE PREPARATION, WASHING, CLEANING, OR OTHER
TREATMENT OF MINERALS, ORES, OR OTHER SOLID MATTER SO
AS TO MAKE THEM SUITABLE FOR COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, OR
CONSTRUCTION USE; BUT SHALL NOT INCLUDE THOSE ASPECTS
OF DEEP MINING NOT HAVING SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THE
SURFACE, AND SHALL NOT INCLUDE EXCAVATION OR GRADING
WHEN CONDUCTED SOLELY IN AID OF ON SITE FARMING OR