2800

LAWS OF MARYLAND

[Ch. 581

THE OPERATOR BY REGISTERED MAIL OF ANY DEFICIENCIES
NOTED. [[THE OPERATOR SHALL COMMENCE ACTION WITHIN 30
DAYS TO RECTIFY THESE DEFICIENCIES AND DILIGENTLY PROCEED
UNTIL THEY ARE CORRECTED. IF THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES
THAT THE OPERATOR IS MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO COMPLY, THE
DEPARTMENT MAY EXTEND PERFORMANCE PERIODS REFERRED TO IN
THIS SECTION AND IN §[[7-7Bl9]] 7-6A19 FOR DELAYS CLEARLY
BEYOND THE OPERATOR'S CONTROL]] THE OPERATOR SHALL
PROCEED WITH MINING AND RECLAMATION AS SCHEDULED IN THE
APPROVED MINING AND RECLAMATION PLAN. FOLLOWING EACH
INSPECTION, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOTIFY THE OPERATOR OF
ANY DEFICIENCIES NOTED. UPON FAILURE BY THE PERMITTEE TO
CORRECT THESE DEFICIENCIES, THE DEPARTMENT MAY TAKE
ACTION TO SUSPEND OR REVOKE THE PERMIT AS PROVIDED IN
SECTION 7-6A18.

(C) [[IF THE DEPARTMENT FINDS THAT RECLAMATION OF
THE PERMIT AREA IS NOT PROCEEDING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
MINING AND RECLAMATION PLAN AND THAT THE OPERATOR HAS
FAILED WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER NOTIFICATION TO COMMENCE
CORRECTIVE ACTION, OR IF THE DEPARTMENT FINDS THAT
RECLAMATION HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY COMPLETED IN
CONFORMANCE WITH THE MINING AND RECLAMATION PLAN WITHIN
TWO YEARS, OR LONGER IF AUTHORIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT,
AFTER TERMINATION OF MINING ON ANY SEGMENT OF THE PERMIT
AREA, IT SHALL INITIATE FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST
THE BOND OR OTHER SECURITY FILED BY THE OPERATOR UNDER
§7-7B20]] IF THE DEPARTMENT FINDS THAT RECLAMATION OF
THE PERMIT AREA IS NOT PROCEEDING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
MINING AND RECLAMATION PLAN, OR IF THE DEPARTMENT FINDS
THAT RECLAMATION HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY COMPLETED IN
CONFORMANCE WITH THE MINING AND RECLAMATION PLAN WITHIN
TWO YEARS OR LONGER IF AUTHORIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
AFTER TERMINATION OF MINING ON ANY SEGMENT OF THE PERMIT
AREA, OR IF THE PERMITTEE HAS NOT COMPLIED WITH
CORRECTIVE REQUIREMENTS FOLLOWING REVOCATION OF A PERMIT,
IT SHALL INITIATE FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE BOND
OR OTHER SECURITY FILED BY THE OPERATOR. [[IN ADDITION,
THE FAILURE CONSTITUTES GROUNDS FOR SUSPENSION OR
REVOCATION OF THE OPERATOR'S PERMIT, AS PROVIDED IN
§[[7-7818]] 7-6A18.]]

[[7-7B26]] 7-6A26.

(A) AN OPERATION IS CONSIDERED ABANDONED IF NO
MINERAL HAS BEEN PRODUCED OR OVERBURDEN REMOVED FOR A
PERIOD OF ONE YEAR, AND THE OPERATOR HAS VACATED THE SITE
OF THE OPERATION COVERED BY THE PERMIT WITHOUT HAVING
COMPLIED WITH ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MINING AND
RECLAMATION PLAN, VERIFIED BY INSPECTION AND WRITTEN
REPORT MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT. IF THE OPERATOR, WITHIN
30 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT
TERMING THE OPERATION ABANDONED, DOES NOT SUBMIT
SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT THE OPERATION