2118

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 766

meanings indicated.

(b)  "Abandoned" means an operation where no coal has
been produced or overburden removed for a period of six
months.

(c)   "Auger mining" means the mechanical removal of
coal from the subsurface by augering from the outcrop.
It is an integral part of open-pit mining.

(d)  "Committee" means Land Reclamation Committee.

(E) "COMPLETED" MEANS AN OPERATION WHERE THE
BACKFILLING, PLANTING, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS OF THE
PERMIT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AND GROWTH IS SUCH THAT THE
OPERATOR QUALIFIES FOR RELEASE OF THE REVEGETATION BOND.

[(e)](F) "Deep mining" means any method of
extracting coal from the subsurface [excepting], EXCEPT
open—pit mining and auger mining, and includes methods
such as drift mining, shaft mining, and inclined slope
mining.

[(f)] (G) "Degree" means the angle of slope from the
horizontal.

[(g)](H) "Final report" or "final reclamation
report" means the mining and reclamation final report.

[(h)] (I) "Land" means the surface of the land on
which open—pit mining is conducted.

[(i)] (J) "Land affected" means [the] land from which
the overburden is removed [and then], LAND occupied by
[the] spoil OR HAUL ROADS, OR LAND ASSOCIATED WITH OR
AFFECTED BY STRIPMINING.

[(J)](K) "Landowner" means person in whom the legal
title to the land is vested.

(L) "NET PROJECT CONSTRUCTION COST" MEANS THE PART
OF THE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION COST PAID FROM THE REVOLVING
ACCOUNT EQUAL TO THE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION COST LESS THE
CASH CONTRIBUTION OF THE OWNER OF THE BENEFITED PROPERTY
ON COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION.

[(k)](M) "Open—pit mining" or "strip mining" means
the mining or recovery of bituminous coal by removing the
strata or material which overlies or is above the coal
deposit or seam in its natural condition. It includes
auger mining.

[(l)](N) "Operation" means any pit located on a
single tract of land or a continuous pit embracing or
extending upon two or more contiguous tracts of land.

[(m)] (O) "Operator" means a person engaged in
open—pit mining as a principal as distinguished from an