BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor                        2519

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article - Natural Resources

7-502.

This subtitle is an exercise of the police powers of
the State for the general welfare of the people, by
providing for the protection and conservation of the natural
resources of the State and the improvement of areas of land
AND COMMUNITIES affected in the mining of bituminous coal by
the open—pit, strip mining, or auger mining method. Its
purpose is to aid in the protection of wildlife and restore
these lands to productive purposes while decreasing soil
erosion; to aid in preventing pollution of rivers and
streams; prevent combustion of unmined coal; provide for
reclamation of the stripped areas; [and] generally improve
the use and enjoyment of these lands AND GENERALLY IMPROVE
THE HEALTH, WELFARE, AND LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE
COMMUNITIES AND COUNTIES IN WHICH COAL MINING IS AN
IMPORTANT INDUSTRY.

7-507-1.

On the basis of the approved annual and monthly
progress reports, the Department shall assess a 15—cent mine
reclamation surcharge for each ton of coal removed by the
open-pit or strip method. [The amounts collected shall be
deposited to the credit of the Bituminous Coal Open—Pit
Mining Reclamation Fund.] SEVEN AND ONE-HALF NINE CENTS OF
THE AMOUNTS COLLECTED FROM EACH TON OF COAL REMOVED SHALL BE
DEPOSITED TO THE CREDIT OF THE BITUMINOUS COAL OPEN-PIT
MINING RECLAMATION FUND, AND 7-1/2 6 CENTS SHALL BE REMITTED
DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE COAL WAS REMOVED.

7-514.

(a) Any funds that the Department receives AND
RETAINS from license and special reclamation fees, mine
reclamation surcharge, forfeiture of bonds, cash deposits,
or securities shall be deposited to the credit of the State
Treasurer in a tank he designates. The funds shall be
maintained as a special fund on the books of the Comptroller
of the Treasury in an account known as the "Bituminous Coal
Open-Pit Mining Reclamation Fund." The Secretary shall use
the funds to implement this subtitle and to backfill, grade,
and plant areas affected by open—pit mining. However, funds
received from the reclamation surcharge under § 7-507.1 of
this article , EXCEPT FOR THOSE FUNDS TO BE REMITTED
DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE COAL WAS REMOVED, shall
only he used by the Secretary for reclamation of land
affected by open-pit or strip method mining in the county in
which the surcharge is assessed and collected. However,
funds received from forfeiture on bonds, cash, or securities
shall be used to backfill, grade, and plant the area of land
affected by the operation on which the liability was charged