HARRY HUGHES, Governor                               1119

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1979.

Approved May 14, 1979.

CHAPTER 391

(House Bill 1448)

AN ACT concerning

Strip Mining

FOR the purpose of amending the laws related to strip mining
of coal in order to conform to the requirements of the
Federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of
1977, Public Law 95-87; authorizing the Department of
Natural Resources to implement a federally approved
strip mining program for the benefit of the citizens of
Maryland; requiring that by a certain date from federal
approval of the State program, all existing strip mine
operations must obtain a new permit; modifying the
requirements for obtaining a strip mining permit and
for suspension and revocation of such permits;
requiring reclamation to be in accordance with certain
minimum standards, including restoration to approximate
original contour, and prohibiting permits for areas
which it is determined cannot be reclaimed in
accordance with such standards; requiring certain
reports related to reclamation of strip mined areas;
modifying the requirements related to bonds for
reclamation of strip mined areas; providing for the
designation of certain areas as unsuitable for strip
mining; providing for the issuance of cease and desist
orders without prior notice to operators when
conditions or practices are discovered which create an
imminent danger to the health or safety of the public
or which cause or may be expected to cause imminent
environmental harm; altering the criminal penalty
provisions of the law; providing for mandatory civil
penalties upon certain violations of the strip mining
law; providing that in the case of violations by a
corporation, any officer, director or agent of the
corporation who willfully and knowingly participated in
the violation shall be subject to all penalty
provisions; ensuring that the water rights of
individuals shall in no case be abridged by the strip
mining laws; directing that the use of explosives in
strip mining be regulated; authorizing the Department
of Natural Resources to administer oaths issue
subpoenas in connection with any hearing under the
strip mining laws; providing that the surface effects
of deep mining shall be subject to all applicable
provisions of the strip mining laws; and relating