HARRY HUGHES, Governor

1137

7-520.

NO PERSON MAY ENGAGE IN OR BE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR
BLASTING OR THE USE OF EXPLOSIVES IN OPEN-PIT MINING
OPERATIONS WITHOUT BEING CERTIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT. THE
DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH A PROGRAM PROVIDING TRAINING,
EXAMINATION AND CERTIFICATION.

7-521.

FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY HEARING REQUIRED BY THIS
SUBTITLE, THE DEPARTMENT IS AUTHORIZED TO ADMINISTER OATHS,
SUBPOENA WITNESSES, OR WRITTEN OR PRINTED MATERIALS, AND
TAKE EVIDENCE INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INSPECTIONS OF
THE LAND AFFECTED AND OTHER SURFACE COAL MINING OPERATIONS
CARRIED ON BY THE OPERATOR IN THE GENERAL VICINITY. A
VERBATIM RECORD OF EACH HEARING REQUIRED BY THIS SUBTITLE
SHALL BE MADE UNLESS WAIVED BY ALL PARTIES, AND A TRANSCRIPT
MADE AVAILABLE ON THE MOTION OF ANY PARTY OR BY ORDER OF THE
DEPARTMENT.

7-522.

IF ANY PROVISION OF THIS SUBTITLE OR THE APPLICABILITY
THEREOF TO ANY PERSON OR CIRCUMSTANCES IS HELD INVALID, THE
REMAINDER OF THIS SUBTITLE AND THE APPLICATION OF SUCH
PROVISION TO OTHER PERSONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL NOT BE
AFFECTED THEREBY.

7-5A-03.

(E)  IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE STABILITY OF LAND, THE
SECRETARY SHALL SUSPEND DEEP MINING UNDER URBANIZED AREAS,
CITIES, TOWNS AND COMMUNITIES AND ADJACENT TO INDUSTRIAL OR
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, MAJOR IMPOUNDMENTS OR PERMANENT
STREAMS IF HE FINDS IMMINENT DANGER TO INHABITANTS OF THE
URBANIZED AREAS, CITIES, TOWNS AND COMMUNITIES.

(F)  THE SURFACE EFFECTS OF DEEP MINING SHALL BE
SUBJECT TO THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF SUBTITLE 5 OF TITLE
7 AND ANY RULES OR REGULATIONS ADOPTED PURSUANT THERETO.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section(s)
7-515, of Article - Natural Resources, of the Annotated Code
of Maryland be repealed.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect June 1, 1979.

Approved May 14, 1979.