1354                                 LAWS OF MARYLAND                               Ch. 418

The General Assembly finds that the safety aspects of
deep mining of coal are comprehensively regulated by the
federal government today, and that many of the provisions
contained in the Maryland law duplicate existing federal
requirements. The General Assembly further finds that
unlike the area of strip mining of coal, there are no
provisions for adoption of a State program and subsequent
resumption of full State authority over the safety aspects
of deep mining. Consequently, it is considered to be
appropriate to revoke those provisions which result in dual
jurisdiction over deep mine operations. The General
Assembly notes that the Bureau will retain authority to test
and certify mining personnel, to inspect and issue orders on
deep mine safety, and will retain authority over permit
issuance and reclamation of deep mines pursuant to Subtitle
5A of Title 7 of the Natural Resources Article; now,
therefore,

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be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows: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

7-101.

(a) In this title, the following words have the
meanings indicated.

[(b) "Approved" means approbation evidenced by a
written certificate or official letter of the Bureau,
approving a device, plan, formula, method, machine, or
course of action.

(c) "Authorized person" means any person commissioned
by an official in charge in or at a mine to perform certain
prescribed duties under his authority.]

[(d)] (B) "Bureau" means Bureau of Mines.

[(e) "Communication device" means any device employed
to transmit intelligence, instruction, or warning to persons
not present.

(f) "Crosscut" means a passage driven to connect
adjacent parallel entries or rooms. The term is synonymous
with "cut-through"; and between rooms, when driven wide is
synonymous with "break-through."]

[(g)] (C) "Department" means Department of Natural
Resources.

[(h)] (D) "Director" or "Director of the Bureau" means
Director of the Bureau of Mines.