1224

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 158

Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (P.L.
95-87); removing waivers to certain prohibitions on
mining; providing additional provisions related to
citizens' suits; providing additional provisions on
conflict of interest; requiring that all violations be
corrected within 90 days; making other changes required
by the U.S. Department of the Interior for conditional
approval of the Maryland Program; generally amending
the laws relating to strip mining in Maryland; and
providing expressly that the provisions of this Act are
severable.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Natural Resources

Section 7-501(k) and (n), 7-505(b) and (c) 7-505(b),

(c) and (d), 7-507(c), (f), and (g), and

7-516(b)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1974 Volume and 1980 Supplement)

BY renumbering

Article - Natural Resources
Section 7-522 to be 7-524
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1974 Volume and 1980 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article - Natural Resources
Section 7-522 and 7-523
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1974 Volume and 1980 Supplement)

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be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows: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

7-501.

(k) "Land affected" means [land from which the
overburden is removed, land occupied by spoil or haul roads,
or land associated with or affected by strip mining.] THE
AREAS ON WHICH OPEN-PIT MINING ACTIVITIES OCCUR OR WHERE
THOSE ACTIVITIES DISTURB THE NATURAL LAND SURFACE. THESE
AREAS ALSO SHALL INCLUDE ANY ADJACENT LAND, THE USE OF WHICH
IS INCIDENTAL TO ANY OPEN-PIT MINING ACTIVITY, ANY LAND
AFFECTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ROAD OR THE
IMPROVEMENT OR USE OF AN EXISTING ROAD TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE
SITE OF THE ACTIVITIES FOR HAULAGE, AND ANY EXCAVATION,
WORKING, IMPOUNDMENT, DAM, VENTILATION SHAFT, ENTRYWAY,