HARRY HUGHES, Governor

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that such permits shall be subject to all requirements
of Maryland law not expressly exempted by this Act.

BY adding to

Article - Natural Resources

Section 7-515

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1974 Volume and 1981 Supplement)

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

Article - Natural Resources

7-515.

(A)  AN OPEN-PIT MINING OPERATION THAT DOES NOT EXCEED
2 ACRES OF LAND AFFECTED MAY OBTAIN A PERMIT UNDER THIS
SECTION IN LIEU OF OTHER PERMIT APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS OF
THIS SUBTITLE. HOWEVER, A PERMIT ISSUED UNDER THIS SECTION
SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ALL PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBTITLE NOT
EXPRESSLY EXEMPTED BY THIS SECTION.

(B)  THE DEPARTMENT MAY NOT ISSUE A PERMIT TO AN
OPERATOR UNDER THIS SECTION FOR ANY AREA WHICH IS ADJACENT
OR IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO AN AREA ALREADY EMPLOYED FOR
OPEN-PIT MINING OPERATIONS. AN OPERATOR MAY HOLD ONLY 1
PERMIT UNDER THIS SECTION AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

(C)  IN LIEU OF SECTION 7-505(C) OF THIS SUBTITLE, AN
APPLICATION FOR A PERMIT UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL INCLUDE,
BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO:

(1)  THE NAME OF THE OWNER OF THE SURFACE OF THE
LAND TO BE MINED;

(2)  THE NAME OF THE OWNER OF THE COAL TO BE
MINED;

(3)  THE LEGAL RIGHT OF THE APPLICANT TO ENTER
AND CONDUCT THE OPERATION OF THE LAND;

(4)  A PLAN, PREPARED AND CERTIFIED BY A PERSON
APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT, SHOWING THE TRACT OF LAND ON
WHICH THE APPLICANT PROPOSES TO CONDUCT THE OPERATION, THE
BOUNDARIES AND THE NUMBER OF ACRES OF THE LAND TO BE
AFFECTED BY THE OPERATION, THE INTENDED USE OF THE LAND
AFTER REMOVAL OF THE COAL, AND SUCH OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY
BE REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE MINING
OPERATION IS CONDUCTED, AND THE AREA AFFECTED IS RESTORED,
IN A MANNER THAT MINIMIZES THE IMPACT OF THE OPERATION ON
THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE SURROUNDING AREA;