2768

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 357

(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

7-205.

(b) The committee shall study, recommend, and approve
all procedures for reclamation, conservation, and
revegetation of any area affected by open-pit mining within
the State. The measures include, but are not limited to,
backfilling and grading, restoration of plant cover,
prevention of erosion, prevention of the creation of acid
water, and any other action which is conducive to the
conservation and best utilization of the natural resources
of Maryland. The committee shall review all mining and
reclamation plans[,] AND progress reports[, and final
reports]. It also shall set the amount of any revegetation
bond. The committee may inspect or have inspected any
open-pit mining operation at any time in order to determine
land reclamation, conservation, and revegetation conditions.
It shall establish plans and methods of procedure as well as
practical guidelines for prompt and adequate reclamation,
conservation, and revegetation of all lands disturbed by
open-pit mining of bituminous coal within the State. These
plans, methods of procedure, and practical guidelines shall
be submitted to the Bureau. Finally, the committee shall
review the strip mining laws of the State to assure
compliance with the spirit of the subtitle dealing with
strip mining.

7-504.

(a) A person may not [mine coal by the] CONDUCT
open-pit mining [method] as an operator within the State
without [first obtaining] a CURRENTLY VALID license from the
Department. Each application for a license as an open-pit
mining operator shall be made in writing to the Department,
on a form the Department furnishes and accompanied by a $200
fee. The application shall contain information concerning
the applicant as required by the Department. In the case of
an application submitted by a corporation, partnership, or
association, the application shall contain information
concerning officers, directors, and principal owners, as the
Department requires. Every person licensed as an open-pit
mining operator shall renew his license annually and pay a
$10 renewal fee. The application for renewal of a license as
an open-pit mining operator shall be made on or before
January 1 of the next succeeding year.

7-505.