3080

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 668

(D)  AT THE TIME THE PORTION OF THE FUND ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE
SPECIAL RECLAMATION FEES AND THE STATE MATCH ESTABLISHED BY §
7-6A-07(I) AND (J) OF THIS SUBTITLE REACHES A MAXIMUM OF
$1,000,000, EXCLUDING ACCRUED INTEREST, COLLECTION OF THE FEES
AND PROVISION FOR THE STATE MATCH SHALL BE TEMPORARILY ABATED.
THE COLLECTION OF THE FEES AND PROVISION OF THE MATCH SHALL
RESUME AT ANY TIME THAT THE PORTION OF THE FUND ATTRIBUTABLE TO
THE FEES AND MATCH IS LESS THAN $1,000,000.

7-6A-05.

The Department may employ qualified surface mine inspectors
and other personnel deemed necessary by the Department to enforce
the provisions of this subtitle and any rules and regulations
adopted under it. The Department shall establish standards of
qualification for surface mine inspectors, particularly as
regards the disciplines of mining engineering, civil engineering,
water quality, geology, hydrology, agronomy, forestry, biology,
health, safety, and any other field deemed necessary for
qualification.

7-6A-06.

(a)  [After January 1, 1977,] EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED
IN THIS SUBTITLE, [no] A person may NOT [conduct an active
operation to extract minerals by the] ENGAGE IN surface mining
[method as an operator] within the State without first obtaining
a surface mining [operator's] license.

(b)  An application for a license shall be in writing and on
a form prepared and furnished by the Department. If the
application is made by a corporation, partnership, or association
it shall contain information concerning its officers, directors,
and principal owners, as the Department reasonably requires.

(c)  The application shall be accompanied by a $100 fee. The
license shall be renewable annually, and the renewal fee is $50.
The application for renewal shall be made annually by January 1.

(d)  The Department may not issue any new surface mining
[operator's] license or renew any existing surface mining
[operator's] license to any person if it finds, after
investigation, that the applicant has failed and continues to
fail to comply with any of the provisions of this subtitle.

(E)  A LICENSE UNDER THIS SECTION IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THE
FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:

(1)  THOSE ASPECTS OF DEEP MINING THAT DO NOT HAVE A
SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THE SURFACE, IF THE AFFECTED LAND DOES NOT
EXCEED 3 ACRES IN AREA;

(2)  OPERATIONS ENGAGED IN PROCESSING MINERALS;