3094

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 668

(5) The type of vegetative cover and methods of its
establishment shall be specified and conform to accepted and
recommended agronomic and reforestation practices established by
the Department. Advice and technical assistance may be obtained
through the State soil and water conservation districts.

(f)  If conditions do not permit the planting of vegetation
on all or part of the affected land, and if these conditions pose
an actual or potential threat of soil erosion and siltation,
alternative procedures shall be proposed to prevent the threat of
soil erosion and siltation. If the procedures do not prevent
these conditions, the Department may not approve them.

(g)  Lakes, ponds, and marsh land shall be considered
adequately reclaimed land when approved by the Department.

7-6A-20.

(a)  After receiving notification from the Department that
[his] THE application for a permit has been approved, but prior
to commencing mining, the [operator] APPLICANT shall file with
the Department a bond for each mining operation, on a form to be
prescribed and furnished by the Department, payable to the State
and conditioned that the operator will perform faithfully all the
requirements of this subtitle.

(b)  The amount of the bond required shall be for a maximum
of [$750] $1,250 per acre based on the number of acres of
affected land covered by the permit. But, a bond may not be filed
for less than $7,500. However, the Department shall determine
whether the total bond fee is unreasonable and excessive for a
particular tract of land and whether a lesser total amount for
the bond is sufficient to cover reclamation. In making this
determination, the Department shall consider the size of the
operation, the amount of land to be mined, the acreage that is
unreclaimed at any one time, the proposed method of regrading and
revegetation of the site, the proposed use of the land following
reclamation, and any other relevant factors.

(c)  Liability under the bond shall be for the duration of
the mining permit and for a period of five years after its
expiration, unless previously released in whole or in part, as
provided in § 7-6A-21 of this subtitle.

(d)  The bond shall be executed by the [operator] PERMITTEE
and corporate surety licensed to do business in the State. In
lieu of a corporate surety, one of the following shall be
acceptable:

(1) Deposits of cash or negotiable bonds of the
United States government. The cash deposit or market value of the
securities shall be equal at least to the required sum of the
bond. The Department, on receipt of any deposit of cash or
securities, immediately shall forward it to the State Treasurer,
who shall receive and hold the bond in the name of the State, in