3100                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND                                      Ch. 668

(B) On application of the Department, verified by oath or
affirmation, the circuit court of the county or city where the
mining operation is located, [sitting in equity,] may enforce by
injunction compliance with, or restrain the violation of any
order, notice, PERMIT, rule, or regulation of the Department made
pursuant to the provisions of this subtitle or restrain the
violation or attempted violation of any of the provisions of this
subtitle.

7-6A-30.

This subtitle, including reclamation requirements, does not
apply to surface mining operations or mined lands in existence on
the effective date JULY 1, 1975, nor to their continuance and
extension for 18 months from that date, but subsequent operations
of existing surface mines may be continued only by permit of the
Department under the provisions of this subtitle.

7-6A-31.

(a)  (1) The provisions of this subtitle do not apply to
activities of [the State Highway Administration,] any county
roads department in the State[,] OR any legally constituted
public governing entities such as municipal corporations[, or
to activities of any person acting under contract with any of
these public agencies or entities,] on highway rights-of-way or
borrow pits OWNED, OPERATED AND, OR maintained solely in
connection with the construction, repair, and maintenance of the
public roads systems of the State or other public facilities.

(2) This exemption does not become effective until
the public agencies or entities have adopted reclamation
standards applying to the activities and the standards are
approved by the Department.

(b)  The provisions of this subtitle do not apply to mining
on federal lands when performed under a valid permit from the
appropriate federal agency having jurisdiction over the land.

(c)  Any or all of the provisions of this subtitle do not
apply in any county if the Secretary determines that the county
laws are as restrictive as the provisions of this subtitle with
respect to regulating surface mining, reclamation and
revegetation procedures, abandoned areas, and bonding
requirements.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1985.

Approved May 28, 1985.