Ch. 189

LAWS OF MARYLAND

7-501.

(a)  In this subtitle the following words have the meanings
indicated.

[(b) "Abandoned" means an operation where no coal has been
produced or overburden removed for a period of six months.]

7-505.

(b)  (2) Subject to valid existing rights, as that term is
used in the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of
1977, the Department may not issue, extend or renew any permit:

(i) Which would adversely affect any publicly
owned park or place recorded in the National Register of Historic
Sites, unless approved by the federal, State or local agency with
jurisdiction over the park or historic site;

(ii) Within the Youghiogheny River scenic
corridor, notwithstanding any other provision of law;

(iii) Within 100 feet of the outside
right-of-way line of any public road (except where mine access
roads or haulage roads join the right-of-way line), unless the
Department, after PUBLIC NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR a public
hearing in the locality, determines that the interests of the
public and the affected landowners will be protected;

(iv) Within 300 feet from any occupied
dwelling, unless waived by the owner thereof;

(v) Within 300 feet of any public building,
school, public park, church, community or institutional building;
or

(vi) Within 100 feet of a cemetery.

7-506.

[(a) The Committee shall establish a revegetation bond for
each open-pit mining operation at the time of approval of the
reclamation plan. The amount of the bond shall be based on the
estimated cost of revegetation for the area permitted. The
amount of the bond may not be less than $500 per acre. The bond
shall be deposited with the Department prior to issuance of the
permit. The liability under the bond shall be for a period
coincidental with the operator's responsibility for revegetation
under § 7-511. The bond may not be released until the Committee
inspects and approves the revegetation of the area for which
liability under the bond exists.]

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