Ch. 460                                    1995 LAWS OF MARYLAND

Article - Natural Resources

7-505.

(c) The application for a permit or permit revision shall be submitted in a manner
satisfactory to the Department and shall contain at a minimum:

(4) A determination of the probable hydrologic consequences of the mining
and reclamation operations upon surface and ground waters both on and off the permit
area. [The cost of analysis of test borings or core samplings and the determination of
probable hydrologic consequences may be assumed by the Department upon the request
of an operator if the Department determines that the projected total annual production
by the operator at all permits is less than 300,000 tons.] Information pertaining to the
coal seam, test borings, core samples and soil samples shall be available to the public
except that information as to the chemical and physical properties of the coal seam other
than its potential toxicity shall be confidential.

[7-515.

(a)     An open-pit mining operation that does not exceed 2 acres of land affected
may obtain a permit under this section in lieu of other permit application requirements of
this subtitle. However, a permit issued under this section shall be subject to all provisions
of this subtitle not expressly exempted by this section.

(b)     The Department may not issue a permit to an operator under this section for
any area which is adjacent or in close proximity to an area already employed for open-pit
mining operations. An operator may hold only 1 permit under this section at any given
time.

(c)     In lieu of § 7-505(c) of this subtitle, an application for a permit under this
section shall include, but is not limited to:

(1)     The name of the owner of the surface of the land to be mined;

(2)     The name of the owner of the coal to be mined;

(3)     The legal right of the applicant to enter and conduct the operation of
the land;

(4)     A plan, prepared and certified by a person approved by the Department,
showing the tract of land on which the applicant proposes to conduct the operation, the
boundaries and the number of acres of the land to be affected by the operation, the
intended use of the land after removal of the coal, and such other information as may be
required by the Department to demonstrate that the mining operation is conducted, and
the area affected is restored, in a manner that minimizes the impact of the operation on
the environment and the surrounding area;

(5)     A certificate of insurance certifying that the applicant has in force a
comprehensive liability insurance policy issued by an insurance company authorized to do
business in the State affording adequate personal injury protection; and

(6)     Such other information as required on forms to be provided by the
Department.

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