Ch. 488

1995 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(c)     "Borrow pit" means an area from which soil or other unconsolidated materials
are removed to be used, without further processing, as fill for activities such as
landscaping, building construction, or highway construction and maintenance.

(d)     "Contiguous" means in actual contact, sharing a common property boundary,
or separated only by a stream or the right-of-way of a road or highway.

(e)     "Department" means the Department of [Natural Resources] THE
ENVIRONMENT.

(f)     "Land" means the surface of the land upon which surface mining is
conducted.

(g)     "Landowner" means a person who possesses legal title to the land.

(h) "Licensee" means a person who is authorized by the Department to conduct
surface mining and reclamation activities under § [7-6A-06] 15-807 of this subtitle.

(i) "Minerals" means any solid material, aggregate, or substance of commercial
value, whether consolidated or loose, found in natural deposits on or in the earth,
including clay, diatomaceous earth, gravel, marl, metallic ores, sand, shell, soil, and stone.
The term does not include coal.

(j) "Mining and reclamation plan" means the permittee's written proposal as
required and approved by the Department for the conduct of mining and the reclamation
of the affected land.

(k) "Neighboring" means in close proximity or in the immediate vicinity, but not
in actual contact.

(I) "Operation" means the pit located upon a single tract of land or a continuous
pit embracing or extending upon two or more contiguous tracts of land.

(m) "Overburden" means the strata or material overlying a mineral deposit, or in
between mineral deposits in its natural state, and before its removal by surface mining.

(n) "Permittee" means a person who holds a valid permit to conduct surface
mining and reclamation operations approved by the Department under § [7-6A-09]
15-810 of this subtitle.

(o) "Person" means an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, executor,
administrator, fiduciary, or representative of any kind, or any partnership, firm,
association, public or private corporation, or any other entity.

(p) "Pit" means the place any minerals are being mined by the surface mining
method.

(q) "Pre-law surface mine" means a noncoal surface mine which was mined and
unreclaimed prior to January 1, 1977.

(r) "Reclamation" means the reasonable rehabilitation of the affected land for
useful purposes and the protection of the natural resources of the surrounding area
including ponds.

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