Designation of any area as unsuitable for all or certain types of surface coal mining operations pursuant to this chapter does not prohibit coal prospecting in the area, if conducted in accordance with the Regulatory Program, and other applicable requirements. Prospecting on any lands designated unsuitable for surface coal mining operations must be approved by the Bureau to ensure that exploration does not interfere with any value for which the area has been designated unsuitable for surface coal mining.

Authority: Environment Article, §15-503, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01—.10 were previously codified as COMAR 08.13.09.11A—J, respectively. Recodification occurred in April, 1993. For a history of these regulations before April, 1993, see "Administrative History of COMAR 08.13.09 before April, 1993" which follows COMAR 26.20.01.

Chapter recodified from COMAR 08.20.11 to COMAR 26.20.11, June 1996