In developing and updating its Critical Area program, a local jurisdiction shall ensure that due consideration is accorded to:

1. A. When locating a surface mining activity, avoidance or, if unavoidable, minimization of:

   1. (1) The substantial loss of renewable resource land; and
   2. (2) The degradation of water quality; and

2. B. When conducting a surface mining activity:

   1. (1) Utilization of all available measures to protect the Critical Area from all sources of pollution resulting from that activity, including sedimentation and siltation, chemical and petrochemical use and spillage, and storage or disposal of waste, dust, or spoil; and
   2. (2) Facilitation of site reclamation, including renewable resource land, as soon as possible and to the maximum extent possible.

Authority: Natural Resources Article, §8-1808(d), Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: May 13, 1986 (12:24 Md. R. 2352)

COMAR 14.15 became effective upon the enactment of Resolution No. 37 (SJ 9), Acts of 1986.

COMAR 14.15.07 recodified to COMAR 27.01.07 in August, 1992

Regulation .03B amended effective October 29, 2012 (39:21 Md. R. 1380)

Chapter revised effective June 29, 2020 (47:13 Md. R. 644)

Regulation .02A amended effective January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)

Regulation .03B amended effective January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)