When surface mining occurs on State-owned land, the agency administering the land shall:

1. A. Designate each portion of the Critical Area that is unsuitable for surface mining and prohibit surface mining in those locations, including:

   1. (1) In accordance with the provisions of COMAR 27.01.09, a habitat protection area;
   2. (2) An area where highly erodible soil exists; and

   3. (3) An area that is within 100 feet landward from the mean high water line of tidal waters, from the landward boundary of a tidal wetland, or from the edge of each bank of a tributary stream, unless:

      1. (a) A license, permit, or other approval to conduct a specific aspect of surface mining was issued before June 11, 1988; and
      2. (b) If expansion of the scope or size of the surface mining activity has occurred since June 11, 1988, the expansion complies with State law and local program requirements;
2. B. Require the reclamation of a wash pond in accordance with State law and local program requirements;
3. C. Prohibit the location of a wash plant within the buffer in accordance with COMAR 27.01.09; and
4. D. If applicable, ensure that a lessee of the affected land obtains all licenses, permits, and other approvals in accordance with State law and local program requirements.

Authority: Natural Resources Article, §§8-701, 8-1806, 8-1808(c), 8-1808.4(a), and 8-1814, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: June 11, 1988 (15:7 Md. R. 852)

COMAR 14.19.05 recodified to COMAR 27.02.05 in August, 1992

Regulation .03B amended effective February 8, 2010 (37:3 Md. R. 177)

Regulation .09B amended effective February 8, 2010 (37:3 Md. R. 177)

Regulation .10 repealed and new Regulation .10 adopted as an emergency provision effective October 1, 1993 (20:21 Md. R. 1652); emergency status expired April 1, 1994

Regulation .10 repealed and new Regulation .10 adopted as an emergency provision effective June 1, 1994 (21:13 Md. R. 1153); adopted permanently effective October 25, 1994 (21:21 Md. R. 1816)

Regulation .10 amended effective February 8, 2010 (37:3 Md. R. 177)

Regulations .01—.03 repealed and new Regulations .01—.03-3 adopted effective December 22, 2014 (41:25 Md. R. 1487)

Regulation .01A amended January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)

Regulation .02A, D amended effective March 8, 2021 (48:5 Md. R. 218)

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

Regulation .03-3E adopted effective March 8, 2021 (48:5 Md. R. 218)

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

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

Regulation .03-2C amended January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)

Regulation .04 repealed and new Regulation .04 adopted effective February 7, 2022 (49:3 Md. R. 139)

Regulation .04A amended effective November 4, 2019 (46:22 Md. R. 980)

Regulation .04-1 adopted effective February 7, 2022 (49:3 Md. R. 139)

Regulation .04-1B, C amended January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)

Regulation .04-2 adopted effective February 7, 2022 (49:3 Md. R. 139)

Regulation .04-2B amended January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)

Regulation .04-3 adopted effective February 7, 2022 (49:3 Md. R. 139)

Regulation .05 amended effective March 6, 2023 (50:4 Md. R. 123)

Regulation .06 amended January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)

Regulation .07 repealed and new Regulation .07 adopted effective September 6, 2021 (48:18 Md. R. 694)

Regulation .07A amended January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)

Regulation .08 repealed and new Regulations .08 adopted effective June 29, 2020 (47:13 Md. R. 644)

Regulation .08-1 adopted effective June 29, 2020 (47:13 Md. R. 644)

Regulation .08-2 adopted effective June 29, 2020 (47:13 Md. R. 644)

Regulation .08-2A amended January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)

Regulation .08-3 adopted effective June 29, 2020 (47:13 Md. R. 644)

Regulation .08-3A amended January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)

Regulation .09 amended effective September 6, 2021 (48:18 Md. R. 694)

Regulation .09B amended effective February 7, 2022 (49:3 Md. R. 139); January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)

Regulation .10 amended January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)

Regulation .11 amended effective November 4, 2019 (46:22 Md. R. 980)

Regulation .11B amended January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)

Regulation .12 amended effective November 4, 2019 (46:22 Md. R. 980); January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)

Regulation .12B amended effective February 7, 2022 (49:3 Md. R. 139)

Regulation .13 amended January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)

Regulation .15 adopted effective March 8, 2021 (48:5 Md. R. 218)

Regulation .15A, C amended January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)

Regulation .15-1 adopted effective March 8, 2021 (48:5 Md. R. 218)

Regulation .15-1B, D amended January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)

Regulation .15-2 adopted effective March 8, 2021 (48:5 Md. R. 218)

Regulation .15-2A amended January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)

Regulation .15-3 adopted effective March 8, 2021 (48:5 Md. R. 218)

Regulation .15-3A amended effective March 6, 2023 (50:4 Md. R. 123); January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)