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§ 15-520. Violations and penalties

West's Annotated Code of MarylandEnvironment

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Environment
Title 15. Mines and Mining (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 5. Strip Mining
MD Code, Environment, § 15-520
§ 15-520. Violations and penalties
Open-pit mining without license
(a) Any person who mines coal by the open-pit mining method as an operator without having applied for and received a license as provided in this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor. On conviction, he is subject to a fine of not less than $5,000 and not exceeding $10,000, or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both.
Open-pit mining without permit or amended permit; without bond; false information
(b) Any person who mines coal by the open-pit mining method without having received a permit, as provided in this subtitle, who mines coal by the open-pit mining method without securing an amended permit, who mines coal by the open-pit mining method without furnishing the proper bond required by this subtitle, who knowingly or intentionally submits false information to the Department, or knowingly fails to make any statement, representation, or certification in any document required to be filed with the Department, or who does not fully comply with every provision and requirement of this subtitle or any rule, regulation, permit, notice or order issued pursuant thereto, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $10,000 or by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or both.
Open-pit or strip mining on state land without permit
(c) Any person who mines coal by the open-pit or strip method on any land the State owns in violation of § 15-505 of this subtitle without a permit the Bureau issues is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is subject to a fine of not less than $1,000 and not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both. A separate offense shall exist for each day a violation occurs.
In addition to any fine imposed, every person convicted of violating § 15-505 shall pay the Director a sum sufficient to reclaim the area mined.
Disposition of fines
(d) Any fine imposed under this subtitle by the District Court shall be paid to the State. A fine imposed by the circuit court for any county shall be paid to the Bituminous Coal Open-Pit Mining Reclamation Fund. A fine imposed under this section and paid into the Fund shall be used for the sole purpose of foresting or reclaiming land affected by open-pit mining of bituminous coal.
Interference with Secretary or agents in performance of duties
(e) Any person who shall willfully resist, prevent, impede, or interfere with the Secretary or any of his agents in the performance of duties under this subtitle shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $5,000 or by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or both.

Credits

Added by Acts 1973, 1st Sp. Sess., c. 4, § 1. Amended by Acts 1977, c. 425, § 3; Acts 1979, c. 391, § 1; Acts 1980, c. 740; Acts 1981, c. 158, § 1; Acts 1982, c. 820, § 3. Renumbered from Natural Resources § 7-516 by Acts 1995, c. 488, § 2, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1995, c. 488, § 16, eff. July 1, 1995.
Formerly Art. 66C, §§ 661, 662, 671, 672.
MD Code, Environment, § 15-520, MD ENVIR § 15-520
Current with all legislation from the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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