(a) The applicant shall submit with his application for a surface mining permit a proposed mining and reclamation plan. The plan shall include at least the following:

(b) The applicant shall furnish with the mining and reclamation plan, in a reasonable manner satisfactory to the Department, an accurately surveyed topographic map, in duplicate, on a scale of not smaller than one inch equals 200 feet and with a contour interval of spacing appropriate for the area, showing the location of the tract of land to be affected by mining, and representative cross-sections. The surveyed topographic map and cross-sections shall be prepared and certified by a registered professional engineer or registered surveyor and show the boundaries of the proposed affected land, together with the drainage area above and below the area, the location and names of all streams, roads, railroads, and utility lines on or immediately adjacent to the area, the outcrop line of any mineral deposit to be mined, the location of all buildings within 200 feet of the outer perimeter of the area affected, the names and addresses of the owners and present occupants, the purpose for which each building is used, the name of the owner of the tract where the proposed mining is to occur, and the names of the adjacent landowners, the municipality or district and county and nearest municipality. The topographic map also shall show the locations of test borings or sampling which the operator has conducted or will conduct at the site of the proposed operation. The cross-sections shall include the location of the test borings or sample sites, the nature and depth of the various strata, the thickness of any mineral seam or deposit, an analysis of any mineral deposit or ore, the thickness of the overburden, and an analysis of the overburden. Aerial photographs of the tract of land to be affected by the mining also shall be provided if they are required by the Department. The information resulting from the test borings is confidential information and not a matter of public record. The Department may waive any of the requirements of this subsection if the operator extracts less than 30,000 tons per year or 20,000 cubic yards per year of minerals and the affected area is less than five acres in size.

(c) The plan shall include a summary statement covering:

(d) The plan shall provide that reclamation activities, particularly those relating to control of erosion, shall be conducted to the extent feasible simultaneously with mining operations and be initiated at the earliest feasible time after completion or termination of mining on any segment of the permit area. The plan shall provide that reclamation activities be completed promptly and not later than two years after completion of mining on each segment of the area for which a permit is requested unless the Department specifically permits a longer period.

(e) The Department may approve, approve subject to stated modifications, or reject the plan which is proposed. The Department shall approve a reclamation plan, as submitted or as modified, if it finds that the plan adequately provides for timely completion of those actions necessary to achieve the purposes and requirements of this subtitle and that, in addition, the plan meets the following minimum standards:

(f) If conditions do not permit the planting of vegetation on all or part of the affected land, and if these conditions pose an actual or potential threat of soil erosion and siltation, alternative procedures shall be proposed to prevent the threat of soil erosion and siltation. If the procedures do not prevent these conditions, the Department may not approve them.

(g) Lakes, ponds, and marsh land shall be considered adequately reclaimed land when approved by the Department.