reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  15-403 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 15 - Mines and Mining|Subtitle 4 - Rules and Regulations Governing Mining Activity|Section 15-403 - Fire Bosses

    (a)    The operator of every gassy mine shall employ a sufficient number of fire bosses. Each fire boss shall satisfy the operator of his competence, and shall have first obtained a certificate of competence from the examining authority as prescribed in this title.    (b)    Any mine foreman holding a first-class certificate of competency may act as fire boss. In an emergency, any fire boss, properly certified, may act as assistant mine foreman until a regularly qualified person is employed.    (c)    The operator shall provide a permanent station at or near the principal entrance of the mine, indicated plainly by legible signs, where the fire boss shall give information regarding the state of the mine to each worker before he goes on his shift. When the working portion of any mine is 1 mile or more from the entrance to the mine or from the bottom of the shaft or slope, a station, with the approval of the district mine inspector, may be located near the workings. No one, except the mine foreman, fire boss, or someone expressly authorized in an emergency, may pass beyond the station until every part of the mine has been examined and reported safe. The fire boss may not permit any unauthorized person to enter into or remain in any portion of a mine through which a dangerous accumulation of gas is being passed into the ventilating current from any portion of the mine. He shall report any violation of this provision to the mine foreman. When the station of the fire boss is located at a distance within the mine convenient to portions being worked, the operator shall wall off any abandoned workings, whether finished or not, from the main intake and manway heading or passageway of the mine by a stopping of masonry or concrete, sufficiently heavy to keep explosive or noxious gas from entering the intake air at any point between the fire bosses’ station and the entrance to the mine.    (d)    Suitable duplicate record books shall be kept at the mine office on the surface and at the fire bosses’ permanent station. They shall be accessible to the district mine inspector and any worker at the mine. The fire boss shall enter and sign in ink a full daily report of each day’s examination stating clearly the approximate amount and location of explosive or noxious gas in the mine. The report also shall state clearly the nature and location of any danger discovered in any place in the mine, and whether it has been reported immediately to the mine foreman. The mine foreman shall read and countersign the report each day.    (e)    A fire boss may not neglect to make any examination required, fail to report any danger discovered, knowingly report falsely on any condition within the mine, or fail or neglect to make the reports required.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  15-404 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 15 - Mines and Mining|Subtitle 4 - Rules and Regulations Governing Mining Activity|Section 15-404 - Protection and Safety of Mine Employees; Employee's Duties to Other Employees

    (a)    A person may not work in any mine until he has satisfied the operator that he can do the work allotted to him without endangering the lives of his fellow workers, unless the person works with an experienced miner or other qualified person who instructs the person how to perform his duties safely and properly.    (b)    Each miner shall examine his working place before commencing work. After any stoppage of work during the shift he shall repeat this examination. If any part of the roof needs propping, he shall prop it and may not commence or resume work until it is made safe. Each miner shall be very careful to keep his working place in a safe condition at all times.    (c)    Each miner immediately shall cease work if he finds his place has become dangerous from any cause or condition beyond his power to remedy. Upon leaving the place, he shall install a plain danger signal at the entrance to warn other persons from entering. He shall immediately notify the mine foreman, and may not return until notified by the mine foreman that the danger has been removed.    (d)    Each worker at any mine shall notify the mine foreman or other official of any unsafe condition, including unsafe conditions of any working place, haulage road, or traveling way, or of damage to doors, brattices, or of obstructions to any air passage or failure in the ventilation which may become known to him.    (e)    A person intentionally or carelessly may not damage any safety lamp, instrument, air course, or brattice, or without authority handle, remove, or damage any fencing, means of signalling, apparatus, or machinery, or obstruct or throw open airways, or enter a place in or about any mine against caution, or carry fire, open lights, matches, pipes, or other smokers’ articles in a gassy mine, or open any door the opening of which is forbidden, or disobey any order given in carrying out the provisions of this subtitle or rule or regulation pursuant to it, or do any other act whereby the lives or health of persons employed or the security of the mine property is endangered.    (f)    Each employee shall observe in and about the mine any special duty relating to the security of life or property as the Bureau, by classes of employment, defines and requires by rule or regulation.    (g)    The mine operator shall direct the attention of each worker to the general and special rules and regulations and to any exit and escapeway of the mine in which he works.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  15-405 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 15 - Mines and Mining|Subtitle 4 - Rules and Regulations Governing Mining Activity|Section 15-405 - Mine Disasters

    (a)    If a mine disaster occurs, the proper State and federal inspection authorities shall be notified promptly. All facilities of the mine shall be made available for recovery operations.    (b)    After a disaster, when the mine has been placed in condition to operate, an inspection of the entire mine shall be made by State and federal coal mine inspectors. If the inspection discloses any dangerous condition, the mine may not resume operation until the condition is corrected.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  15-406 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 15 - Mines and Mining|Subtitle 4 - Rules and Regulations Governing Mining Activity|Section 15-406 - Reports of Mine Accidents

    (a)    The operator of each coal mine shall report monthly to the district mine inspector, on forms the Bureau provides, all required information regarding any fatal and serious accident that has occurred in and about the mine.    (b)    If any district mine inspector receives notice that a fatal accident has occurred at any mine, he shall go immediately to the mine to investigate the cause of the accident and report in writing to the Bureau. A copy of the report shall be sent to the operator of the mine. The district mine inspector may require the attendance of witnesses, and administer oaths and affirmations to them. If any person neglects or refuses to obey the summons of the inspector, or to testify, except when his refusal is privileged, the inspector shall certify the person for neglect or refusal to the circuit court for the county in which the investigation is held. The court may punish the neglect or refusal as a contempt. The costs of any investigation shall be paid by the county in which the accident may occur, on the warrant of the Director of the Bureau.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  15-407 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 15 - Mines and Mining|Subtitle 4 - Rules and Regulations Governing Mining Activity|Section 15-407 - Pozzolan

    (a)    In this section, “pozzolan” means the finely divided residue which results from combustion of ground or powdered coal and is released by combustion gases, as defined by the test methods published by the American Society for Testing Methods.    (b)    (1)    Any person who uses pozzolan for landfill shall do so in a manner which complies with sound engineering practices.        (2)    Any person who uses pozzolan for landfill, structural building, soil improvement, agriculture, soil conditioning, or land reclamation shall minimize dust and wind erosion and shall comply with all silt control regulations and permit requirements of the Department.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  15-502 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 15 - Mines and Mining|Subtitle 5 - Strip Mining|Section 15-502 - Declaration of Policy

    This subtitle is an exercise of the police powers of the State for the general welfare of the people, by providing for the protection and conservation of the natural resources of the State and the improvement of areas of land and communities affected in the mining of bituminous coal by the open-pit, strip mining, or auger mining method. Its purpose is:         (1)    To aid in the protection of wildlife and restore these lands to productive purposes while decreasing soil erosion;        (2)    To aid in preventing pollution of rivers and streams;        (3)    To prevent combustion of unmined coal;        (4)    To provide for reclamation of the stripped areas;        (5)    To improve generally the use and enjoyment of these lands; and        (6)    To improve generally the health, welfare, and living conditions in the communities and counties in which coal mining is an important industry.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  15-503 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 15 - Mines and Mining|Subtitle 5 - Strip Mining|Section 15-503 - Rules and Regulations Generally

    (a)    The Bureau may make and enforce any rule and regulation necessary to prevent, minimize, or repair damage to the land or the natural resources associated with the land which may result from any open-pit mining operation.    (b)    The Department is authorized to administer a surface mining control program consistent with the requirements of the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, any amendments to that Act, and any rule or regulation promulgated under that Act.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  15-506 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 15 - Mines and Mining|Subtitle 5 - Strip Mining|Section 15-506 - Designation of Areas as Unsuitable for Strip Mining

    (a)    The Department shall establish a process to determine which, if any, land areas are unsuitable for all or certain types of surface coal mining operations. A surface area may be designated unsuitable for certain types of surface coal mining operations if such operations will:        (1)    Be incompatible with existing State or local land use plans or programs;        (2)    Affect fragile or historic lands in which such operations could result in significant damage of important historic, cultural, scientific, and esthetic values and natural systems;        (3)    Affect renewable resource lands in which such operations could result in a substantial loss or reduction of long–range productivity of water supply or of food or fiber products, such lands to include aquifers and aquifer recharge areas; or        (4)    Affect natural hazard lands in which such operations could substantially endanger life and property, such lands to include areas subject to frequent flooding and areas of unstable geology.    (b)    The Department shall designate an area as unsuitable for all or certain types of coal surface mining operations if the Department determines that reclamation as required by this subtitle is not technologically and economically feasible.    (c)    Any person having an interest which is or may be adversely affected shall have the right to petition the Department to have an area designated unsuitable for surface coal mining operations or to have such a designation terminated. A petition shall describe the petitioner’s interest and contain allegations of fact and other supporting data. Within 10 months after receipt of the petition the Department shall hold a public hearing in the county in which the area is located, after publication of the time and place of such a hearing. Prior to the hearing any person may intervene by filing allegations of facts with supporting evidence. Within 60 days after such hearing, the Department shall issue a written decision regarding the petition, and the reasons therefor.    (d)    Prior to designating any land areas as unsuitable for surface coal mining operations, the Department shall prepare a detailed statement on (1) the potential coal resources of the area, (2) the demand for coal resources, and (3) the impact of such designation on the environment, the economy, and the supply of coal.    (e)    The Department shall condition all permits in order to protect lands identified or under study pursuant to this section. Once an area has been designated unsuitable for certain types of surface coal mining, the Department may not issue a permit to conduct such operations on that area. The Department shall determine the point in time at which the filing of a petition under this section shall act to stay issuance of a permit applied for under § 15–505 of this subtitle.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  15-509 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 15 - Mines and Mining|Subtitle 5 - Strip Mining|Section 15-509 - Mine Reclamation Surcharge; Bond Supplement Surcharge

    (a)    On the basis of the approved monthly reports of coal produced submitted under § 15–508 of this subtitle, the Department shall assess a 15 cent mine reclamation surcharge for each ton of coal removed by the open–pit or strip method.    (b)    Of the amount assessed under subsection (a) of this section:        (1)    An amount equal to 9 cents for each ton of coal produced for the month shall be deposited to the credit of the Bituminous Coal Open–Pit Mining Reclamation Fund and shall be administered in accordance with §§ 15–515, 15–516, and 15–517 of this subtitle; and        (2)    An amount equal to 6 cents for each ton of coal produced for the month shall be remitted to the fiscal authority of the county in which the coal was removed.    (c)    The provisions of subsection (b)(2) of this section may not apply for a month when the provisions of § 15–517(b) or (e) of this subtitle apply.    (d)    On the basis of the approved monthly reports of coal produced that are submitted under § 15–508 of this subtitle, the Department shall assess a 2 cent bond supplement reserve surcharge for each ton of coal removed by the open–pit or strip method, which amount shall be deposited to the credit of the Bituminous Coal Open–Pit Mining Reclamation Fund and administered in accordance with §§ 15–515, 15–516 and 15–517 of this subtitle.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  15-510 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 15 - Mines and Mining|Subtitle 5 - Strip Mining|Section 15-510 - Grading; Sealing Off Openings; Impounding Water; Backfilling and Planting Generally; Alternative Plans for Reclamation; Interference With Operator

    (a)    Each operator shall comply with the requirements of this section.    (b)    (1)    The operator shall regrade in a manner the Department establishes by rule and regulation and in accordance with the approved reclamation plan. Any regrading shall include, but is not limited to, backfilling, compacting (where necessary to insure stability or prevent leaching of toxic materials), and regrading to restore to the approximate original contour of the affected area with all highwalls, spoil piles, and depressions eliminated, unless depressions are approved by the Department to prevent erosion and retain moisture to assist revegetation.        (2)    All spoil from a permitted area shall be reclaimed within that permitted area or placed on abandoned mine land in a manner approved by the Department. Spoil from a permitted area may not be placed on abandoned mine land if it is needed to achieve the approximate original contour within that permitted area or to meet other permit requirements.    (c)    The operator shall seal off with a material approved by the Department each opening from an underground mining operation at the base of the final cut. The seal shall be constructed in a way to avoid creating danger from impoundment of any large quantity of water.    (d)    If the operator proposes to impound water to provide a lake or pond for wildlife, recreational, or other water supply purposes, he shall file a formal request with the Department and receive approval before the pond or lake is created.    (e)    An operator, with the written approval of the landowner, may propose an alternative plan for reclamation if the land can be used for suitable purposes. The alternate plan shall be submitted to the Department as part of the mining and reclamation plan.    (f)    Unless the operator obtains the prior written approval of the Department, all backfilling described in the approved reclamation plan shall be completed before backfilling equipment is moved from the operation.    (g)    An owner of either surface rights or mineral rights may not interfere with an operator in the discharge of any duties imposed by this subtitle.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  15-512 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 15 - Mines and Mining|Subtitle 5 - Strip Mining|Section 15-512 - State Participation in Cost of Revegetation

    To encourage optimum revegetation, the Committee may recommend to the Department that it contribute up to 50 percent of the cost of fertilizer, lime, and seed required by an approved mining and reclamation plan.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  15-514 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 15 - Mines and Mining|Subtitle 5 - Strip Mining|Section 15-514 - Revocation of Permit and Forfeiture on Bond

    (a)    (1)    If the Director determines that an operator has failed to comply with any provision of this subtitle, or any rule, regulation, or permit issued under this subtitle, or that the operator has not produced coal or removed overburden on the permit site for a period of 6 months, the Director may issue an order requiring the operator to show cause why the permit should not be revoked and give the operator 30 days in which to request a contested case hearing.        (2)    (i)    If a hearing is requested, the Director shall inform the permittee and all interested parties of the time and place of the hearing.            (ii)    Any hearing held under this section shall be held in accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article.        (3)    If the operator fails to show cause why the permit should not be revoked, the Director shall revoke the permit and forfeit the bond posted by the operator in accordance with § 15-507 of this subtitle.        (4)    If the Director revokes a permit and forfeits the bond under this subsection, the operator of the permit forfeits:            (i)    All rights and claims to the permit;            (ii)    All materials furnished with the application for the permit; and            (iii)    Any subsequent amendments to the permit.    (b)    (1)    If the Director revokes a permit and forfeits the bond, the Director shall notify the operator and the surety or the holder of any other securities if applicable, in writing, that all bonds are forfeited and shall make claim for payment.        (2)    If the surety or the holder of any other securities refuses to make payment within a reasonable time, the Director shall certify the case to the Attorney General, who shall file suit to collect the forfeited bond.        (3)    The Director shall deposit all funds received from the forfeiture of bonds with the State Treasurer to the credit of the Bituminous Coal Open-Pit Mining Reclamation Fund.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  15-514.1 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 15 - Mines and Mining|Subtitle 5 - Strip Mining|Section 15-514.1 - Reissuance of Permit to Another Qualified Operator

    (a)    In this section, “permit” includes all areas approved in the application for mining.    (b)    A permit that has been revoked under § 15-514(a) of this subtitle may be reinstated for the sole purpose of reissuing all or part of the permit to another qualified operator in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.    (c)    In order to be qualified to obtain a reissued permit under this section, an operator shall:        (1)    Provide to the Director proof of the right to mine as required by § 15-505(g) of this subtitle;        (2)    Enter into an agreement with the Department to assume the duties and responsibilities of the permit and to conduct mining operations in accordance with the requirements of this subtitle, regulations issued under this subtitle, and the conditions of the permit;        (3)    File with the Department a performance bond as required under § 15-507 of this subtitle; and        (4)    Provide to the Director any other information required to reissue the permit in accordance with this subtitle.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  15-516 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 15 - Mines and Mining|Subtitle 5 - Strip Mining|Section 15-516 - Water Supply Replacement Reserve

    (a)    The Secretary shall establish within the Bituminous Coal Open-Pit Mining Reclamation Fund a reserve to be used to replace water supplies that are determined to have been affected by an open-pit mining operation, after all the bonds under § 15-507 of this subtitle covering the operation that affected the water supply have been released in accordance with § 15-507 of this subtitle.    (b)    One cent of the mine reclamation surcharge that the Department assesses for each ton of coal removed by the open-pit or strip method under § 15-509 of this subtitle shall be paid into the water supply replacement reserve.    (c)    (1)    When the amount of the reserve equals or exceeds $50,000, payment of the 1 cent into the reserve shall end temporarily.        (2)    When the amount of the reserve is reduced below $25,000 because of payment made under this section, payment of the 1 cent into the reserve shall resume.