Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 26 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT › Part 4 - SUBTITLES 19-30 › Subtitle 20 - SURFACE COAL MINING AND RECLAMATION UNDER FEDERALLY APPROVED PROGRAM › Chapter 26.20.08 - Prospecting › Section 26.20.08.01 - Notice of Intent to Prospect

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A.
				  A person may not conduct any prospecting without filing a written notice of
				  intent to prospect with the Bureau at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any
				  surface disturbance.
B. A notice of
				  intent to prospect shall be submitted in triplicate and contain the following
				  information:
(1) The name, address, and
				  telephone number of the person seeking to prospect.
(2) The name and address of all surface and
				  mineral owners of the land on which prospecting is to be conducted.
(3) The name, address, and telephone number
				  of the person who will be present at and responsible for conducting the
				  prospecting activities.
(4) A
				  description of the legal basis upon which the person who intends to prospect
				  claims the right to enter and conduct prospecting operations, including
				  reclamation, on the area.
(5) A
				  description and map of the area to be prospected. The map shall be a U.S.
				  Geological Survey 7.5 minute topographic survey map or equivalent map, and the
				  scale of the map shall be as follows:
(a) If
				  the prospecting involves only air or core drilling operations and does not
				  cause substantial disturbance to the natural land surface the scale of the map
				  shall be 2,000 feet to the inch or larger. The map shall show the following
				  information:
(i) The proposed prospecting
				  area and all access roads to the area; and
(ii) The approximate location of all drill
				  holes.
(b) If the
				  prospecting involves the removal of the overburden to expose the coal seam or
				  will cause substantial disturbance to the natural land surface or cause serious
				  harm to water supply or water quality, the scale of the map shall be 500 feet
				  to the inch or larger. The map shall show the following information:
(i) The boundaries of the property and the
				  names of the surface and mineral owners of the tract or tracts;
(ii) The name of the quadrangle, a north
				  arrow, and the Maryland coordinates of the area to be prospected;
(iii) The names of all receiving
				  streams;
(iv) The approximate
				  location of the seam or seams to be prospected; and
(v) The number of acres to be disturbed and
				  their approximate location, including all excavations and roads to be used or
				  constructed to facilitate the prospecting.
(6) A copy of an approved county grading or
				  sediment and erosion control permit, if applicable.
(7) A schedule indicating the estimated
				  period of prospecting, including the anticipated dates of beginning and
				  completion of prospecting.
(8) A
				  description of the intended prospecting operations.
(9) A reclamation plan for the prospecting
				  area. The reclamation plan shall include a plan for haul roads, sediment
				  control, method of operation, casing or sealing wells, boreholes, or other
				  underground opening, regrading, topsoil handling, and revegetation.