§ 15-516

(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.