Bill Positions

Bill Number: HB 612

Bill Title: Environment - Use of Coal Combustion By-Products for Reclamation - Bond Requirements

Bill Sponsor(s): Delegate Love, et al

Subject: Environment & Energy

Committee: ENV

Bill Summary: This bill would have required the Department of the Environment to require a bond in an amount up to $7,500 per acre for a nocoal surface mining permit that authorizes the use of coal combustion by-products (CCBs) for land reclamation.

History: This bill received an UNF report in the House Environmental Matters Committee.

Chamber Position: Oppose

Position Summary: An arbitrary increase in the bond security of nearly six times the existing bond amount is nothing more than a penalty to those beneficially reusing CCB material for mine reclamation. This fee (which ties up cash for investment in actual environmental technologies) may have actually worked contrary to environmental policy, which is to encourage the beneficial reuse of these materials and work to reduce the volumes disposed of in landfills. For these reasons, the Maryland Chamber opposed the bill.

Position Statement: To view the Chamber's complete position statement, click here (pdf).

Chamber Staff: Allyson Black

General Assembly: Click here to view the bill on the Maryland General Assembly's website.