<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".14" citation="COMAR 15.20.05.14" title_num="15" subtitle_num="20" chapter_num="05" heading="Bond or Security.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The broker or alternative use operation shall file with the Department a bond, or other security, on a form satisfactory to the Department. The bond shall be payable to the Department, and the obligation of the bond shall be conditioned upon fulfilling the cost-share agreement and manure stockpiling and storage requirements provided in this chapter.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The Department may waive the bonding and security requirements for a participant if the participant:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Stockpiles or stores 500 tons of manure or less; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Has contingency plans to relocate the manure, which are provided and acceptable to the Department.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>An acceptable security or bond is limited to:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A bond in a form satisfactory to the Department and underwritten by a surety company authorized to do business in this State;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A bank certified check, bank cashier's check, or bank treasurer's check equal to the required bond amount;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Pledges of securities backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government, or bonds issued by the State, having a market value equal to the required bond amount; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>An irrevocable letter of credit that is:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>In a form satisfactory to the Department;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Issued by a financial institution approved by the State;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Equivalent to the required bond; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Guaranteed to be available and payable directly to the State on demand, in the event of forfeiture.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>The bond liability required under this regulation shall terminate 2 years after the:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Participation in the Project ceases;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Stockpiling or storing manure ceases; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Bond is canceled.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>The bond amount shall be the estimated cost of remediation if, in the event of forfeiture:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Manure must be removed from the stockpile or storage site;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Manure must be protected from rainfall, runoff, and leaching, until such time that it can be removed from the stockpile or storage site because of failure to stockpile it in a manner approved by the Department; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The stockpile or storage site must be cleaned up or reclaimed because of failure to stockpile or store the manure in a manner approved by the Department, or as otherwise required under this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>The bond amount shall be based on, but not limited to, the quantity of manure stockpiled or stored.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>The obligation of the broker, an alternative use participant, and any corporate surety under the bond shall become due and payable, and all or any part of any cash or securities shall be applied to payment of the costs of remediation, including, but not limited to, stabilizing, protecting, and removing the manure, and cleaning up or reclaiming the storage site, if the Department has:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Notified the broker or alternative use operation and any corporate surety that the requirements imposed under this chapter for stockpiling or storing manure have not been fulfilled, and specified in the notice the particular deficiencies;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Given the broker or alternative use operation and any corporate surety a reasonable opportunity to correct the deficiencies; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Determined that, at the end of a reasonable length of time, some or all of the deficiencies specified remain uncorrected.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>