Sec. 9. 38 MRSA §490-W, sub-§18, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 700, §35, is amended to read:

18. Reclamation. "Reclamation" means the rehabilitation of the area of land affected by mining, including, but not limited to, the stabilization of slopes and creation of safety benches, the planting of forests, the seeding of grasses and legumes for grazing purposes, the planting of crops for harvest and, the enhancement of wildlife and aquatic habitat and aquatic resources and the development of the site for residential, commercial, recreational or industrial use. "Reclamation" does not include the filling in of pits and the filling or sealing of shafts and underground workings with solid materials unless necessary for the protection of groundwater or for reasons of safety.

Sec. 10. 38 MRSA §490-Y, first ¶, as amended by PL 1997, c. 364, §22, is further amended to read:

Except as provided in section 484-A, a person intending to create or operate a quarry under this article must file a notice of intent to comply before the total area of excavation of rock or overburden on the parcel exceeds one acre. Both reclaimed and unreclaimed areas are added together in determining whether this one-acre threshold is exceeded. A notice filed under this section must be complete, submitted on forms approved by the department and mailed to the municipality where the quarry is located, the department, the Maine Historic Preservation Commission and each abutting property owner. The notice that is mailed to the municipality and each abutting property owner must be mailed at least 7 days before the notice of intent to comply is filed with the regulator. The notice that is mailed to the department must be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested. Upon receiving the postal receipt, the owner or operator may commence operation of the quarry. The municipality where the proposed quarry is located may submit comments to the department if the proposed quarry may pose an unreasonable