(a) (1) The Board of Public Works shall adopt regulations establishing procedures and standards for awarding any oil or natural gas lease for production or reserve under lands or waters of the State. (2) An area leased for reserve may not be put into production until the lessee obtains a lease for production pursuant to § 5-1702 of this subtitle. (b) The Board of Public Works shall adopt regulations establishing a system by which persons may periodically nominate areas beneath lands or waters of the State for possible leasing for production or reserve of oil or natural gas. (c) The Board of Public Works may not enter into any lease under this section that would preclude or interfere with the public or private harvesting of finfish or shellfish.
Maryland Legal Code