Section 15-518 - Minerals, water, and other natural resources. - Maryland Statutes

§ 15-518. Minerals, water, and other natural resources.
 

(a)  Allocation to income or principal.- To the extent that a trustee accounts for receipts from an interest in minerals or other natural resources pursuant to this section, the trustee shall allocate them as follows: 

(1) If received as nominal delay rental or nominal annual rent on a lease, a receipt must be allocated to income. 

(2) If received from a production payment, a receipt must be allocated to income if and to the extent that the agreement creating the production payment provides a factor for interest or its equivalent. The balance must be allocated to principal. 

(3) If an amount received as a royalty, shut-in-well payment, take-or-pay payment, bonus, or delay rental is more than nominal, 90 percent must be allocated to principal and the balance to income. 

(4) If an amount is received from a working interest or any other interest not provided for in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection, 90 percent of the net amount received must be allocated to principal and the balance to income. 

(b)  Interest in renewable water.- An amount received on account of an interest in water that is renewable must be allocated to income. If the water is not renewable, 90 percent of the amount must be allocated to principal and the balance to income. 

(c)  Time of extraction.- This subtitle applies whether or not a decedent or donor was extracting minerals, water, or other natural resources before the interest became subject to the trust. 

(d)  Allocation before and after October 1, 2000.- If a trust owns an interest in minerals, water, or other natural resources on October 1, 2000, the trustee may allocate receipts from the interest as provided in this subtitle or in the manner used by the trustee before October 1, 2000. If the trust acquires an interest in minerals, water, or other natural resources after October 1, 2000, the trustee shall allocate receipts from the interest as provided in this subtitle. 
 

[2000, ch. 292, § 2.]