Mining: The Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975: mining operations status: idle reserve mine status

The law seeks to preserve economically viable sand, gravel, and crushed-rock reserves while requiring continued financial assurances, inspections, and public reporting. The status is available only through January 1, 2033.

What the law does ​

• Allows idle construction-aggregate mines with economically viable permitted reserves to seek “Idle Reserve Mine Status” from their lead agency after Division of Mine Reclamation review.
• Lets a lead agency extend an approved interim management plan by up to 10 additional years for an approved idle-reserve mine, without extending the mine permit or reducing reclamation financial assurances.
• Caps Division of Mine Reclamation review at fewer than 12 Idle Reserve Mine Status applications per fiscal year and requires applicants to pay the division’s actual review costs.
• Requires annual reporting and annual inspections for newly permitted, active, idle, idle-reserve, and reclamation-stage mines.
• Requires the Division of Mine Reclamation to annually post mine-status, reclamation-plan, financial-assurance, and Idle Reserve Mine Status data beginning by December 31, 2028.
• Exempts approval of an interim management plan or Idle Reserve Mine Status from California Environmental Quality Act project review.

Who it affects ​

• Operators of idle mines authorized to extract construction aggregate materials, including sand, gravel, and crushed rock.
• Local lead agencies that approve mine permits, interim management plans, and Idle Reserve Mine Status.
• The Division of Mine Reclamation, the State Geologist, and the State Mining and Geology Board.

Context ​

Existing rules generally require reclamation when an idle mine’s interim management plan expires.