SB 1133: Cache Creek Resource Management Plan.

(1)The Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 governs surface mining operations and reclamation of mined lands and provides, among other things, for the submission of reclamation plans to, and issuance of permits by, lead agencies with respect to surface mining operations. Until December 31, 2017, a site specific plan in conjunction and consistent with the Cache Creek Resource Management Plan is to be considered a functional equivalent of a reclamation plan for purposes of the act. The board of supervisors of the county in which the Cache Creek Resource Management Plan is to be implemented is required, until December 31, 2017, to prepare and forward to the Director of Conservation annually a report containing specified information relating to mining operations.

This bill would delete the repeal date for these provisions, thereby extending the operation of these provisions indefinitely. By extending the duties of the board of supervisors of the county in which the Cache Creek Resource Management Plan is to be implemented, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The bill would require the board of supervisors of that county to include the quantity of materials produced in an annual report and would exempt the board from the payment of annual reporting fees. The bill would make a surface mining operator, acting under the authority of the management plan, responsible for payment of annual fees associated with the quantity of materials produced and require the operator to include the quantity of materials produced in the operators annual report to the director. The bill would also require the release of required financial assurances to comply with specified regulatory provisions and incorporate certain cross-reference changes made by Chapter 7 of the Statutes of 2016.

(2)The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.