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

The sunset date for the Idle Reserve Mine Status program was extended from January 1, 2032 to January 1, 2033, giving idle aggregate mines one additional year of eligibility under the program.

The Division of Mine Reclamation's role in the Idle Reserve Mine Status process was changed from 'review and approve' to 'review and comment on' applications. The lead agency retains final approval authority, while the Division provides its technical assessment as a comment rather than an independent approval.

The State Mining and Geology Board's obligation to adopt implementing regulations was changed from mandatory ('require') to discretionary ('authorize'), giving the Board flexibility in whether and when to issue regulations for the Idle Reserve Mine Status provisions.

Section 2727.01, which defined 'construction aggregate material' as a standalone code section (listing cinders, decomposed granite, decorative rock, dimension stone, fill dirt, limestone, pumice, rock, stone, sand, gravel), was removed from the enrolled version. The term is still referenced in the bill but the definition appears to have been relocated or consolidated elsewhere in the truncated portion of the text.

Added Section 2207 requiring all mining operations to submit detailed annual reports (16 data items including production, acreage disturbed/reclaimed, financial assurances, and ownership) to the Supervisor of Mine Reclamation, with a new annual reporting fee capped at $10,000 per operation (minimum $100), adjusted for CPI.

Inspection requirements were expanded to expressly include surface mining operations that are active, idle, in Idle Reserve Mine Status, newly permitted, or in the process of being reclaimed, rather than only idle and Idle Reserve Mine Status operations. The annual reporting fee also now applies to newly permitted and in-the-process-of-being-reclaimed operations, not just active and idle ones.

Created a Mine Reclamation Account to hold reporting fees and penalties, with an annual revenue cap of $8 million (CPI-adjusted). Also created a subaccount funded by $5 per ounce of gold and $0.10 per ounce of silver mined in-state, dedicated to abandoned mine remediation including historic mines operating before 1976.

Added new definitions: 'Active' (Section 2725.5) means surface mining occurred during the reporting year; 'In the process of being reclaimed' (Section 2727.2) means operations ceased and reclamation plan is being implemented; revised 'Idle' (Section 2727.1) to include production reduction by more than 90 percent of maximum annual production within any of the last five years without an approved interim management plan; modified 'Reserves' (Section 2733.1) to cover 'permitted or vested resources' rather than just permitted resources.

The Idle Reserve Mine Status process was restructured: the Division of Mine Reclamation now comments on applications rather than approving them, and the lead agency makes the final approval decision. Two new conditions were added: applicants must pay actual review costs in addition to Section 2207 fees (condition IV), and approval does not extend the interim management plan beyond the permit term or reduce financial assurance obligations (condition V).

Added a CEQA exemption explicitly covering approval of Idle Reserve Mine Status (previously only interim management plan approval was exempted). Also added a provision that reserve, production, or rate-of-depletion information submitted to the State Geologist in support of an Idle Reserve Mine Status application is deemed proprietary and not subject to public disclosure.

The sunset date for Idle Reserve Mine Status authority was extended from January 1, 2032 to January 1, 2033. The deadline for the Division to compile and post information on its website was changed from September 1, 2027 (annually) to December 31, 2028.

Added Section 2716 providing a writ of mandate mechanism allowing any interested person to compel the board, lead agency, State Geologist, supervisor, or director to carry out duties imposed by the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act. Also added late payment penalties (minimum $100 or 10 percent of amount due, plus 1.5 percent monthly interest) for reporting fees.

Added legislative findings required by the California Constitution for statutes limiting public access to government records, supporting the confidentiality provisions for mining production data. Expanded the definition of 'mining operation' in Section 2207 to include extraction of minerals from geothermal brine and operations colocated with geothermal resource facilities.

The date on which the Idle Reserve Mine Status provision becomes inoperative was changed from January 1, 2036 to January 1, 2032, giving idle aggregate mines four fewer years to use this mechanism before it expires.

Removed the phrase 'rather than allowing for mines' from Section 1 (legislative intent), which appears to have been a drafting artifact that did not belong in the final text.

Corrected capitalization of 'Division of Mine Reclamation' throughout the bill (previously lowercase 'division' in several instances) and removed a duplicated word ('would would') in the legislative counsel's digest.

Added a sunset date of January 1, 2036, after which no new Idle Reserve Mine Status authorizations can be granted. Operations already holding that status may retain it for the remainder of their current renewal period.

Required the State Mining and Geology Board to adopt regulations implementing the Idle Reserve Mine Status provisions (clauses i and ii).

Required the Division of Mine Reclamation to compile and post on its website, starting September 1, 2027 and annually thereafter, data on active mines, idle mines, Idle Reserve Mine Status operations by county, approval counts, pending applications, and status changes.

Added a good-faith provision: if an operator has applied for Idle Reserve Mine Status in good faith and no determination has been made yet, the interim management plan remains in effect until a decision is issued.

Narrowed the reserve requirement by specifying that a reserve not included in an approved reclamation plan or interim management plan shall not be considered when the State Geologist determines whether the operation has sufficient reserves for future infrastructure needs.

Added a data-sharing provision allowing the Division of Mine Reclamation to use information provided under Section 2774.2.5 and seek additional information from lead agencies to compile its annual report, to avoid duplicative effort.

Expanded the legislative intent statement to explicitly include preventing indefinite delays in or avoidance of reclamation efforts as a stated purpose of the bill.

All provisions related to the California Conservation Corps Education and Employment Reentry Program were removed. The bill no longer amends Section 14415 of the Public Resources Code or references resources conservation in its title.

A new Section 1 was added stating it is the intent of the Legislature to minimize the waste of construction resources while ensuring timely reclamation of idle construction aggregate mines rather than allowing indefinite delays or avoidance of reclamation efforts.

Multiple drafting errors were corrected: 'not no later than' changed to 'no later than', 'existing prior to before January 1' changed to 'existing before January 1', 'no does not raise' changed to 'does not raise', and 'if he or she the supervisor elects' changed to 'if the supervisor elects.'

The fiscal committee vote line was corrected from the contradictory 'no yes' to simply 'yes.'

The bill now amends Sections 2770 and 2774 of, and adds Sections 2727.01 and 2733.1 to, the Public Resources Code, vastly expanding its scope from a single nonsubstantive Conservation Corps amendment to a full surface mining regulatory framework.

New Section 2727.01 defines 'construction aggregate material' as cinders, decomposed granite, decorative rock, dimension stone, fill dirt, limestone, pumice, rock, stone, sand, gravel, or both sand and gravel. New Section 2733.1 defines 'reserves' as the part of the resource base that could be economically extracted within the foreseeable future.

Creates 'Idle Reserve Mine Status' for idle construction aggregate mines. To qualify, the State Geologist must determine the mine has reserves for future infrastructure needs, the mine must not be on federal public land, and fewer than 12 such applications may have been received in the same fiscal year. If approved, the lead agency may extend the interim management plan by up to 10 additional years beyond the existing maximum renewal period.

Applicants for Idle Reserve Mine Status must pay actual costs associated with the division's review in addition to fees required under Section 2207. Financial assurance obligations remain in effect during idle status and are not reduced by the status approval.

Fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the amended bill now has identified fiscal impacts, likely due to the new review and inspection obligations placed on state agencies.

Adds an appeal process allowing operators to challenge lead agency denials of reclamation plans or financial assurances, and allowing supervisors to appeal approved financial assurance cost estimates they consider inadequate. The board hears appeals within 45 days of receiving a complete administrative record. Enforcement actions are held in abeyance during pending reviews or appeals.

Section 2774 inspection requirements now explicitly include surface mining operations that are idle or in Idle Reserve Mine Status. Inspections must be conducted by state-licensed professionals (geologist, civil engineer, landscape architect, or forester) or qualified lead agency employees not previously employed by the operation. Detailed notice to the supervisor is required within 90 days of each inspection.

Establishes detailed timelines for idle mine management: 90 days to submit an interim management plan after becoming idle, 45 days for lead agency review, 30 days for supervisor comments, and 60-90 days for final approval or denial. A mine idle over one year without an approved interim management plan is considered abandoned.