AB982 - Mining: The Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975: mining operations status: idle reserve mine status.

Enrolled August 27, 2026 Passed IN Senate August 25, 2026 Passed IN Assembly August 25, 2026 Amended IN Senate August 21, 2026 Amended IN Senate August 29, 2025 Amended IN Senate July 17, 2025 Amended IN Assembly April 07, 2025 Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 982 Introduced by Assembly Member Carrillo February 20, 2025 An act to amend Sections 2207, 2716, 2727.1, 2770, and 2774 of, and to add Sections 2725.5, 2727.2, and 2733.1 to, the Public Resources Code, relating to surface mining. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 982, Carrillo. Mining: The Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975: mining operations status: idle reserve mine status. The Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 prohibits a person, with exceptions, from conducting surface mining operations unless, among other things, a permit is obtained from, a specified reclamation plan is submitted to and approved by, and financial assurances for reclamation have been approved by, the lead agency for the operation of the surface mining operation. The act requires, within 90 days of a surface mining operation becoming idle the operator to submit an interim management plan to the lead agency for review. Under existing law, the review and approval of an interim management plan is not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The act authorizes the interim management plan to remain in effect for a period not to exceed 5 years, which may be renewed for an additional period not to exceed 5 years, and which may be renewed for one additional 5-year renewal period at the expiration of the first 5-year renewal period, if the lead agency finds that the surface mining operator has complied fully with the interim management plan, as provided. This bill would, until January 1, 2033, authorize a surface mining operation that is authorized to extract construction aggregate materials, as defined, but currently idle, to apply for and request the Division of Mine Reclamation to review and comment on an application for “Idle Reserve Mine Status” to determine whether specified conditions are met. If the division concludes that all of the specified conditions are met and comments on the application for “Idle Reserve Mine Status,” and if the lead agency approves “Idle Reserve Mine Status,” the bill would authorize the lead agency to extend the maximum renewal period that an interim management plan may remain in effect by up to 10 years, as provided. The bill would authorize the State Mining and Geology Board to adopt regulations to implement these provisions. The bill would require the division to, on or before December 31, 2028, compile and post on its internet website specified information. The bill would provide that the approval of “Idle Reserve Mine Status” is not a project for purposes of CEQA. The act requires the lead agency to cause surface mining operations to be inspected in intervals of no more than 12 months, solely to determine whether a surface mining operation is in compliance with the act. This bill would expressly include in the above-described inspection requirement surface mining operations that are active, idle, in “Idle Reserve Mine Status,” newly permitted, or in the process of being reclaimed. The bill would revise and recast the definition of “idle” and would define, for purposes of the act, “active,” “in the process of being reclaimed,” and “reserves.” Existing law requires the owner or operator of a mining operation within the state to, among other things, annually report specified information to the Supervisor of Mine Reclamation, including the mining operation’s status as active, idle, reclaimed, or in the process of being reclaimed. Existing law requires the State Mining and Geology Board to impose, by regulation, an annual reporting fee on, and method for collecting that fee from, each active or idle mining operation. This bill would add “Idle Reserve Mine Status” as a reportable status of a mining operation described above. The bill would require the board to instead impose the above-described annual reporting fee on each mining operation that is newly permitted, active, idle, in “Idle Reserve Mine Status,” or in the process of being reclaimed. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to minimize the waste of construction resources, while ensuring the timely reclamation of idle construction aggregate mines, and to prevent indefinite delays in or avoidance of reclamation efforts. SEC. 2. Section 2207 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read: 2207. (a) The owner or the operator of a mining operation within the state shall forward to the supervisor annually, not later than a date established by the supervisor, on forms approved by the board from time to time, a report that identifies all of the following: (1) The name, address, and telephone number of the person, company, or other owner of the mining operation. (2) The name, address, and telephone number of a designated agent who resides in this state and who will receive and accept service of all orders, notices, and processes of the lead agency, board, supervisor, or court. (3) The location of the mining operation, its name, its mine number as issued by the Division of Mine Reclamation, its section, township, range, latitude, longitude, and approximate boundaries of the mining operation marked on a United States Geological Survey 7 1 / 2 -minute or 15-minute quadrangle map. (4) The lead agency. (5) The approval date of the mining operation’s reclamation plan. (6) The mining operation’s status as newly permitted, active, idle, in “Idle Reserve Mine Status” pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) of Section 2770, reclaimed, or in the process of being reclaimed. (7) The commodities produced by the mine and the type of mining operation. (8) A copy of the previously completed annual inspection form and a requested date, within 12 months of the prior inspection date, for the next annual inspection by the lead agency. (9) Proof of financial assurances. (10) Ownership of the property, including government agencies, if applicable, by the assessor’s parcel number, and total assessed value of the mining operation. (11) The approximate permitted size of the mining operation subject to the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 2710)), in acres. (12) The approximate total acreage of land newly disturbed by the mining operation during the previous calendar year. (13) The approximate total of disturbed acreage reclaimed during the previous calendar year. (14) The approximate total unreclaimed disturbed acreage remaining as of the end of the calendar year. (15) The total production for each mineral commodity produced during the previous year. (16) A copy of any approved reclamation plan and any amendments or conditions of approval to any existing reclamation plan approved by the lead agency. (b) (1) Every year, not later than the date established by the supervisor, the person submitting the report pursuant to subdivision (a) shall forward to the lead agency, on forms furnished by the board, a report that provides all of the information specified in subdivision (a). (2) The owner or operator of a mining operation shall allow access to the property to any governmental agency or the agent of any company providing financial assurance mechanisms in connection with the reclamation plan in order that the reclamation can be carried out by the entity or company in accordance with the reclamation plan. (c) Subsequent reports shall include only changes in the information submitted for the items described in subdivision (a), except that, instead of the approved reclamation plan, the reports shall include any reclamation plan amendments approved during the previous year. The reports shall state whether review of a reclamation plan, financial assurances, or an interim management plan is pending under subdivision (h) of Section 2770, or whether an appeal before the board or lead agency governing body is pending under subdivision (e) or (h) of Section 2770. The supervisor shall notify the person submitting the report and the owner’s designated agent in writing that the report and the fee required pursuant to subdivision (d) have been received, specify the mining operation’s mine number if one has not been issued by the Division of Mine Reclamation, and notify the person and agent of any deficiencies in the report within 90 days of receipt. That person or agent shall have 30 days from receipt of the notification to correct the noted deficiencies and forward the revised report to the supervisor and the lead agency. A person who fails to comply with this section, or knowingly provides incorrect or false information in reports required by this section, may be subject to an administrative penalty as provided in subdivision (c) of Section 2774.1. (d) (1) The board shall impose, by regulation, pursuant to paragraph (2), an annual reporting fee on, and method for collecting annual fees from, each mining operation that is newly permitted, active, idle, in “Idle Reserve Mine Status” pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) of Section 2770, or in the process of being reclaimed. The maximum fee for any single mining operation shall not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) annually and shall not be less than one hundred dollars ($100) annually, as adjusted for the cost of living as measured by the California Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers, calendar year averages, using the percentage change in the previous year, except that the maximum fee for any single mining operation shall not exceed six thousand dollars ($6,000) in the 2017–18 fiscal year and eight thousand dollars ($8,000) in the 2018–19 fiscal year. (2) (A) The board shall adopt, by regulation, a schedule of fees authorized under paragraph (1) to cover the department’s cost in carrying out this section and the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 2710)), as reflected in the Governor’s proposed Budget, and may adopt those regulations as emergency regulations. In establishing the schedule of fees to be paid by each mining operation that is newly permitted, active, idle, in “Idle Reserve Mine Status” pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) of Section 2770, or in the process of being reclaimed, the fees shall be calculated on an equitable basis reflecting the size and type of operation. The board shall also consider the total assessed value of the mining operation, the acreage disturbed by mining activities, and the acreage subject to the reclamation plan. (B) Regulations adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall be adopted by the board in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). The adoption of any emergency regulations pursuant to this subdivision shall be considered necessary to address an emergency and shall be considered by the Office of Administrative Law to be necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, and general welfare. (3) The total revenue generated by the reporting fees shall not exceed, and may be less than, the amount of eight million dollars ($8,000,000), as adjusted for the cost of living as measured by the California Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers, calendar year averages, using the percentage change in the previous year, beginning with the 2017–18 fiscal year and annually thereafter. If the director determines that the revenue collected during the preceding fiscal year was greater or less than the cost to operate the program, the board shall adjust the fees to compensate for the overcollection or undercollection of revenues. (4) (A) The reporting fees established pursuant to this subdivision shall be deposited into the Mine Reclamation Account, which is hereby created. Any fees, penalties, interest, fines, or charges collected by the supervisor or board pursuant to this chapter or the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 2710)) shall be deposited into the Mine Reclamation Account. The money in the account shall be available to the department and board, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purpose of carrying out this section and complying with the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 2710)), which includes, but is not limited to, the classification and designation of areas with mineral resources of statewide or regional significance, reclamation plan and financial assurance review, mine inspection, and enforcement. (B) (i) In addition to reporting fees, the board shall collect five dollars ($5) per ounce of gold and ten cents ($0.10) per ounce of silver mined within the state and shall deposit the fees collected into the Abandoned Mine Reclamation and Minerals Fund Subaccount, which is hereby created in the Mine Reclamation Account. The department may expend the moneys in the subaccount, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for only the purposes of Section 2796.5 and as authorized herein for the remediation of abandoned mines. (ii) Notwithstanding subdivision (j) of Section 2796.5, fees collected pursuant to clause (i) may also be used to remediate features of historic abandoned mines and lands that they impact. For purposes of this section, historic abandoned mines are mines for which operations have been conducted before January 1, 1976, and include, but are not limited to, historic gold and silver mines. (5) In case of late payment of the reporting fee, a penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) or 10 percent of the amount due, whichever is greater, plus interest at the rate of 1 1 / 2 percent per month, computed from the delinquent date of the assessment until and including the date of payment, shall be assessed. New mining operations that have not submitted a report shall submit a report before commencement of operations. The new operation shall submit its fee according to the reasonable fee schedule adopted by the board, and the month that the report is received shall become that operation’s anniversary month. (e) The lead agency, or the board when acting as the lead agency, may impose a fee on each mining operation [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]