EnviroMINE conducted a survey of lead agencies to determine the amount each charge to implement their Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (SMARA) program. SMARA requires lead agencies review proposed mining applications for land use permits and/or reclamation plans (or amendments thereto), submit reclamation plans and financial assurances to the State for technical review and comment prior to approval, annually review financial assurances, annually inspect mining operations for compliance, and take enforcement actions where necessary. Section §2207(e) of SMARA indicates the lead agency may impose a fee upon each mining operation to cover the reasonable costs incurred by implementing the program.
CA Environmental Goals and Policy Report Lacks Mention of Mineral Resources
The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) released its draft of the California’s Climate Future – The Governor’s Environmental Goals and Policy Report (EGPR) for public comment.
The report considers the state’s future in the context of a changing climate and a population that is projected to grow to 50 million residents by middle of this century. The discussion draft provides a vision of the state’s future and a broad overview of the state’s programs and policies to achieve that vision. (OPR)
EnviroMINE Now Offers Real Estate Brokerage Services
SAN DIEGO, CA – EnviroMINE, Inc. – a consulting service specializing in mining and reclamation planning, mine permitting, regulatory compliance and aggregate economics, adds real estate brokerage services for mining properties.
The EnviroMINE real estate brokerage services staff specialize in transactions for quarries, sand and gravel mining operations, mineral mines, raw land, permitted and unpermitted aggregate reserves as well as industrial properties for HMA, Recycle or RMC plants.
The Cost of Leadership
When asked to think about leadership as a cost item, you might think about the cost of hiring effective leadership for your company. When I think of leadership, I think of the cost for NOT having effective leadership. An airplane that varies from its course by a half degree in a 480 mile trip between San Diego and Sacramento will be off the mark by 4.2 miles. In a life-or-death situation, I would want to be certain that my bearings were correct, lest I miss the mark.
Department of Conservation
On August 3 2012, the Department of Conservation (DOC) released the New Amendments to the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act.
The document may be viewed here: DOC SMARA.
Robert Warren Snodgrass
Bob Snodgrass was a man of many talents. He got along well with the people around him and made friends with ease.
Although we don’t know a lot about Bob’s early life, we know that he earned Bachelors and Masters degrees from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. After graduating, he moved to the San Diego area to work with a friend.
Do Reclamation Plans Expire?
I am frequently faced with requests from lead agencies to prepare a new reclamation plan for a mining project because the plan has expired. This causes me some pause because there is no requirement in SMARA or the implementing regulations that specifically regulate time limits for a reclamation plan. It seems pretty clear to me that a reclamation plan would expire when mining has been completed and the site determined to be reclaimed by the lead agency and Department of Conservation and the financial assurance is returned. Beyond this, is there a statutory or regulatory mandate establishing time limits for reclamation plans?