(a) The reclamation plan shall be applicable to a specific piece of property or properties, shall be based upon the character of the surrounding area and such characteristics of the property as type of overburden, soil stability, topography, geology, climate, stream characteristics, and principal mineral commodities, and shall establish site-specific criteria for evaluating compliance with the approved reclamation plan, including topography, revegetation and sediment, and erosion control.
(b) By January 1, 1992, the board shall adopt regulations specifying minimum, verifiable statewide reclamation standards. Subjects for which standards shall be set include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
(1) Wildlife habitat.
(2) Backfilling, regrading, slope stability, and recontouring.
(3) Revegetation.
(4) Drainage, diversion structures, waterways, and erosion control.
(5) Prime and other agricultural land reclamation.
(6) Building, structure, and equipment removal.
(7) Stream protection.
(8) Topsoil salvage, maintenance, and redistribution.
(9) Tailing and mine waste management.
These standards shall apply to each mining operation, but only to the extent that they are consistent with the planned or actual subsequent use or uses of the mining site.
(Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1097, Sec. 11.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018