Abstract
California’s Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (SMARA) was amended in 1991 to require that the State Mining and Geology Board (Board) adopt regulations specifying minimum, verifiable statewide reclamation standards. The state legislature directed the Board to adopt standards to include, but not be limited to, (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. Each mine reclamation plan approved in California must include site specific performance criteria for measuring reclamation success. While site specific performance criteria may be based on pre-mining conditions, reclamation to a beneficial end use it the goal, not restoration. Reclamation standards are set to be achievable in a reasonable timeframe. Where best management practices focus on reclamation methodology, performance standards focus on results. Performance standards provide mine operators with clear expectations for reclamation, and regulators with a clear trigger for determining reclamation success and return of financial assurances. Additional
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