Mining Interim Management Plan–Planning

The Director of Land Use Services may approve an Interim Management Plan (IMP) for an existing conditionally approved surface mining operation. This application and supporting materials are required to document compliance and measures that will secure and maintain the mine site during idle periods, provided there is reasonable intent to resume mining in the near future. After review and all the information submitted is complete, the application and supporting materials will be forwarded to the Department of Conservation, Division of Mine Reclamation (DMR) for review and comments as provided for in Public Resources Code Section 2772.1 subdivision (a). In accordance with Public Resources Code Section 2770 subdivision (h)(6), an operation that does not have an approved IMP within one year after becoming idle, the mining operation is "considered abandoned" and the County will require that the mine operator commence and complete reclamation in accordance with the approved reclamation plan.

"Idle" means to curtail surface mining operations for a period of one year or more by more than 90 percent of the operation's previous maximum annual mineral production within the prior five years, with the intent to resume those surface mining operations at a future date (ref. Public Resources Code Section 2727.1). Many activities that do not result in “produced minerals” (ref. California Code of Regulations Section 3695) in any given year fall into the definition of “idle”, including, for example, the maintenance of stockpiles.

"Interim management plan" is the plan which the operator of an idle mine shall submit and gain approval for, in order to assure that the mine site shall be maintained in compliance with the approved reclamation plan, conditional use permit and applicable conditions of approval, until mining operations resume production or the mine site is fully reclaimed in accordance with the approved reclamation plan.

An operator's notice to resume mining operations may be dismissed by the Director if it is determined that the mineral reserves have been depleted, outstanding fees due are delinquent for prior years of operation, the approved reclamation plan boundary has been exceeded, or for failure to timely file an interim management plan.

If the surface mining operation has been idle for more than one year without obtaining an approved IMP, the operator may submit an IMP application and request a public hearing for purposes of preventing a determination of “abandonment” and undertaking reclamation in accordance with the approved reclamation plan.

Can I apply online? Yes, applications can be found in the EZ Online Permitting Portal