Surface mining and reclamation plans: exempted activities.

Existing law, the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975, prohibits a person from conducting a surface mining operation unless, among other things, a reclamation plan has been submitted to and approved by the lead agency, as defined, for the operation. Existing law excepts from those requirements certain activities including, among other things, excavations or grading conducted for farming or the immediate excavation or grading of lands affected by a flood or natural disaster for the purpose of restoring those lands to their prior condition. This bill would exempt instead the excavations or grading of lands conducted for farming. The bill would also exempt from the act the immediate excavation or grading of lands affected by a natural disaster for the purposes of restoring these lands to their prior condition and the immediate removal of material deposited by a flood onto lands being farmed for the purpose of restoring those lands to their prior condition.