Category: Mining

California Mining Board to Address Environmental Problems Created by Backfill Regulation Affecting Gold and Other Metallic Mineral Mines

By Tom Henry and Michael Sherman on January 16, 2018 Posted in CEQA, Mining

California’s State Mining and Geology Board had a busy 2017 with ongoing rulemakings to implement SMARA reform enacted in 2016. The Board’s 2018 will be busy and one to closely watch too, in particular, because the Board plans to address the unintended environmental consequences created by the adoption fifteen years ago of what is known … Continue Reading

New Laws Reform California’s Surface Mining and Reclamation Act

By Michael Sherman on April 21, 2016 Posted in Mining

True to his word, Governor Jerry Brown signed two bills, AB 1142 and SB 209, into law on Monday to reform California’s Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA). Now, before getting too excited, keep in mind that the new laws are nowhere near the “top to bottom” reform called for by Brown in 2013. Local … Continue Reading