Mineral Resources

GOAL 7. Provide for the conservation and development of mineral resources in a manner that minimizes land use conflicts and maintains a quality environment.

Objective 7.A.

Locate and identify significant mineral resource deposits.

Policy 7.A.1. Pursue methods that will elevate Mono County's status from a "Low" priority to a "Very High" or "High" priority with respect to the California Department of Conservation, Division of Mines and Geology, priority schedule for Mineral Land Classification Studies.                                

Policy 7.A.2. The State Mineral Land Classification Reports, as completed and transmitted to Mono County by the State Geologist, shall be utilized to locate and identify:

1. Areas containing little or no mineral deposits.
2. Areas containing significant mineral deposits.
3. Areas containing mineral deposits, the significance of which requires further evaluation.

Action 2.1: The detailed maps and text associated with State Mineral Land Classification Reports and/or State Board of Mines and Geology Designations shall be kept on file with the Planning Division and made available for public review upon request (see Table 2).

Policy 7.A.3. Until the State Geologist finalizes and transmits State Mineral Land Classification Reports for all areas of Mono County, pursue other methods and funding sources that could be utilized to identify where locally important and/or potentially significant mineral resource deposits may exist.

Action 7.A.3.a. In cases where conflicts may arise between State Mineral Land Classification Reports and Mineral Resource Mapping in the MEA, the State Mineral Land Classification Reports shall take precedence or, if necessary, cases shall be decided on a case-by-case basis in consultation with representatives from the state Division of Mines and Geology.

Action 7.A.3.b. The MEA Mineral Resource Mapping is intended to be utilized as resource material only and should not be construed, in and of itself, as dictating land use policy. The accuracy of the MEA Mineral Resource Mapping is not sanctioned by the County.

Action 7.A.3.c. The Planning Division shall update and incorporate changes to the MEA Mineral Resource Mapping as new information becomes available.

Action 7.A.3.d. MEA Mineral Resource Mapping and all reference materials associated with the development and/or modification thereof shall be kept on file with the Planning Division and made available for public review upon request.

Objective 7.B.

Conserve and protect areas containing significant mineral deposits in a manner that avoids or minimizes land use conflicts.

Policy 7.B.1. Significant mineral resource deposits identified in State Mineral Land Classification Reports shall be assigned to a "DMG" classification on the MEA Mineral Resource Maps. The purpose of this assignment shall be to:

1. Recognize mineral information classified by the State Geologist and transmitted by the State Mining and Geology Board.
2. Assist in the management of land uses that may affect areas of statewide and regional significance.
3. Emphasize the conservation and potential for development of the identified mineral deposit.

Action 7.B.1.a. Prior to permitting a use that would threaten the potential to extract minerals in an area classified by the State Geologist as an "area containing significant mineral deposits,” the applicant shall provide a report in conformity to applicable provisions of SMARA. The report shall be funded by the applicant and at a minimum shall:

1. be prepared by a qualified professional under the direction of Mono County;
2. assess the significance of the mineral resource and describe the impacts of the proposed development upon future mineral resource development;
3. specify the reasons why the proposed use should be permitted; and
4. propose project alternatives and/or mitigation measures to avoid or reduce potential project impacts with respect to the resource.

Action 7.B.1.b. Land use decisions involving areas designated by the state Mining and Geology Board as "areas of regional and/or statewide significance" shall also consider the importance of the minerals to their market region, the state, and the nation as a whole and not just the importance to the County's area of jurisdiction.

Action 7.B.1.c. Prior to permitting a use that would threaten the potential to extract minerals in an area classified by the State Geologist as an "area containing mineral deposits the significance of which requires further evaluation,” the County may require the applicant to provide a report prepared in conformity to the specifications in Action 1.1 above. The report shall be submitted to the State Geologist for review and comment.

Action 7.B.1.d. State Mineral Land Classification Reports shall be reviewed by the Planning Division. Areas designated by the State Geologist as "areas containing significant mineral resource deposits" shall be assigned to an appropriate land use designation that shall emphasize the conservation and potential for development of the resource.

Action 7.B.1.e. Prior to permitting a use that would threaten the potential to extract “locally important and/or potentially significant mineral resource deposits,” the County may require the applicant to provide a report prepared in conformity to the specifications in Action 1.1 above. The report shall be submitted to the State Geologist for review and comment.

Policy 7.B.2. The possible existence of a mineral deposit should not preclude use of land for a higher and better use.

Objective 7.C.

Manage all mineral resource development activities in a manner that adequately protects the public health, safety, and welfare as well as environmental and socio-economic values.

Policy 7.C.1. Mineral resource development projects shall meet or exceed applicable provisions of CEQA, NEPA, SMARA, Mono County LUE Chapter 35 (reclamation plans) and the Mono County Environmental Handbook.

Action 7.C.1.a. Mineral resource development projects shall strive to avoid or mitigate potentially significant adverse environmental impacts. Significant adverse impacts that cannot be mitigated to a level of non-significance shall require findings of overriding consideration in conformity to CEQA.

Action 7.C.1.b. Require an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), with appropriate mitigation, for all open pit mining operations that are subject to permit requirements as specified in SMARA and that propose to utilize a cyanide heap leaching process.

Action 7.C.1.c. Encourage project proponents to meet with County personnel and responsible/trustee agencies as early as possible, prior to submitting an application, in order to identify the scope and magnitude of issues that may be considered environmentally significant.

Action 7.C.1.d. Encourage the public, through appropriate public notice, to participate in the scoping process for all mineral resource development projects.

Policy 7.C.2. Mineral resource development projects shall comply with all applicable provisions of the county's General and Area Plans, along with requirements set forth in the California Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA); the California Code of Regulations, Title 14, "Mining and Geology"; and County ordinances.

Action 7.C.2.a. Mineral resource development activities may be permitted only in those areas designated for Resource Management and Resource Extraction. Extraction of saleable materials/aggregates (e.g., sand or gravel) may also be permitted in areas designated Agriculture and Resource Extraction.

Action 7.C.2.b. Recreational mining (the extraction of minerals that does not require a county, state or federal permit of any type, and does not utilize mechanized earth-moving equipment) shall be permitted in all districts.

Action 7.C.2.c. Surface and subsurface mining operations shall obtain a mining use permit, including approval of a reclamation plan (Mono County LUE Chapter 35), prior to commencing surface disturbance activities.

Action 7.C.2.d. Develop appropriate application forms to expedite the application and processing of mineral resource exploration, development, and reclamation projects. Update these forms as necessary to reflect applicable federal, state, and county regulatory changes.

Policy 7.C.3. Surface mining operations located on federal lands shall conform to applicable provisions of SMARA.

Action 7.C.3.a. Administration and coordination of surface mining activities on lands administered through the BLM shall be in conformity to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the BLM and the County.

Action 7.C.3.b. Pursue methods, such as a MOU or Joint Powers Agreement, to address the administration and coordination of surface mining activities on lands administered through the USFS.

Policy 7.C.4. Explore methods to implement a countywide mineral extraction fee or tax. The purpose of this fee or tax shall be to compensate the County for the depletion of its non-renewable mineral resources.

Policy 7.C.5. Periodically review filing, processing, and inspection procedures to ensure that staff time allocated to mineral resource development is adequately reimbursed through the assessment of appropriate fees.

Policy 7.C.6. Periodically review and where necessary propose amendments to the Mineral Resource Management Policies. All such amendments shall be submitted to the State Board of Mines and Geology for review and comment prior to adoption.