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r "7.2 REGULATORY.CONSISTENCY ANALYSIS F SMARA and Related Regulations The California Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA) was enacted in 1975 to provide a means of identifying potential mineral resources throughout the State and to € provide for reclamation of mined lands. The stated intent (Section 2712) of SMARA is to ensure that: a) Adverse environmental effects are prevented or,minimized and that all mined lands are reclaimed to a usable condition that is readily adaptable for alternative land uses; b) The production and conservation of minerals are encouraged, while giving e, and aesthetic� consideration to recreation, watershed, wildlife, range and forage,9 ' enjoyment; and c) Residual hazards to the public health and safety are eliminated. The souther half of the project site located within an area classified by California Division of Mines and Geology CDMG as a,MRZ-2 Mining Resource Zone. The area has also E 9Y ( ) 9 been classified as a mineral resource "sector" by CDMG. The identification of the area as a mineral resource "sector" implies that current land uses are compatible with the extraction of high-quality aggregate materials. The proposed mining would be.consistent with similar operations in this "sector' and would not threaten the potential to extract minerals in this area, as discussed in SMARA Section 2762. The classification of an area as a source of significant mineral deposits requires lead R agencies to establish resource management policies that will emphasize the conservation and development of identified mineral deposits" (Section 2762 of SMARA). San Joaquin County has developed policies for the protection of aggregate resources in.the County's { / Development Title (Chapter 9-1525) and for control of mining activities (Chapter 9-1415). , As required by SMARA (Section 2755), the State Mining and Geology Board (SMGB) t regulations for surface mining and reclamation ractice and performance standards for p reclamation (CCR Title 14, Chapter 8, Subchapter 1) are applicable to the proposed project. The regulations (Secs. 3500, et seq.) present objectives and required elements for reclamation plans. Required elements of the reclamation plan for addressing the environmental setting, public health and safety, steepness of excavated and filled slopes, and backfilling and grading of disturbed areas have been included in the proposed project application. The regulations also include minimum acceptable practices (Sec. .3503) for erosion _control, backfilling and grading, and topsoil salvage, maintenance, and redistribution. The proposed project appears to meet or exceed most of the acceptable practices and the following performance standards set forth in the regulations: E Draft Environmental impact Report 1 ER-96-3 .