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San Joaquin County Community Environmental Setting,Impacts,and Mitigation Measures Development Department Agricultural Resources,Land Use,and Planning Regulatory Setting State Regulation Surface Mining and Reclamation Act The State Mining and Geology Board(Board)administers the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 and Associated Regulations(SMARA)for the purpose of identifying mineral deposits of commercial value and regulating their removal. In accordance with state policy, Section 2762(a)of SMARA requires a lead agency to establish mineral policies to be incorporated in its general plan within 1 year of the date of receipt of a mineral lands classification report. The policies would recognize the mineral land classification information,assist in the management of land uses that affect areas containing mineral resources of statewide or regional significance,and emphasize the conservation and development of identified mineral resources. The classification of a mineral resource does not require mining of the resource but identifies mineral deposits that are under threat of development so that they can be conserved for future use. The Board has outlined standards for reclamation of lands used for surface mining operations (Sections 2710-2797 of the Public Resources Code). The following sections are relevant to the proposed Project. ■ Section 2770. ...no person shall conduct surface mining operations unless a permit is obtained from, a reclamation plan has been submitted to and approved by,and financial assurances for reclamation have been approved by the lead agency for the operation pursuant to this article. ` ■ Section 2773. The reclamation plan shall be applicable to a specific piece of property or properties; shall be based upon the character of the surrounding area and such characteristics of the property as type of overburden, soil stability,topography,geology, climate, stream characteristics,and principal mineral commodities; and shall establish site-specific criteria for evaluating compliance with the approved reclamation plan, including topography, revegetation, sediment,and erosion control. State of California Mining and Geology Board The California Mining and Geology Board specifies standards for the reclamation of prime agricultural lands(14 CCR 3707). These standards must be adhered to in order to validate a site's reclamation plans as a compatible end use. As stated in 14 CCR 3707 In addition to the standards for topsoil salvage,maintenance,and redistribution, the following standards shall apply to mining operations on prime agricultural lands where the approved end use is agriculture: (a) Mining operations that will operate on prime agricultural lands,as defined by the U.S.Soil Conservation Service,shall return all disturbed areas to a fertility level as specified in the approved reclamation plan. ` DeSilva Gates Quarry Project Draft Environmental Impact Report 3.B-3 J&5 05105.05