Laserfiche WebLink
4 Environmental Analysis <br /> 4.12 Mineral Resources <br /> Goal NCR 4: To provide for the production of mineral resources while protecting people, <br /> property, and the environment from hazards caused by resource extraction. <br /> Policy NCR 4.1: Mineral Resource Protection. The County shall require mineral <br /> deposits of significant quantity, value, or quality, as identified and updated by the State <br /> Division of Mines and Geology reports as MRZ-2 Mineral Resource Zones, to remain in <br /> agricultural or open space uses until the extraction of the resources, unless the immediate <br /> area has been committed to other uses. <br /> San Joaquin County Quarry Excavation Standards <br /> The San Joaquin County Quarry Excavation Standards (Title 9, Division 14, Chapter 9-1415 of <br /> the Municipal Code) were adopted pursuant to the requirements of SMARA. Every county is <br /> required to adopt ordinances consistent with state policy for review and approval procedures <br /> governing reclamation plans, establishing and maintaining financial assurances, and issuing <br /> permits for surface mining operations. Under the associated requirements for Quarry Excavation <br /> Permits (Title 9, Division 8, Chapter 9-854 of the Municipal Code), San Joaquin County provides <br /> a process for issuance of surface mining permits. The requirements for both of these municipal <br /> code chapters are tied back to SMARA, so they follow the full lifecycle of a project from initiation <br /> through closure and reclamation activities. They include requirements for funding the final closure <br /> of an extraction site. <br /> Alameda County East County Area Plan <br /> The East County Area Plan (ECAP) contains goals, policies, and programs related to mineral <br /> resources (Alameda County 2000). The following ECAP policy is applicable to the proposed <br /> Project: <br /> Policy 52: The County shall preserve open space areas for the protection of public health <br /> and safety, provision of recreational opportunities, production of natural resources (e.g., <br /> agriculture, windpower, and mineral extraction), protection of sensitive viewsheds (see <br /> definition in Table 1), preservation of biological resources, and the physical separation <br /> between neighboring communities. <br /> Alameda County Surface Mining Ordinance <br /> In 1983, the Alameda County Surface Mining Ordinance was adopted pursuant to the <br /> requirements of SMARA. Every county is required to adopt ordinances consistent with state policy <br /> for review and approval procedures governing reclamation plans, establishing and maintaining <br /> financial assurances, and issuing permits for surface mining operations. Under Chapter 6.80 of <br /> the Alameda County General Ordinance Code, Alameda County authorizes mining activities on <br /> unincorporated lands through the issuance of surface mining permits. In addition, the County <br /> authorizes reclamation activities through approval of reclamation plans. <br /> 4.12.3 Thresholds of Significance <br /> A project would cause significant impacts to mineral resources if either of the following occurs: <br /> a) Result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of value to the <br /> region and the residents of the state; or <br /> Griffith Energy Storage Project 4.12-4 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675 <br /> Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023 <br />