A. This chapter is adopted pursuant to the California Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975, Chapter 9, Public Resources Code.

B. The city council finds and declares that the extraction of minerals is essential to the continued economic well-being of the city and to the needs of society, and that the reclamation of mined lands is necessary to prevent or minimize adverse effects on the environment and to protect the public health and safety.

C. The city council further finds that the reclamation of mined lands as provided in this chapter will permit the continued mining of minerals and will provide for the protection and subsequent beneficial use of the mined and reclaimed land.

D. The city council further finds that surface mining takes place in areas where the geologic, topographic, climatic, biological and social conditions are different and that reclamation operations and the specifications therefor may vary accordingly. (Ord. 2020-07 § 2, 2020; Zoning Ordinance dated 7/94, 1994)