The provisions of Chapters 16.100 through 16.104 (Surface Mining and Reclamation) of this Title 16 are not applicable to the following:
(A) Excavations or grading conducted for farming or onsite construction or for the purpose of restoring land following a flood or natural disaster, provided the grading and removal of material do not exceed that required to meet the primary objective.
(B) Prospecting and exploration for minerals of commercial value where less than 1,000 cubic yards of overburden is removed in any one location of one acre or less.
(C) Any surface mining operation that does not involve either the removal of a total of more than 1,000 cubic yards of minerals, ores, and overburden or involve more than one acre in any one location.
(D) Surface mining operations that are required by federal law in order to protect a mining claim, if such operations are conducted solely for that purpose.
(E) Such other mining operations that the city determines to be of an infrequent nature and which involve only minor surface disturbances and are categorically identified by the State Board pursuant to Cal. Pub. Res. Code §§ 2714(d) and 2758(c).
(Ord. 1103, passed 3-7-05)