The city recognizes that extraction of minerals is essential to the continued economic well being and needs of society and that the reclamation of mined lands is necessary to prevent or minimize adverse effects on the environment and to protect health and safety. The city also recognizes that surface mining takes place in diverse areas where the geologic, topographic, biological and social conditions are significantly different and those reclamations operations and the specifications may vary accordingly. The purpose and intent of this chapter is to regulate surface mining operations as authorized by California's surface mining and reclamation act of 1975, Public Resources Code section 2710 et seq., as amended, hereinafter referred to as "SMARA", and Public Resources Code section 2207, and the California Code Of Regulations adopted pursuant thereto, 14 California Code Of Regulations section 3500 et seq., to ensure that:
(A) Adverse environmental and other effects of surface mining operations will be prevented or minimized and reclamation of mined lands will provide for the beneficial, sustainable long term productive use of the mined and reclaimed lands; and
(B) The production and conservation of minerals will be encouraged while eliminating hazards to public health and safety and avoiding or minimizing adverse effects on the environment, including, but not limited to, geologic subsidence, air pollution, water quality degradation, damage to biological resources, flooding, erosion, degradation of scenic quality and noise pollution. (Ord. 768-08, 8-19-2008)