Unless otherwise provided in this article, no person shall conduct surface mining operations within the unincorporated area of the County unless a reclamation plan has been approved and adequate financial assurances have been submitted, in accordance with this chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted as requiring the filing of a reclamation plan or financial assurances for, or the reclamation of, mined lands where surface mining operations were completed prior to January 1, 1976.
No reclamation plan application is required if the operator can provide evidence of a reclamation plan for the site approved by the County prior to January 1, 1976, and if the operator has accepted responsibility for reclaiming the mined lands in accordance with the approved reclamation plan. (as amended by Ord. 1518, eff. February 13, 2020)