Section 2711.

(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the extraction of minerals is essential to the continued economic well-being of the state and to the needs of the 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.

(b) The Legislature 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.

(c) The Legislature further finds that surface mining takes place in diverse areas where the geologic, topographic, climatic, biological, and social conditions are significantly different and that reclamation operations and the specifications therefor may vary accordingly.

(d) The Legislature further finds that the production and development of local mineral resources that help maintain a strong economy and that are necessary to build the state's infrastructure are vital to reducing transportation emissions that result from the distribution of hundreds of millions of tons of construction aggregates that are used annually in building and maintaining the state.

(e) The Legislature further finds and recognizes the need of the state to provide local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and other relevant planning agencies with the information necessary to identify and protect mineral resources within general plans.

(f) The Legislature further finds that the state's mineral resources are vital, finite, and important natural resources and the responsible protection and development of these mineral resources is vital to a sustainable California.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 218, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2012.)