Back to California

AB-580 • 2026

Surface mining: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Surface mining: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Wallis
Last action
Official status
Chaptered
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text mentions 'specified reason' regarding reimbursement but does not list what that specific reason is.

Extending Special Surface Mining Rules for the Metropolitan Water District

This law extends special rules allowing the Metropolitan Water District to use one master plan instead of separate permits for its surface mining sites until January 1, 2041.

What This Bill Does

  • Extends a rule that allows the Metropolitan Water District to prepare and approve a single master reclamation plan covering multiple individual mining operations in specified counties.
  • Moves the expiration date of this special authority from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2041.
  • Keeps the State Mining and Geology Board as the lead agency for these surface mining operations, including its role in inspecting idle or non-producing sites once every two years.
  • Confirms that the Metropolitan Water District remains the lead agency for environmental reviews of this master plan.
  • States that no state reimbursement is required from the state to local governments for costs related to extended duties under a specified reason.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
  • The State Mining and Geology Board
  • Local governments acting as lead agencies for environmental review

Terms To Know

Master reclamation plan
A single document that covers the cleanup requirements for many individual mining sites instead of needing a separate plan for each one.
Lead agency
The government group responsible for approving permits, reviewing environmental impacts, and overseeing inspections for a project.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This law only applies to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
  • It does not change how other mining companies must get permits or create reclamation plans.
  • The specific reason why no state reimbursement is required is mentioned but not detailed in this summary.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Chaptered

Official Summary Text

Surface mining: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.