Natural resources.

(1) Existing law, the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975, prohibits a person, with exceptions, from conducting surface mining operations unless, among other things, a permit is obtained from, a specified reclamation plan is submitted to and approved by, and financial assurances for reclamation have been approved by the lead agency, as defined, for the operation of the surface mining operation. The act requires that the State Mining and Geology Board submit to the Legislature each year a report on the actions taken under the act during the preceding fiscal year, and requires the Division of Mine Reclamation in the Department of Conservation, at a minimum, to quarterly publish in the…