20250AB__142598AMD INTRODUCED 2025-02-21 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2025-03-28 2025 AB AMD Introduced by Assembly Member Arambula LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Arambula

An act to add

Section 2770.2 to the Public Resources Code, relating to geology. geology San Joaquin River Parkway: pit dewatering. The Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 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 for the operation of the surface mining operation.

This bill would prohibit pit dewatering, as defined, in areas with subsurface river flow or groundwater levels shallower than feet below ground anywhere within the San Joaquin River Parkway, as defined. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the San Joaquin River Parkway.

Existing law authorizes the State Geologist to prepare a special collection of ores and minerals of California to be sent to or used at any world’s fair or exposition in order to display the mineral wealth of the State of California.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to this provision.</xhtml:p>"?> MAJORITY NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION

Section 2770.2 is added to the Public Resources Code , to read: 2770.2. (

a) A person shall not conduct pit dewatering in areas with subsurface river flow or groundwater levels shallower than feet below ground anywhere within the San Joaquin River Parkway, as defined in the “San Joaquin River Parkway Master Plan Update” from March 2018. (

b) For purposes of this section, “pit dewatering” means any water that is impounded or that collects in the pit and is pumped, drained, or otherwise removed from the pit through the efforts of the pit operator. This term also includes wet pit overflows caused by solely by direct rainfall or ground water seepage.

SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of

Section of

Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique needs of the communities within and surrounding the San Joaquin River Parkway. <caml:Num>SECTION 1.</caml:Num><caml:ActionLine action="IS_AMENDED" xlink:href="urn:caml:codes:PRC:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'2206.'%5D)" xlink:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" xlink:type="locator">Section of the <caml:DocName>Public Resources Code</caml:DocName> is amended to read:</caml:ActionLine><caml:Fragment><caml:LawSection id="id_487D1647-BEE5-42A8-B0B1-B302677FAD28"><caml:Num>2206.</caml:Num><caml:LawSectionVersion id="id_76CDD9CC-FE47-4865-9EC0-82ED591FFCDE"><caml:Content><xhtml:p>The State Geologist may prepare a special collection of ores and minerals of California to be sent to or used at any world’s fair or exposition in order to display the mineral wealth of the State of California.</xhtml:p></caml:Content></caml:LawSectionVersion></caml:LawSection></caml:Fragment></caml:BillSection>"?>