20250AB__163598AMD INTRODUCED 2026-01-26 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2026-03-16 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 Pit dewatering: prohibition. 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.

The Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of governs surface mining operations in the state.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the provision naming that act.</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. (

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 solely by direct rainfall or ground water seepage. <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'9.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'ARTICLE'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'1.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'2710.'%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_3504E28A-A13A-4B5E-B6C5-3B3B9957E8DE"><caml:Num>2710.</caml:Num><caml:LawSectionVersion id="id_BE844CB8-EB64-48D5-9ED8-53744C5D1DD0"><caml:Content><xhtml:p>This

chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975.</xhtml:p></caml:Content></caml:LawSectionVersion></caml:LawSection></caml:Fragment></caml:BillSection>"?>