(A) 
Each mining operation shall be subject to a quarterly inspection by the Planning Director to assure compliance with conditions of all approvals and with the applicable requirements of the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act.
(B) 
The Planning Director shall notify the operator in writing of any observed noncompliance.
(C) 
If, during any inspection, the Planning Director determines that reasonable cause exists to suspect adverse impacts from a mining operation on groundwater supply, aquifer, sole source aquifer or spring, the Planning Director may require a hydrogeological report as defined by scope in SCCC § 16.54.040(C)(11). However, if the potential impacts are limited, the Planning Director may limit the report to address only the limited impacts identified.
(D) 
Payment of an inspection fee by the operator or owner shall be made in accordance with SCCC § 16.54.027, shall be a condition of all approvals, and failure to make timely payment of said fee shall constitute noncompliance with such condition.
(Ord. 4421 § 1, 1996)
(A) 
In conjunction with one of the quarterly inspections pursuant to SCCC § 16.54.070, an annual inspection by the Planning Director shall be performed within six months of the receipt of a copy of the required annual report to the Director of the Department of Conservation to determine whether the mining operation is in conformance with conditions of all approvals.
(B) 
Each annual inspection shall be conducted by the Planning Director or his/her designee or by a State-registered geologist, State-registered civil engineer, State-licensed landscape architect, or a State-registered forester, who is experienced in land reclamation, who is an employee or contractor of the County, and who has not been an employee or contractor of the mining operation in any capacity during the 12 months preceding the annual inspection.
(C) 
Each annual inspection shall be conducted in accordance with provisions set forth in a form approved by the State Board.
(D) 
The Planning Director shall notify the Director of the Department of Conservation within 30 days from the date of inspection that the inspection has been conducted. The Planning Director's notice to the Director of the Department of Conservation shall contain:
(1) 
A copy of the completed inspection form;
(2) 
A statement whether or not the mining operation is in compliance or noncompliance with this chapter and the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act, and if not, a statement specifying which aspects of the mining operation are inconsistent therewith; and
(3) 
A statement of whether the mining operation has any appeal pending in the case of a operator with vested rights under Public Resources Code Section 2770(b); a review of existing financial assurances pending pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 2770(c); or an appeal pending pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 2770(e) or 2770(h).
(E) 
A copy of the Planning Director's notice to the Director of the Department of Conservation pursuant to subsection (A) of this section shall be forwarded to the operator together with any supporting documentation, including (without limitation) the inspection report prepared by said geologist, engineer, landscape architect or forester.
(F) 
Payment of the reasonable cost of the annual inspection shall be the sole responsibility of the operator. In addition, a fee for administrative processing of said inspection and said notice shall be paid by the operator in accordance with SCCC § 16.54.027.
(Ord. 4421 § 1, 1996)
(A) 
The owner, lessor, lessee or any other person in charge of a mining operation shall forward to the Director of the Department of Conservation not later than July 1, 1991, and every year thereafter not later than on the anniversary date established by the Director of the Department of Conservation, upon a form furnished by the Director of the Department of Conservation, an annual report which includes each of the following:
(1) 
The name, address and telephone number of the person, company or other owner of the mining operation;
(2) 
The name, address and telephone number of a designated agent who resides in the State of California, and who will receive and accept service of all orders, notices, and processes of the Planning Director, State Board, Director of the Department of Conservation, or court;
(3) 
The location of the mining operation, its name, and its mine number as issued by the Bureau of Mines, or the Director of the Department of Conservation, its section, township, range, latitude, longitude, and approximate boundaries of the mining operation marked on a United States Geological Survey seven-and-one-half-minute or 15-minute quadrangle map;
(4) 
Identification of the County of Santa Cruz as the lead agency;
(5) 
The approval date of the mining operation's reclamation plan;
(6) 
The mining operations status as active, idle, reclaimed, or in the process of being reclaimed;
(7) 
Each commodity produced by the mine and the type of mining operation;
(8) 
Proof of annual inspection by the County of Santa Cruz;
(9) 
Proof of financial assurances;
(10) 
Ownership of the property by the Assessor's parcel number(s) and total assessed value of the mining operation;
(11) 
The approximate permitted size of the mining operation in acres;
(12) 
The approximate total acreage of land, newly disturbed by the mining operation during the previous calendar year;
(13) 
The approximate total of disturbed acreage reclaimed during the previous calendar year;
(14) 
The approximate total unreclaimed disturbed acreage remaining as of the end of the calendar year;
(15) 
The total production for each mineral commodity produced during the previous year; and
(16) 
A copy of the approved reclamation plan in the initial annual report and any subsequent amendments or conditions of approval to any existing reclamation plan approved by the County of Santa Cruz.
(B) 
Subsequent annual reports shall include only any changes in information submitted for the previous report and:
(1) 
Any amendments to the reclamation plan.
(2) 
Review of financial assurances.
(3) 
Notification of any pending appeal.
(C) 
If the Director of the Department of Conservation notifies the operator of any deficiency in the annual report, the operator shall correct each deficiency and submit the revised report to the Director of the Department of Conservation and Planning Director within 30 days from the date of notification by the Director of the Department of Conservation.
(D) 
Each annual report to the Director of the Department of Conservation and each corrective report shall be submitted concurrently to the Planning Director.
(Ord. 4421 § 1, 1996)
In addition to the annual report to the Director of the Department of Conservation, as required under SCCC § 16.54.072, and in order to ensure compliance with all approved conditions, a report to the Planning Director shall be prepared by a professional determined by the Planning Director to be qualified to prepare such report in consultation with appropriate independent consultants. The report shall be submitted by the operator to the Planning Director by July 1st of each year. If the Planning Director determines the need for an independent consultant, the operator shall retain an independent consultant approved by the County. All costs of such report and its review shall be paid by the operator. The report shall include the following unless waived or modified in writing by the Planning Director:
(A) 
A report on compliance with each of the conditions of all approvals.
(B) 
An analysis of any change in any significant environmental condition or mining operation which has not been anticipated in the mining approvals or certificate of compliance, or reclamation plan approval.
(C) 
A current aerial photograph of the entire site (one inch equals 200 feet) showing property lines, facilities, stripped areas, and revegetated areas together with a report on the extent of excavation and reclamation completed in the previous year and projected for the coming year. Each fifth year, a current photogrammetic topographical map prepared from current aerial photographs (one inch equals 200 feet, 10-foot contour interval) showing all the requirements of the above required aerial photograph shall be submitted.
(D) 
A noise report prepared by an independent, qualified noise/acoustical consultant retained by the operator and approved by the Planning Director. The annual noise report shall be submitted to the Planning Director and the operator. Each noise report shall determine whether or not the operator is in compliance with noise conditions of the mining approvals, certificate of compliance, or reclamation plan approval, and shall investigate and make recommendations (relative to noise mitigation) regarding:
(1) 
Any mining equipment to be used on the mining site;
(2) 
Noise protection berming (existing and proposed); and
(3) 
Any other significant noise resulting from the mining operation. The operator shall implement all recommendations of the noise consultant determined to be necessary by the Planning Director for compliance with the conditions of the approvals.
(E) 
A revegetation report prepared by a botanist, horticulturist or plant ecologist retained by the operator and approved by the Planning Director. The final annual report shall be submitted to the Planning Director and the operator. All costs of such report shall be paid by the operator. The revegetation report shall describe the degree of success in achieving the objectives of the revegetation plan, and shall identify any changes or additional measures which may improve results. The operator shall implement all recommendations of the botanist or horticulturist or plant ecologist determined to be necessary by the Planning Director for compliance with the conditions of the mining approvals, certificate of compliance, or reclamation plan approval.
(F) 
Written verification of renewal of financial assurances.
(G) 
A report to be held as proprietary information pursuant to SCCC § 16.54.028(B), stating the annual amounts of production and shipping of mining products.
(Ord. 4421 § 1, 1996)
At the time of issuance of a mining approval, certificate of compliance or reclamation plan approval, or amendment thereof, a schedule shall be set by the Planning Commission and specified in said approval to review each such approval, at a public hearing for compliance with approval conditions. In no case shall the time set for review be in excess of five years. New conditions shall not be imposed as part of the review process unless: (A) there is a threat to public health and safety; (B) there is a significant injurious threat to the environment; (C) there is a nuisance; (D) there is a violation of approval conditions; (E) there is a change in the scope of operations; or (F) the ordinance in effect at the time the mining approval, certificate of compliance or reclamation plan approval being reviewed was originally approved, or the approval itself, authorized imposition of new conditions by the County. If one or more new conditions are recommended after public hearing by the Planning Commission for imposition as part of the review process the Planning Commission may, in its discretion, continue the hearing on the review and order the operator to provide such notice of the continued hearing as the Planning Commission deems appropriate, and subsequently consider final imposition of such new condition(s) at that continued hearing.
(Ord. 4421 § 1, 1996)