(A) 
Within 90 days of an approved mining operation becoming idle, as defined in SCCC § 16.54.020, the operator shall submit to the Planning Director for administrative review and approval an interim management plan.
(B) 
The interim management plan may remain in effect for a period not to exceed five years at which time the Planning Director shall do one of the following:
(1) 
Hold a public hearing before the Planning Commission regarding a possible renewal of the interim management plan for another five years; or
(2) 
Require the operator to commence and complete reclamation in accordance with the approved reclamation plan.
(C) 
Within 60 days of the receipt of the interim management plan, the Planning Director shall administratively review and approve or deny the plan in accordance with this chapter, so long as the plan satisfies the requirements of this chapter and the California Surface Mining and Reclamation Act.
(D) 
The Planning Director shall notify the operator in writing of any deficiencies in the plan and the operator shall have 30 days to submit a revised interim management plan.
(E) 
The Planning Director shall administratively approve or deny the revised interim management plan within 60 days of receipt. If the Planning Director denies approval of the revised interim management plan, the operator may appeal that action to the Planning Commission, which shall schedule a public hearing within 45 days of the filing of the appeal.
(F) 
All idle mining operations shall be subject to annual reports pursuant to SCCC § 16.54.072 and § 16.54.073 and inspections pursuant to SCCC § 16.54.070 and § 16.54.071.
(G) 
All idle mining operations shall conform to applicable approval conditions, this chapter and the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act.
(H) 
If the mining operation remains idle after the expiration of the interim management plan and no public hearing regarding the renewal of the interim management plan is pending before the County, the operator shall commence reclamation in accordance with the approved reclamation plan.
(I) 
The interim management plan shall not be considered a project for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act.
(Ord. 4421 § 1, 1996)
(A) 
Unless review or appeal of an interim management plan pursuant to SCCC § 16.54.080 is pending, a mining operation which remains idle for over one year without approval of an interim management plan shall be considered abandoned and the operator shall commence and complete reclamation in accordance with the approved reclamation plan.
(B) 
If the mining operation is abandoned pursuant to subsection (A) of this section and the operator has failed to timely commence and complete reclamation in accordance with the approved reclamation plan, the Planning Director shall commence enforcement proceedings.
(C) 
Each abandoned mining operation without a valid mining approval, certificate of compliance or reclamation plan approval only and which represents a threat to public health or safety shall constitute a nuisance and be deemed in violation of the County Code and shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of this chapter, the County Code (including, without limitations, nuisance abatement proceedings pursuant to Chapter 1.14 SCCC), SMARA, and any other enforcement methods established by law.
(Ord. 4421 § 1, 1996)