(a) 
The extraction of mineral resources may be important to the economic well-being of the City and the needs of society.
(b) 
Certain privately-owned land areas of the City may contain significant amounts of mineral resources. Mineral Resources Overlay Districts are created to protect these resources for present and future extractions. Since mineral extraction must take place on the physical site where the minerals naturally occur, special controls are needed to minimize conflicts with other land uses. The Mineral Resources Overlay District functions as a “holding district” since the land will be redesignated and reclaimed for other land uses when mining operations cease. Also, the district will insure that land disturbances are minimized through regulations and through the prohibition of any other land uses in these districts which are incompatible with mining.
(c) 
Once the mining activity ceases, the mined lands shall be reclaimed for new uses in order to prevent or minimize adverse effects on the environment and to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.
The Mineral Resources Overlay District shall have the following objectives.
(a) 
Adverse environmental effects shall be prevented or minimized.
(b) 
Mined lands shall be reclaimed to a usable condition which is readily adaptable for alternative land uses.
(c) 
The production and conservation of minerals is encouraged, but the mining industry shall also preserve areas relating to environmental and recreational amenities if such amenities are located within the mining locale.
(d) 
Residual hazards to the public health and safety shall be eliminated.
The Mineral Resources Overlay District shall be applied on the following areas.
(a) 
Areas with existing major surface mining activities.
(b) 
Areas where mining activity is expected to take place in the future.
(c) 
Areas adjacent to current or proposed mining activity to prohibit the intrusion of incompatible uses.
The Mineral Resources Overlay District shall be designated by the symbol (MR) on the City of Yucaipa Land Use Plan.
(a) 
Mineral Resources Overlay Districts shall be free from any land use that is incompatible with mining activity.
(b) 
When mining activity ceases, the land owner and/or mining company shall be responsible for the reclamation of the site.
(c) 
Reclamation shall include, but not be limited to, the reasonable mitigation or elimination of residual hazards.
(d) 
Incompatible land uses shall be suitably buffered from mining activity. Appropriate transition measures shall be taken in order to insure compatibility between mining activity and surrounding land uses.
A Mining/Reclamation Plan describing the phasing of reclamation in relation to the phases of the mining operation shall be submitted for land areas which are to be included within a Mineral Resources Overlay District, subject to the provisions of this Code regarding surface mining and land reclamation and the California Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA).