Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 27-901 (2026)
Definitions
In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Division" means the division of mined land reclamation in the office of the state mine inspector.
2. "Existing exploration operation" means an exploration operation that is ongoing as of July 1, 1996.
3. "Existing mining unit" means a mining unit, other than a new mining unit, that continued operations after January 1, 1986.
4. "Exploration operations" means activities that create surface disturbances outside a mining facility and that are conducted to determine the presence, location, extent, depth or grade of minerals, including constructing access roads and drill pads.
5. "Inactive mining unit" means a mining unit that has not been operated after January 1, 1986 and for which there is a current identifiable owner or operator other than the federal or state government.
6. "Inspector" means the state mine inspector.
7. "Maintenance" means an activity to preserve or repair the function of previously disturbed land, including grading roads, repairing berms or dams and dredging sedimentation basins.
8. "Mineral" means any metalliferous material extracted from the earth, including gold, silver, copper, molybdenum, zinc and lead and other materials that are used as feedstocks in producing metalliferous materials.
9. "Mining facility" means property that is owned, operated or managed by the same person to develop, mine, concentrate or leach minerals and associated mineral recovery activities but does not include smelting, refining, fabricating or other metal processing facilities and materials associated with those facilities. Property that is not contiguous but is within the same geographical area and operated as a single mining complex is considered to be a single mining facility.
10. "Mining unit" means an individual portion of a mining facility that encompasses one or more surface disturbances.
11. "New exploration operation" means an exploration operation that begins after the effective date of the initial rules adopted pursuant to this chapter.
12. "New mining unit" means a mining unit at which surface disturbances begin after the effective date of the initial rules adopted pursuant to this chapter.
13. "Reclamation" means measures that are taken on surface disturbances at exploration operations and mining units to achieve stability and safety consistent with post-mining land use objectives specified in the reclamation plan.
14. "Soil" means topsoil, suitable substrata or other plant growth media that will sustain vegetation.
15. "Stability" means the condition of land with respect to its erosion potential and ability to withstand seismic activity.
16. "Surface disturbance" means clearing, covering or moving land by means of mechanized earth-moving equipment for mineral exploration, development and production purposes but does not include surveying, assessment and location work, seismic work, maintenance and other such activities that create a de minimis disturbance.