Cal. Codes » Public Resources Code / DIVISION 2. GEOLOGY, MINES AND MINING / CHAPTER 9. Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 / ARTICLE 5. Reclamation Plans and the Conduct of Surface Mining Operations
California Codes

Cal. Public Resources Code § 2776 (2026)

Reclamation Plans and the Conduct of Surface Mining Operations

✓ leginfo export of Sept. 26, 2026 (applied Oct. 1, 2026)
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(a)No person who has obtained a vested right to conduct surface mining operations prior to January 1, 1976, shall be required to secure a permit pursuant to this chapter as long as the vested right continues and as long as no substantial changes are made in the operation except in accordance with this chapter. A person shall be deemed to have vested rights if, prior to January 1, 1976, the person has, in good faith and in reliance upon a permit or other authorization, if the permit or other authorization was required, diligently commenced surface mining operations and incurred substantial liabilities for work and materials necessary for the surface mining operations. Expenses incurred in obtaining the enactment of an ordinance in relation to a particular operation or the issuance of a permit shall not be deemed liabilities for work or materials.

(b)The reclamation plan required to be filed under subdivision (b) of Section 2770, shall apply to operations conducted after January 1, 1976, or to be conducted.

(c)Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as requiring the filing of a reclamation plan for, or the reclamation of, mined lands on which surface mining operations were conducted prior to January 1, 1976.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1 case, 2018–2018 · leading case: Hardesty v. Sacramento Metro. Air Quality Mgmt. Dist., 307 F. Supp. 3d 1010 (E.D. Cal. 2018).
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Hardesty v. Sacramento Metro. Air Quality Mgmt. Dist., 307 F. Supp. 3d 1010 (E.D. Cal. 2018). · cites it 3× “In any event, the mandatory language of California Public Resources Code section 2776 -that a person "shall be deemed to have vested rights" when meeting certain requirements-undermines the assertion that plaintiffs required lead agency approval for their asserted property…”
Cal. Public Resources Code § 2776(a): 1 case
Hardesty v. Sacramento Metro. Air Quality Mgmt. Dist., 307 F. Supp. 3d 1010 (E.D. Cal. 2018). “In any event, the mandatory language of California Public Resources Code section 2776 -that a person "shall be deemed to have vested rights" when meeting certain requirements-undermines the assertion that plaintiffs required lead agency approval for their asserted property…”
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