Ready or not, California’s new Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (“SGMA”) is here and mine operators should be vigilant in monitoring and actively participating in developments under the law. Previously, the use of groundwater was largely unregulated. Now local agencies are in the driver’s seat when it comes to addressing a very complex problem: managing groundwater … Continue Reading
June 5, 2015 marked the deadline for lawmakers to pass bills out of their house to the opposite house. Bills that did not pass in their house of origin by that date have effectively died (unless such bill has been identified as a 2-year bill). Below is the status and summary of the oil and … Continue Reading
On April 29th, the California Geological Survey (CGS) released production data from 2012 indicating that the production of construction aggregate (sand, gravel and crushed stone) increased for the first time since 2007 in California. Construction aggregate production increased by 7.3 percent to 121.3 million tons (valued at $1.162 billion). Portland cement production also increased by … Continue Reading
Those that “dig in the dirt” are very familiar with the Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT), which was launched in 2003 by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA). Over the years California has enacted several statutes requiring anyone moving dirt to notify a regional notification center of the area of planned disturbance that may impact a subsurface … Continue Reading
Via my colleagues Barbara Craig, Ryan Steen and Sarah Stauffer Curtiss: On October 28, 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“USFWS”) proposed to list the Bi-State distinct population segment (“Bi-State DPS”) of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) and to designate critical habitat for the Bi-State … Continue Reading
California Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 447 on Saturday, September 28, 2013, which modifies the Office of Mine Reclamation’s (OMR) authority to list or delist a mine from its list of “good mines” under Cal. Public Resources Code Section 2717 (more commonly referred to as the AB 3098 List). Mines on the AB 3098 List … Continue Reading
The third Bureau of Land Management auction of oil and gas sales scheduled for the 2013 fiscal year should have been held today for federal lands in California. However, last month the BLM California office issued a short notice stating that it would cancel remaining 2013 oil and gas lease sales planned for May, June, … Continue Reading
On March 1st, the California Geological Survey (CGS) released information forecasting a continuing shortage of permitted aggregate resources (sand, gravel and crushed stone) in California. According to CGS’s Map Sheet 52 and accompanying report, California only has permitted resources to meet approximately one-third of aggregate demand over the next 50 years. Aggregate is essential for … Continue Reading
On December 20, the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) released proposed regulations governing hydraulic fracturing. The regulations would require AOGCC approval to conduct fracking activities. For comparison, California recently released a “discussion draft” of potential regulations which would impose certain requirements on fracking operations but would not require additional approval (see California Environmental … Continue Reading
See the following posts in our California Environmental Law Blog to learn about efforts in California to regulate fracking at the state level: Another Attempt at Fracking Disclosure Legislation in California (posted December 9) DOGGR Releases Draft Fracking Rule (posted December 19)… Continue Reading
See the December 3 post on our California Environmental Law Blog for more information on the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources’ plans to increase groundwater protections through its UIC program. … Continue Reading
Interested in news involving hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” in California? Our sister blog, California Environmental Law Blog, actively keeps readers informed on the latest legal, business and regulatory developments on fracking. Highlights from the past year include: Environmental Groups Sue Over Fracking Permits Fracking Study Finds No Harm to Environment San Benito County Moves Toward … Continue Reading
Following a recent post (link), I wanted to provide you with an update regarding H.R. 4402, the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012. On May 16, 2012, the House Committee on Natural Resources passed the bill, offered by Rep. Amodei (R-Nev.), where it received strong support in the committee. The bill now … Continue Reading
Here is more information on Governor Brown’s removal of Elena Miller as the head of California’s Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR). Derek Chernow, the head of California’s Department of Conservation was also removed. In addition to supervising DOGGR, Chernow supervised California’s State Mining and Geology Board and the Office of Mine Reclamation. As discussed … Continue Reading
The Office of Mine Reclamation has the authority under Public Resources Code Section 2717 (the AB 3098 list) to list or delist a mine from its list of “good mines.” This authority can have an enormous impact on a mine’s ability to sell to public agencies, which is a critical status in an economic environment … Continue Reading
Falling victim to a Legislature pre-occupied with massive budget deficit issues and last minute wrangling over the Governor’s corporate tax package on out-of-state companies, AB 591, California’s legislative foray into the charged arena of hydraulic fracturing regulation, stalled in the State Senate’s Appropriations Committee. In its current form, the bill embodied a fairly comprehensive agreement … Continue Reading
Join Stoel Rives Partners Michael Mills and Tom Henry for the CalCIMA Education Conference. Stoel Rives is a proud sponsor of this event. California leads the nation in construction aggregate production. The California Construction and Industrial Materials Association is a non-profit organization that brings together aggregate, industrial mineral, and ready mixed concrete producers to provide … Continue Reading
One year ago the California Supreme Court issued its decision in Communities for a Better Environment v. South Coast Air Quality Management District (2010) 48 Cal. 4th 310. Since our blog wasn’t up at the time I thought it would be a good idea to look back on that decision and how it impacts mine … Continue Reading
On September 30, 2010, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law two bills, AB 231 and SB 1456, both of which took effect immediately as urgency statutes. Both laws address two significant burdens that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) places on the mining industry: the complex CEQA review process and the abuses of CEQA through … Continue Reading
