§ 88-11.834. Financial assurances.

(a)

To ensure that reclamation will proceed in accordance with the approved reclamation plan, the county will require, as a condition of approval, security which will be released upon satisfactory performance. The applicant may pose security in the form of a surety bond, trust fund, irrevocable letter of credit from an accredited financial institution, or other method acceptable to the county and the State Mining and Geology Board as specified in state regulations, and which the county reasonably determines are adequate to perform reclamation in accordance with the surface mining operation's approved reclamation plan. Financial assurances shall be made payable to the county of Contra Costa and the State Department of Conservation.

(b)

Financial assurances will be required to ensure compliance with elements of the reclamation plan, including but not limited to, revegetation and landscaping requirements, restoration of aquatic or wildlife habitat, restoration of water bodies and water quality, slope stability and erosion and drainage control, disposal of hazardous materials, and other measures, if necessary.

(c)

Cost estimates for the financial assurance shall be submitted to the community development department for review and approval prior to the operator securing financial assurances. The director of community development will forward a copy of the cost estimates, together with any documentation received supporting the amount of the cost estimates, to the State Department of Conservation for review. If the State Department of Conservation does not comment within forty-five days of receipt of these estimates, it shall be assumed that the cost estimates are adequate, unless the county has reason to determine that additional costs may be incurred. The director of community development may approve the financial assurance if it meets the requirements of this chapter, SMARA, and state regulations.

(d)

The amount of the financial assurance shall be based upon the estimated costs of reclamation for the years or phases stipulated in the approved reclamation plan, including any maintenance of reclaimed areas as may be required, subject to adjustment for the actual amount required to reclaim lands disturbed by surface mining activities since January 1, 1976, and new lands to be disturbed by surface mining activities in the upcoming year. Cost estimates should be prepared by a California registered professional engineer and/or other similarly licensed and qualified professionals retained by the operator and approved by the director of community development. The estimated amount of the financial assurance shall be based on an analysis of physical activities necessary to implement the approved reclamation plan, the unit costs for each of these activities, and the actual administrative costs. Financial assurances to ensure compliance with revegetation, restoration of water bodies, restoration of aquatic or wildlife habitat, and any other applicable element of the approved rehabilitation plan shall be based upon cost estimates that include but may not be limited to labor, equipment, materials, mobilization of equipment, administration, and reasonable profit by a commercial operator other than the permittee. A contingency factor of ten percent shall be added to the cost of financial assurances.

(e)

In projecting the costs of financial assurances, it shall be assumed without prejudice or insinuation that the surface mining operation could be abandoned by the operator and, consequently, the county or State Department of Conservation may contract with a third party commercial company for reclamation of the site.

(f)

The financial assurances shall remain in effect for the duration of the surface mining operation and any additional period until reclamation is completed (including any maintenance required).

(g)

The amount of financial assurances required of a surface mining operation for any one year shall be adjusted annually to account for new lands disturbed by surface mining operations, inflation, and reclamation of lands accomplished in accordance with the approved reclamation plan. The financial assurances shall include estimates to cover the reclamation for existing conditions and anticipated activities during the upcoming year, excepting that the permittee may not claim for reclamation scheduled for completion during the coming year.

(h)

Revisions to financial assurances shall be submitted to the director of community development each year prior to the anniversary date for approval of the financial assurances. The financial assurance shall cover the cost of existing disturbance and anticipated activities for the next calendar year, including any required interim reclamation. If revisions to the financial assurances are not required, the operator shall explain, in writing, why revisions are not required.

(Ords. 2000-18 § 9; 79-114; Pub.Res.C. § 2774).