Corona Municipal Code Ch. 19.12 Standards for Surface Mining and Reclamation Plans

The minimum standards and requirements set forth in this chapter shall apply to all surface mining and reclamation operations conducted under a surface mining permit.

(`78 Code, § 19.12.010.) (Ord. 2386 § 1 (part), 1999.)

All buildings and structures shall be painted a neutral color so as to blend with the natural surroundings.

(`78 Code, § 19.12.020.) (Ord. 2386 § 1 (part), 1999.)

All private roads used for access to any mined lands and surface mining operations shall be surfaced by clean, crushed rock, gravel or decomposed granite or oiled and maintained to prevent dust and mud. The requirements of this section may be modified by the Commission or Council after consideration of the circumstances surrounding the particular site or road in question. The circumstances include but are not limited to distance from public streets and highways, distance from adjoining and nearby property owners, the use of the adjoining and nearby properties, topographical features, soil characteristics and wind exposure.

(`78 Code, § 19.12.030.) (Ord. 2386 § 1 (part), 1999.)

Roads providing vehicular access to public streets and highways which are used for transporting materials shall be located only at points designated on plans as approved by the city’s traffic engineer. Adequate site distance shall be maintained for traffic safety and a distance of not less than 80 feet from the intersection of the access road with the right-of-way line of the public street or highway shall be paved to a width of not less than 12 feet. In addition, that portion of the access road lying between the right-of-way line and the existing pavement of the public street or highway shall be constructed in accordance with the terms of a permit issued by the city’s Street Superintendent, as set forth in §§ 12.12.010 through 12.12.140, or in the case of state highways, issued by the State Division of Highways.

(`78 Code, § 19.12.040.) (Ord. 2386 § 1 (part), 1999.)

All materials transported to and from any mined lands or surface mining operation shall be transported in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 12.20.

(`78 Code, § 19.12.050.) (Ord. 2386 § 1 (part), 1999.)

(A) No excavation activity shall be carried on within 50 feet of either:

(1) The common property line of any parcel of land not used for the same purpose; or

(2) The ultimate right-of-way of any public street, either existing or whose precise alignment has been adopted by the Council.

(B) In addition, where the Planning Director determines there is a possibility of potentially hazardous seepage or flow into a pit from a flood control channel, reservoir, conservation or flood retarding basin or natural water course, the Planning Director shall establish the setback requirements based on the preservation of the integrity of the existing flood control channel, reservoir, conservation or flood retarding basin or natural water course so the subject property shall continue to receive and carry off waters in a manner equal to that experienced prior to any excavation.

(C) Any setback requirements imposed under this section may, in the discretion of the Planning Director, exceed the 50 foot requirement set forth herein, but in no circumstance shall the setbacks be less than 50 feet.

(`78 Code, § 19.12.060.) (Ord. 2386 § 1 (part), 1999.)

(A) In cases where the Planning Director determines the surface mining operations present a potential hazard to adjacent property, or where other hazardous conditions exist, the Planning Director may establish such interim slope requirements as are reasonably deemed necessary.

(B) The designed steepness and proposed treatment of the mined lands final slopes shall take into consideration the physical properties of the slope material, its probable maximum water content, landscaping requirements and other relevant factors. In all cases, reclamation plans shall specify slope angles flatter than the critical gradient for the type of material involved. Whenever final slopes approach the critical gradient for the type of material involved, the Planning Director shall require an engineering analysis of the slope stability.

(`78 Code, § 19.12.070.) (Ord. 2386 § 1 (part), 1999.)

Prior to the commencement or continuation of any excavation or extraction operations or the construction or use of any settling basin, a fence shall be constructed enclosing the area of the proposed or existing excavation or settling basin or the entire site, unless data submitted to the Planning Director for approval indicates that no substantial safety hazards exist. The fence shall be of a steel, chain link type and a minimum of six feet in height above the existing grade of property outside the fenced area. The bottom of the fence shall conform to the ground surface so as to prevent any opening between it and the ground surface exceeding four inches. Gates of the same material and height as the fence shall be installed at all points of vehicular or pedestrian ingress and egress. The gates shall be equipped with keyed locks and shall be kept locked at all times when not in regular use. The fence, gates and locks shall be maintained in good working condition and repair.

(`78 Code, § 19.12.080.) (Ord. 2386 § 1 (part), 1999.)

The site of any surface mining operation shall be surveyed by a registered civil engineer or licensed surveyor and shall be defined by a series of poles. The poles shall consist of two and one-half inch pipe and shall be six feet in height measured from the ground level and painted a bright color. The poles shall be installed and maintained at each change of direction along the entire length of the site in such a manner that an individual standing at one such pole can clearly see the next pole in either direction. For good cause shown, the Planning Director may waive or modify this requirement for any mining operations that are proposed to result in finished elevations that are not below the natural ground elevations at the perimeter of the site or for any extraction operations proposed to be located more than 1,000 feet from any property lines.

(`78 Code, § 19.12.090.) (Ord. 2386 § 1 (part), 1999.)

(A) The removal of vegetation and overburden in advance of surface mining operations shall be kept to a minimum.

(B) Stockpiles of overburden and minerals shall be managed to minimize water and wind erosion.

(C) Erosion control facilities such as retarding basins, settling ponds, ditches, stream bank stabilization and diking shall be constructed and maintained where necessary to control erosion.

(D) Grading and revegetation shall be designed to both prevent excessive erosion and to convey surface runoff to natural drainage courses or interior basins designed for water storage. Basins that will store water during periods of surface runoff shall be designed to prevent downward erosion of spillways when these basins have an outlet to lower ground.

(`78 Code, § 19.12.100.) (Ord. 2386 § 1 (part), 1999.)

(A) Settling ponds or basins shall be constructed downstream from areas of potential erosion where such location will provide a significant benefit to water quality.

(B) Temporary stream or watershed diversion shall be restored in final reclamation wherever practicable.

(C) At sites where groundwater recharge is a significant consideration, operations shall be conducted to substantially prevent siltation of recharge areas.

(D) Groundwater resources shall be protected from adverse water quality impacts.

(`78 Code, § 19.12.110.) (Ord. 2386 § 1 (part), 1999.)

Permanent piles or dumps of mining waste and overburden shall be stable and shall not restrict the natural drainage without suitable provisions for diversion. Stable slopes at angle of repose shall be permitted as a final slope. Old equipment and other similar inert mining waste shall be removed or buried. Toxic material shall be removed or protected to minimize leaching. Where reasonable choices exist, dumps shall be located in the least visible locations.

(`78 Code, § 19.12.120.) (Ord. 2386 § 1 (part), 1999.)

(A) Any area mined to produce additional materials for backfilling and grading shall be included in the approved reclamation plan.

(B) Settlement of filled areas shall be considered in all reclamation plans. Where probable ultimate site uses include roads, building sites or other improvements sensitive to settlement, the reclamation plan shall include compaction of the filled materials in conformance with good engineering practice to avoid settlement.

(`78 Code, § 19.12.130.) (Ord. 2386 § 1 (part), 1999.)

When the reclamation plan calls for resoiling, coarse and hard mining waste shall be leveled and covered with a layer of finer material or weathered waste. A soil layer shall then be placed on this prepared surface. Surface mines that did not salvage soil during their initial operations shall attempt, where feasible, to upgrade remaining native materials. The use of soil conditioners, mulches or imported topsoil shall be considered where revegetation is part of the reclamation plan and where such measures appear necessary. Areas adjacent to mined lands shall not be stripped of their topsoil for proposes of reclaiming mined lands. No usable groundwater aquifer shall be reclaimed with nonporous materials such as clay, but the aquifer shall be restored with materials suitable for water retention.

(`78 Code, § 19.12.140.) (Ord. 2386 § 1 (part), 1999.)

Before final revegetation is undertaken, the operator shall make use of the available research addressing revegetation methods and the selection of species having good survival characteristics for the topography, recoiling characteristics and climate of the area. Native species shall be used wherever practicable.

(`78 Code, § 19.12.150.) (Ord. 2386 § 1 (part), 1999.)

All surface mining operations conducted under a surface mining permit shall comply with the performance standards set forth in Chapter 17.84, unless such standards are otherwise amended by conditions to the surface mining permit.

(`78 Code, § 19.12.160.) (Ord. 2386 § 1 (part), 1999.)