City of los angeles general plan

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CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

Adopted September 2001

II-58

delegates specific regulatory authority to local jurisdictions. The act

requires the state geologist (Division of Mines and Geology) to

identify all mineral deposits within the state and to classify them as:

(1) containing little or no mineral deposits, (2) significant deposits

or (3) deposits identified but further evaluation needed. Local

jurisdictions are required to enact specific plan procedures to guide

mineral conservation and extraction at particular sites and to

incorporate mineral resource management policies into their general

plans. A particular concern of the state legislators in enacting SMARA

was premature loss of minerals and protection of sites threatened by

development practices which might preclude future mineral extraction.

In 1979 the state Board of Mining and Geology adopted guidelines for

the management of mineral resources and preparation of local plans. The

guidelines require local general plans to reference the state-

identified mineral deposits and sites that are identified by the state

geologist for conservation and/or future mineral extraction.

Subsequently the board identified urbanized areas where irreversible

land uses precluded mineral extraction. Much of Los Angeles was deemed

urbanized and, therefore, exempt from SMARA.

The state geologist classified Mineral Resources Zone-2 (MRZ-2) sites

within the city (Exhibit A). MRZ-2 sites contain potentially

significant sand and gravel deposits which are to be conserved. Any

proposed development plan must consider access to the deposits for

purposes of extraction. Much of the area within the MRZ-2 sites in Los

Angeles was developed with structures prior to the MRZ-2 classification

and, therefore, are unavailable for extraction.

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). CEQA requires that impacts

on non-renewable mineral resources be evaluated relative to proposed

development projects. Where significant mineral deposits are known or

are believed to exist, evaluation must be made concerning whether the

proposed project will preclude extraction activity and whether the

project will cause permanent loss of the mineral resource. If a

potential negative impact is identified, measures must be considered

for mitigation of the impact.

City regulation/management. To comply with SMARA, Los Angeles adopted

(1975) the 'G' Surface Mining supplemental use provisions (LAMC Section

13.03). Subsequent amendments have brought the city's provisions into

consistency with new state requirements. The 'G' provisions are land

use, not mineral conservation regulations. They regulate the

establishment of sand and gravel districts, extraction operations,

mitigation of potential noise, dust, traffic and other potential

impacts, as well as post-extraction site restoration. Other conditions

may be imposed by the city if deemed appropriate.

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CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

Adopted September 2001

II-59

General plan references. SMARA requires that the general plan identify

the MRZ-2 sites and contain resource management provisions. In addition

to this element (Exhibit A), MRZ-2 sites are identified in two

community plan elements of the city's general plan, the Sun Valley and

the Sunland-Tujunga-Lake View Terrace-Shadow Hills-East La Tuna Canyon

community plans. All three elements contain resource management

provisions.

Conservation. It is the city's policy that construction materials, such

as concrete and rock, be recycled to reduce the amount of solid waste

that goes into local landfills, thereby extending the life of the

landfills. Recycling has a secondary benefit of reducing the demand for

sand and gravel and produces recycled materials, which can be

substituted for the natural materials.

Conclusion. The city is responsible for implementing the California

Surface Mining and Reclamation Act requirements, as they apply to Los

Angeles. It does so primarily through land use controls and permit

issuance and monitoring.

Continuing issues:

N

 Loss of remaining, accessible sand and gravel deposits.

N

 Potential future temporary or permanent loss of important ecological

sites, especially in the Tujunga Wash, due to mining.

N

 Environmental and neighborhood compatible extraction and site

reclamation.

Resource management - mineral resources (sand and gravel) objective,

policies and programs:

Objective: conserve sand and gravel resources and enable appropriate,

environmentally sensitive extraction of sand and gravel deposits.

Policy 1: continue to implement the provisions of the California

Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (Public Resources Code Section 2710

et seq.) so as to establish extraction operations at appropriate sites;

to minimize operation impacts on adjacent uses, ecologically important

areas (e.g., the Tujunga Wash) and ground water; to protect the public

health and safety; and to require appropriate restoration, reclamation

and reuse of closed sites.

Program 1: administration and periodic updating of the 'G' Surface

Mining District overlay zone provisions (LAMC 13.03).

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