AB-580
Natural Resources & Water

Surface mining: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Extends the Metropolitan Water District's authority to manage surface mining operations until January 1, 2051.
  • Maintains state oversight of mining operations across six Southern California counties.
  • Requires separate annual reports and fees for each mining operation site.
  • Prohibits the sale of mined materials to external parties.

Summary

Assembly Member Wallis proposes extending the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's (MWD) authority to operate under a master reclamation plan for surface mining operations through January 1, 2051, maintaining the current regulatory framework that would otherwise expire in 2026.

The master reclamation plan covers MWD's surface mining operations across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties. Under this framework, the State Mining and Geology Board serves as lead agency for mining operations, while MWD retains lead agency status for environmental reviews. The plan must identify each mining site's location and include maintenance measures for idle periods. The board may inspect idle sites every two calendar years, and MWD must submit annual reports with details for each operation.

The bill's findings note MWD's service area encompasses 26 member agencies serving approximately 19 million people. These findings state that unified oversight through the Department of Conservation, rather than multiple counties, allows consistent application of surface mining regulations across MWD's multi-county infrastructure system. Local agencies maintain authority to levy fees and assessments to cover any additional administrative costs, with no state reimbursement required.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Water
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Water
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 580 Wallis Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass. To Consent Calendar
Assembly Water, Parks, And Wildlife Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Water, Parks, And Wildlife Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Water, Parks, and Wildlife]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Benjamin AllenD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Henry SternD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Monique LimonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Melissa HurtadoD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 8 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Benjamin AllenD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Henry SternD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Monique LimonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Melissa HurtadoD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Greg WallisR
Assemblymember
Bill Author

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975: exemption: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: master reclamation plan.
February 2021
Passed
Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975: exemption: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
February 2020
Failed
Showing 2 of 2 items
Page 1 of 1

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Greg Wallis
Greg WallisR
California State Assembly Member
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/23/2025)

Latest Voting History

May 23, 2025
PASS
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
710879PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Extends the Metropolitan Water District's authority to manage surface mining operations until January 1, 2051.
  • Maintains state oversight of mining operations across six Southern California counties.
  • Requires separate annual reports and fees for each mining operation site.
  • Prohibits the sale of mined materials to external parties.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Greg Wallis
Greg WallisR
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Wallis proposes extending the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's (MWD) authority to operate under a master reclamation plan for surface mining operations through January 1, 2051, maintaining the current regulatory framework that would otherwise expire in 2026.

The master reclamation plan covers MWD's surface mining operations across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties. Under this framework, the State Mining and Geology Board serves as lead agency for mining operations, while MWD retains lead agency status for environmental reviews. The plan must identify each mining site's location and include maintenance measures for idle periods. The board may inspect idle sites every two calendar years, and MWD must submit annual reports with details for each operation.

The bill's findings note MWD's service area encompasses 26 member agencies serving approximately 19 million people. These findings state that unified oversight through the Department of Conservation, rather than multiple counties, allows consistent application of surface mining regulations across MWD's multi-county infrastructure system. Local agencies maintain authority to levy fees and assessments to cover any additional administrative costs, with no state reimbursement required.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/23/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Water
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Water
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 580 Wallis Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass. To Consent Calendar
Assembly Water, Parks, And Wildlife Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Water, Parks, And Wildlife Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Water, Parks, and Wildlife]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Latest Voting History

May 23, 2025
PASS
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
710879PASS

Contacts

Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Benjamin AllenD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Henry SternD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Monique LimonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Melissa HurtadoD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 8 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Benjamin AllenD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Henry SternD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Monique LimonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Melissa HurtadoD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Greg WallisR
Assemblymember
Bill Author

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975: exemption: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: master reclamation plan.
February 2021
Passed
Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975: exemption: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
February 2020
Failed
Showing 2 of 2 items
Page 1 of 1