Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3960. Section 3960.
This chapter does not apply to any placer mine operator who holds a permit to operate from the California Debris Commission.
CHAPTER 3. Placer Mining Water Pollution [3960. - 3968.]
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 3.
in effectCal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3961. Section 3961.
Any person, firm, or corporation who engages in the operation of a placer mine on any stream or on the watershed of any stream tributary directly or indirectly to the Sacramento River or the San Joaquin River shall record a verified statement in the office of the county recorder of the county in which his or her mine is situated, within 30 days after the commencement of operations.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3962. Section 3962.
The verified statement shall be verified by the operator or by someone in his or her behalf and shall contain all of the following information:
(a)
A description of the ground proposed to be mined by placer mining methods, described by United States government subdivisions if possible.
(b)
The names and addresses of the owners of the ground.
(c)
The names and addresses of the operators of the mine.
(d)
The proposed means or method of placer mining operation.
(e)
The means which the operator proposes to use to prevent the pollution of any stream by the effluent from the operations.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3963. Section 3963.
Within 10 days after an owner or operator changes his or her address, or transfers the ownership or changes the operator of any mining property, a notice setting forth the names and addresses of the new owners or operators shall be filed in the office of the county recorder.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3964. Section 3964.
No placer mining operator shall mine by the placer process on any stream or on the watershed of any stream tributary directly or indirectly to the Sacramento River or the San Joaquin River without taking both of the following precautions to prevent pollution of the stream by the effluent from his or her operations:
(a)
Constructing a settling pond or ponds of sufficient size to permit the clarification of water used in the mining processes before the water is discharged into the stream.
(b)
Mixing with the effluent from mining operations aluminum sulphate and lime, or an equivalent clarifying substance which will cause the solid material in the effluent to coagulate and thus avoid rendering the water in the stream unfit for domestic water supply purposes.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3965. Section 3965.
Notwithstanding subdivision (b) of Section 3964, any placer miner who is operating by dredging process, and who desires to transport his or her dredger across a stream, may conduct the dredger across the stream without constructing a settling pond, if he or she is of the opinion that the expense of constructing settling ponds in the stream would be unduly heavy.
Before transporting the dredger, the operator shall use the following procedure:
(a)
He or she shall give a notice of the intent to cross a stream to the clerk or the secretary of each city or district owning or operating a domestic water supply whose clarity is likely to be affected by the crossing operation.
(b)
The notice shall be given at least seven days in advance of the date that he or she expects to cross the stream with the dredger.
(c)
Upon the expiration of the notice, the operator may, during the following 48 hours, conduct the dredger across the stream even though some turbidity may be caused by the crossing operation.
(d)
After crossing the stream, the operator shall comply with subdivision (b) of Section 3964.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3966. Section 3966.
Any person, firm, or corporation who violates this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3967. Section 3967.
The operation of any placer mine on ground not covered by a permit issued to the operator from the California Debris Commission, without compliance with this chapter, is declared to be a public nuisance which may be enjoined upon suit brought by the district attorney of the county in which the operation has been conducted, or by any city or district whose domestic water supply is rendered unfit or dangerous for human consumption by the acts, or failure to act, of the operator.
The superior court of the county in which the operation is conducted has jurisdiction to hear and determine the action and to award relief as may be proper.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3968. Section 3968.
Nothing in this chapter deprives the state, any city, county, district, person, firm, or corporation of any right to maintain any action or proceeding, in any jurisdiction, which it was entitled to maintain prior to April 8, 1953, or to receive or obtain in the action any remedy accorded to it under existing law.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026