The Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA) was passed in 1975 and signed into law by then-Governor Jerry Brown. Now, 40 years later, the Governor has convened stakeholders interested in SMARA in a process designed to evaluate and find ways to improve the law. Elizabeth “Izzy” Martin, The Sierra Fund’s CEO, has been invited to participate in this process, which includes weekly meetings in the Governor’s office.
The Sierra Fund continues to track the progress of SB 209 (Pavley), a bill to improve SMARA, which has now passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee and will be heard in Appropriations later this spring. This bill will likely be amended to include the language that is being developed through the Governor’s stakeholder meetings.