(a) Applicability. In addition to the activities for which a plan of operations is required under § 228.4 of this chapter, a plan of operations is required when a proposed operation within the SRNRA involves mechanical or motorized equipment, including a suction dredge and/or sluice.

(b) Information to support valid existing rights. A proposed plan of operations within the SRNRA must include at least the following information on the existence of valid existing rights:

(1) The mining claim recordation serial number assigned by the Bureau of Land Management;

(2) A copy of the original location notice and conveyance deeds, if ownership has changed since the date of location;

(3) A copy of affidavits of assessment work or notices of intention to hold the mining claim since the date of recordation with the Bureau of Land Management;

(4) Verification by the Bureau of Land Management that the holding or maintenance fees have been paid or have been exempted;

(5) Sketches or maps showing the location of past and present mineral workings on the claims and information sufficient to locate and define the mining claim corners and boundaries on the ground;

(6) An identification of the valuable mineral that has been discovered;

(7) An identification of the site within the claims where the deposit has been discovered and exposed;

(8) Information on the quantity and quality of the deposit including copies of assays or test reports, the width, locations of veins, the size and extent of any deposit; and

(9) Existing evidence of past and present sales of the valuable mineral.

(c) Minimum information on proposed operations. In addition to the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section, a plan of operations must include the information required at §§ 228.4 (c)(1) through (c)(3) of this chapter which includes information about the proponent and a detailed description of the proposed operation. In addition, if the operator and claim owner are different, the operator must submit a copy of the authorization or agreement under which the proposed operations are to be conducted. A plan of operations must also address the environmental requirements of § 228.8 of this chapter which includes reclamation. In addition, a plan of operations also must include the following:

(1) An identification of the hazardous materials and any other toxic materials, petroleum products, insecticides, pesticides, and herbicides that will be used during the mineral operation, and the proposed means for disposing of such substances;

(2) An identification of the character and composition of the mineral wastes that will be used or generated and a proposed method or strategy for their placement, control, isolation, or removal; and

(3) An identification of how public health and safety are to be maintained.

(a) Timeframe for review. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of § 292.62 of this subpart, upon receipt of a plan of operations, the authorized officer shall review the information related to valid existing rights and notify the operator in writing within 60 days of one of the following situations:

(1) That sufficient information on valid existing rights has been provided and the anticipated date by which the valid existing rights determination will be completed, which shall not be more than 2 years after the date of notification; unless the authorized officer, upon finding of good cause with written notice and explanation to the operator, extends the time period for completion of the valid existing rights determination.

(2) That the operator has failed to provide sufficient information to review a claim of valid existing rights and, therefore, the authorized officer has no obligation to evaluate whether the operator has valid existing rights or to process the operator's proposed plan of operations.

(b)(1) If the authorized officer concludes that there is not sufficient evidence of valid existing rights, the officer shall so notify the operator in writing of the reasons for the determination, inform the operator that the proposed mineral operation cannot be conducted, advise the operator that the Forest Service will promptly notify the Bureau of Land Management of the determination and request the initiation of a mineral contest action against the pertinent mining claim, and advise the operator that further consideration of the proposed plan of operations is suspended pending final action by the Department of the Interior on the operator's claim of valid existing rights and any final judicial review thereof.

(2) If the authorized officer concludes that there is not sufficient evidence of valid existing rights, the authorized officer also shall notify promptly the Bureau of Land Management of the determination and request the initiation of a mineral contest action against the pertinent mining claims.

(c) An authorized officer's decision pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section that there is not sufficient evidence of valid existing rights is not subject to further agency or Department of Agriculture review or administrative appeal.

(d) The authorized officer shall notify the operator in writing that the review of the remainder of the proposed plan will proceed if:

(1) The authorized officer concludes that there is sufficient evidence of valid existing rights;

(2) Final agency action by the Department of the Interior determines that the applicable mining claim constitutes a valid existing right; or

(3) Final judicial review of final agency action by the Department of the Interior finds that the applicable mining claim constitutes a valid existing right.

(e) Upon completion of the review of the plan of operations, the authorized officer shall ensure that the minimum information required by § 292.63(c) of this subpart has been addressed and, pursuant to § 228.5(a) of this chapter, notify the operator in writing whether or not the plan of operations is approved.

(f) If the plan of operations is not approved, the authorized officer shall explain in writing why the plan of operations cannot be approved.

(g) If the plan of operations is approved, the authorized officer shall establish a time period for the proposed operations which shall be for the minimum amount of time reasonably necessary for a prudent operator to complete the mineral development activities covered by the approved plan of operations.

(h) An approved plan of operations is subject to review and modification as follows:

(1) To bring the plan into conformance with changes in applicable federal law or regulation; or

(2) To respond to new information not available at the time the authorized officer approved the plan, for example, new listings of threatened or endangered species; or

(3) To correct errors or omissions made at the time the plan was approved, for example, to ensure compliance with applicable federal law or regulation; or

(4) To permit operations requested by the operator that differ in type, scope, or duration from those in an approved plan of operations but that are not subject to paragraph (i) of this section.

(i) If an operator desires to conduct operations that differ in type, scope, or duration from those in an approved plan of operations, and if those changes will result in resource impacts not anticipated when the original plan was approved, the operator must submit a supplemental plan or a modification of the plan for review and approval.

(a) The authorized officer may suspend mineral operations due to an operator's noncompliance with applicable statutes, regulations, or terms and conditions of the approved plan of operations.

(1) In those cases that present a threat of imminent harm to public health, safety, or the environment, or where such harm is already occurring, the authorized officer may take immediate action to stop the threat or damage without prior notice. In such case, written notice and explanation of the action taken shall be given the operator as soon as reasonably practicable following the suspension.

(2) In those cases that do not present a threat of imminent harm to public health, safety, or the environment, the authorized officer must first notify the operator in writing of the basis for the suspension and provide the operator with reasonably sufficient time to respond to the notice of the authorized officer or to bring the mineral operations into conformance with applicable laws, regulations, or the terms and conditions of the approved plan of operations.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the authorized officer shall notify the operator not less than 30 days prior to the date of the proposed suspension.

(a) Purpose. The regulations of this subpart set forth the rules and procedures by which the Forest Service regulates mineral operations on National Forest System lands within the Smith River National Recreation Area as established by Congress in the Smith River National Recreation Area Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 460bbb et seq.).

(b) Scope. The rules of this subpart apply only to mineral operations on National Forest System lands within the Smith River National Recreation Area.

(c) Applicability of other rules. The rules of this subpart supplement existing Forest Service regulations concerning the review, approval, and administration of mineral operations on National Forest System lands including, but not limited to, those set forth at parts 228, 251, and 261 of this chapter.

(d) Conflicts. In the event of conflict or inconsistency between the rules of this subpart and other parts of this chapter, the rules of this subpart take precedence, to the extent allowable by law.

The special terms used in this subpart have the following meaning:

Act means the Smith River National Recreation Area Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 460bbb et seq.).

Authorized officer means the Forest Service officer to whom authority has been delegated to take actions pursuant to the provisions of this subpart.

Hazardous material means any hazardous substance, pollutant, contaminant, hazardous waste, and oil or other petroleum products, as those terms are defined under any Federal, State, or local law or regulation.

Outstanding mineral rights means the rights owned by a party other than the surface owner at the time the surface was conveyed to the United States.

SRNRA is the abbreviation for the Smith River National Recreation Area, located within the Six Rivers National Forest, California.

(a) Definition. For the purposes of this subpart, valid existing rights are defined as follows:

(1) For certain “Wild” River segments. The rights associated with all mining claims on National Forest System lands within the SRNRA in “wild” segments of the Wild and Scenic Smith River, Middle Fork Smith River, North Fork Smith River, Siskiyou Fork Smith River, South Fork Smith River, and their designated tributaries, except Peridotite Creek, Harrington Creek, and the lower 2.5 miles of Myrtle Creek, which:

(i) Were properly located prior to January 19, 1981;

(ii) Were properly maintained thereafter under the applicable law;

(iii) Were supported by a discovery of a valuable mineral deposit within the meaning of the United States mining laws prior to January 19, 1981, which discovery has been continuously maintained since that date; and

(iv) Continue to be valid.

(2) For Siskiyou Wilderness. The rights associated with all mining claims on National Forest System lands within the SRNRA in the Siskiyou Wilderness except, those within the Gasquet-Orleans Corridor addition or those rights covered by paragraph (a)(1) of this section which:

(i) Were properly located prior to September 26, 1984;

(ii) Were properly maintained thereafter under the applicable law;

(iii) Were supported by a discovery of a valuable mineral deposit within the meaning of the United States mining laws prior to September 26, 1984, which discovery has been continuously maintained since that date; and

(iv) Continue to be valid.

(3) For all other lands. The rights associated with all mining claims on National Forest System lands in that portion of the SRNRA not covered by paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section which:

(i) Were properly located prior to November 16, 1990;

(ii) Were properly maintained thereafter under the applicable law;

(iii) Were supported by a discovery of a valuable mineral deposit within the meaning of the United States mining laws prior to November 16, 1990, which discovery has been continuously maintained since that date; and

(iv) Continue to be valid.

(b) Operations to confirm discovery. The authorized officer shall authorize those mineral operations that may be necessary for the purpose of gathering information to confirm or otherwise demonstrate the discovery of a valuable mineral deposit consistent with the definition in paragraph (a) of this section or to obtain evidence for a contest hearing regarding the claim's validity, upon receipt of a proposed plan of operations as defined in § 292.63 of this subpart to conduct such operations and of sufficient information from the operator to show an exposure of valuable minerals on a claim that predates the withdrawal of the federal land from the operation of the United States mining laws. The authorized officer shall authorize only those operations that may be necessary to confirm or demonstrate the discovery of a valuable mineral deposit prior to the date of withdrawal of the federal land on which the claim is situated. Pursuant to this paragraph, the authorized officer shall not authorize any operations which would constitute prospecting, exploration, or otherwise uncovering or discovering a valuable mineral deposit.

(a) Proposals for mineral operations involving outstanding mineral rights within the SRNRA must be documented in an operating plan and submitted in writing to the authorized officer.

(b) An operating plan for operations involving outstanding mineral rights within the SRNRA must include the following:

(1) The name and legal mailing address of the operator, owner, and any lessees, assigns, and designees;

(2) A copy of the deed or other legal instrument that conveyed the outstanding mineral rights;

(3) Sketches or maps showing the location of the outstanding mineral rights, the proposed area of operations, including, but not limited to, existing and/or proposed roads or access routes identified for use, any new proposed road construction, and the approximate location and size of the areas to be disturbed, including existing or proposed structures, facilities, and other improvements to be used;

(4) A description of the type of operations which includes, at a minimum, a list of the type, size, location, and number of structures, facilities, and other improvements to be used;

(5) An identification of the hazardous materials and any other toxic materials, petroleum products, insecticides, pesticides, and herbicides that will be used during the mineral operation and the proposed means for disposing of such substances;

(6) An identification of the character and composition of the mineral wastes that will be used or generated and a proposed method or strategy for their placement, control, isolation, remediation, or removal; and

(7) A reclamation plan to reduce or control on-site and off-site damage to natural resources resulting from mineral operations. The plan must:

(i) Provide reclamation to the extent practicable;

(ii) Show how public health and safety are maintained;

(iii) Identify and describe reclamation measures to include, but not limited to, the following:

(A) Reduction and/or control of erosion, landslides, and water runoff;

(B) Rehabilitation of wildlife and fisheries habitat to be disturbed by the proposed mineral operation; and

(C) Protection of water quality.

(iv) Demonstrate how the area of surface disturbance will be reclaimed to a condition or use that is consistent with the Six Rivers National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.

(a) Upon receipt of an operating plan, the authorized officer must review the information related to the ownership of the outstanding mineral rights and notify the operator that:

(1) Sufficient information on ownership of the outstanding mineral rights has been provided; or

(2) Sufficient information on ownership of outstanding mineral rights has not been provided, including an explanation of the specific information that still needs to be provided, and that no further action on the plan of operations will be taken until the authorized officer's receipt of the specified information.

(b) If the review shows outstanding mineral rights have not been verified, the authorized officer must notify the operator in writing that outstanding mineral rights have not been verified, explain the reasons for such a finding, and that the proposed mineral operation cannot be conducted.

(c) If the review shows that outstanding mineral rights have been verified, the authorized officer must notify the operator in writing that outstanding mineral rights have been verified and that review of the proposed operating plan will proceed.

(d) The authorized officer shall review the operating plan to determine if all of the following criteria are met:

(1) The operating plan is consistent with the rights granted by the deed;

(2) The operating plan is consistent with the Six Rivers National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan; and

(3) The operating plan uses only so much of the surface as is necessary for the proposed mineral operations.

(e) Upon completion of the review of the operating plan, the authorized officer shall notify the operator in writing of one of the following:

(1) The operating plan meets all of the criteria of paragraphs (d)(1) through (d)(3) of this section and, therefore, is approved;

(2) The operating plan does not meet one or more of the criteria in paragraphs (d)(1) through (d)(3) of this section. Where feasible, the authorized officer may indicate changes to the operating plan that would satisfy the criteria in paragraphs (d)(1) through (d)(3) of this section and, thus, if accepted by the operator, would result in approval of the operating plan.

(f) To conduct mineral operations beyond those described in an approved operating plan, the owner or lessee must submit, in writing, an amended operating plan to the authorized officer at the earliest practicable date. New operations covered by the proposed amendment may not begin until the authorized officer has reviewed and responded in writing to the proposed amendment. The authorized officer shall review a proposed amendment of an approved operating plan to determine that the criteria in paragraphs (d)(1) through (d)(3) of this section are met.

Subject to the provisions of part 228, subpart C, and part 293 of this chapter, the authorized officer may approve contracts and permits for the sale or other disposal of mineral materials, including but not limited to, common varieties of gravel, sand, or stone. However, such contracts and permits may be approved only if the material is not within a designated wilderness area and is to be used for the construction and maintenance of roads and other facilities within the SRNRA or the four excluded areas identified by the Act.

Plans of operations involving locatable minerals, operating plans involving outstanding mineral rights, and contracts or permits for mineral materials should all provide, to the maximum extent practicable, that reclamation proceed concurrently with the mineral operation.

The owner and/or operator of mining claims and the owner and/or lessee of outstanding mineral rights are jointly and severally liable in accordance with Federal and State laws for indemnifying the United States for the following:

(a) Costs, damages, claims, liabilities, judgments, injury and loss, including those incurred from fire suppression efforts, and environmental response actions and cleanup and abatement costs incurred by the United States and arising from past, present, and future acts or omissions of the owner, operator, or lessee in connection with the use and occupancy of the unpatented mining claim and/or mineral operation. This includes acts or omissions covered by Federal, State, and local pollution control and environmental statutes and regulations.

(b) Payments made by the United States in satisfaction of claims, demands, or judgments for an injury, loss, damage, or costs, including for fire suppression and environmental response action and cleanup and abatement costs, which result from past, present, and future acts or omissions of the owner, operator, or lessee in connection with the use and occupancy of the unpatented mining claim and/or mineral operations.

(c) Costs incurred by the United States for any action resulting from noncompliance with an approved plan of operations or activities outside an approved operating plan.