Since 1975, all mines in California have been subject to SMARA

The law concerning SMARA is great in detail; however, the law has two main elements

• First is the requirement for review and enforcement of mandated reclamation plans for each mine. These plans are required to spell out the final, long-term uses to which mined land will be returned to following completion of mining. Said plans are subject to the operator posting financial guarantees with the County to ensure reclamation can be accomplished. SMARA requires that an annual inspection be made to review the progress of reclamation and to ensure that the financial guarantee amount is appropriate. In this County those inspections are generally conducted in November of each year. This review is unique to mines as a class of land use. More than any other type of land use approved by the County, mines must stay consistent with their approvals.
  
  
• The process call “Classification/Designation” in which the State Office of Mines and Geology conducts an officially sanctioned survey of mineral resources. The results of the survey are then memorialized by either “classifying” or “designating” them as to kind of mineral resources in a given area and the state wide importance of them.
  
  

The major difference between classification and designation has to do with the level of protection afforded under each. Classified studies have not had formal public and California Environmental Quality Act review while designated areas have.

Upon completion of a classification study, the State Geologist submits the mineral land classification report to the State Mining and Geology Board, which transmits the info to appropriate local governments that maintain jurisdictional authority in mining, reclamation, and related land-use activities. Upon receipt of the information, local governments are required to establish mineral resource management policies to be incorporated into their general plans, which must recognize information submitted by the state Geologist.

In 1994 Stanislaus County was awarded an Accredited SMARA Lead Agency Award by the California Department of Conservation for its efforts in implementing SMARA.