CalCIMA Launches Statewide Campaign Marking 50 Years of California's Landmark Surface Mining and Reclamation Act

SACRAMENTO- The California Construction and Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA) today announced the launch of a statewide public awareness campaign commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA), one of California's foundational land-use and conservation laws.

"We have to tell the stories of reclamation today so future generations can build on our progress," said Robert Dugan, President & CEO of CalCIMA. "We mean this figuratively and literally. If it's built, we're in it, and it's our industry that has made California's economic powerhouse a reality, but we were able to do this thanks to strong laws that gave stability and certainty to our businesses and neighbors. We're committed to showcasing this important work and hope the state will join with us."

Enacted in 1975, SMARA established California's framework for responsible surface mining, reclamation, and long-term mineral resource planning. As the law approaches its golden anniversary in 2026, CalCIMA is inviting state leaders, scientific institutions, archival organizations, and federal partners to help document and reflect on five decades of implementation, oversight, and progress.

A DURABLE, BIPARTISAN FRAMEWORK
Adopted during a formative era in California environmental policy, SMARA emerged from years of legislative study and stakeholder engagement dating back to the late 1960s. The law aligned state oversight, local land-use authority, reclamation planning, and scientific mineral classification into a single, coordinated framework. Today, SMARA continues to:

• Require approved reclamation plans and financial assurances to ensure mined lands are restored.
• Integrate scientific mineral resource classification into land-use planning.
• Coordinate state, local, and - where applicable - federal land management responsibilities.
• Support responsible production of the materials that underpin transportation systems, flood protection, clean energy infrastructure, housing, and public works.

STATEWIDE INSTITUTIONAL REFLECTION
As part of the anniversary initiative, CalCIMA is formally inviting participation from:

• The Office of the Governor of California
• The California Department of Conservation
• The California State Mining and Geology Board
• The California Geological Survey
• The California State Archives and State Library
• Relevant federal land management and wildlife agencies

The goal is to document institutional perspectives, preserve archival materials, and ensure the historical record accurately reflects how SMARA was developed and implemented over five decades. While participation will not imply endorsement of any specific project, it's important today more than ever before for campaigns to support historical accuracy and completeness as Californians reflect on the law's origins, evolution, and continuing relevance.

WHY THIS MATTERS NOW
California's continued focus on infrastructure resilience, mineral supply chains, clean energy development, and climate adaptation underscores the enduring relevance of SMARA's structure. The statute's emphasis on planned end uses, financial assurance, and intergovernmental coordination remains central to balancing conservation and resource development in the nation's largest state.

CalCIMA's campaign will include public education efforts, media engagement, archival preservation initiatives, and collaboration with public institutions to ensure future generations understand how California built and sustained a responsible surface mining and reclamation framework.

"If it's built, we're in it. We're an essential part of what makes California special," Dugan reiterated. "From roads and levees to schools and renewable energy infrastructure, the materials governed under SMARA are foundational to modern California. As we mark fifty years, we want Californians to understand both the conservation achievements and the infrastructure contributions this law has made possible."

CalCIMA
455 Capitol Mall # 210, Sacramento, CA 95814 USA
Contact: Stephanie Pridmore - spridmore@calcima.org | (916) 213-0599
https://calcima.org

ABOUT CalCIMA
The California Construction and Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA) is a statewide trade association representing producers of construction aggregates, industrial minerals, cement, concrete, and related materials essential to California's infrastructure, housing, and public works. Since SMARA's enactment, CalCIMA and its predecessor organizations have been continuously engaged in the statute's implementation and evolution

This release was published on openPR.