Local Politics · Imperial County
Imperial County Board Hears Update on Surface Mining Operations
At its Tuesday, October 27 meeting, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors received a Surface Mining Reclamation Act update from Benchmark Consultant principal Bruce Steubing and Director of Planning and Development Services Jim Minnick. The county oversees more than 30 surface mines producing sand, gravel, gypsum, and gold across all four corners of the county. Steubing reported that the abandoned Picacho gold mine is in forfeiture proceedings after operators failed to file required reports following a 2021 notice of violation, and that the Western Mesquite gold mine is amending its reclamation plan to include additional claim areas east of Highway 78. Action items on these mines are expected to return to the Board before year's end.