San Bernardino County Land Use Services issued the below email this afternoon in response to letters and comments from the community regarding the proposed revision of the County’s Mining Ordinance (Chapter 88.03).  We have posted the attachments that were included, the Final Draft with changes and the Final Mining Ordinance FAQ. We are reviewing the materials and consulting with knowledgeable allies and will provide our take once we have sorted through the still confusing language. In the meantime, thank you everyone who has sent in comments!

Dear Community Members,

Thank you for sharing your comments on the proposed revisions to San Bernardino County’s Mining Ordinance (Chapter 88.03) presented to the Board of Supervisors and considered on August 18, 2026.

We appreciate the questions and concerns raised by the community members and organizations who took the time to share them. We understand some of the proposed changes, especially those related to mining operations on federal lands, have raised questions about the County’s permitting authority, opportunities for public input, environmental review, and local oversight. The County recognizes the importance of addressing these issues clearly and providing more opportunities for public understanding and feedback.

The Board of Supervisors continued the item from August 18 to the October 20, 2026 Board meeting for reconsideration. Ahead of that hearing, the Land Use Services Department, together with the County’s legal staff, has reviewed all comments and prepared the attached Frequently Asked Questions as a public outreach document to provide further clarification.

We have attached the draft ordinance for your review as well. All proposed changes are shown in red to clearly identify proposed revisions to the ordinance. The proposed revisions are intended to take into consideration the feedback and suggestions received from community members and organizations, including the comments shared by those in attendance during the public hearing portion of the August 18 Board meeting.

We encourage you to review these materials and share any additional questions or comments. Feedback may be sent to miningreclamation@lus.sbcounty.gov. Any comments submitted before the hearing will also be added to the public record for the Board’s consideration.

Our goal is to ensure residents, community organizations, and other stakeholders have the information they need to understand the proposed revisions and continue participating in the public process before the item returns to the Board.

Thank you again for your continued interest and involvement.