Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a lead agency shall prepare or cause to be prepared by contract, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report for any open-pit mining operation that is subject to the permit requirements or reclamation plan requirements of the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 2710) of Division 2) and utilizes a cyanide heap-leaching process for the purpose of producing gold or other metallic minerals.

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1154, Sec. 5.5. Effective January 1, 2003. Operative April 7, 2003, pursuant to Stats. 2003, Ch. 3, Secs. 2 and 3. Note: Stats. 2003, Ch. 3 (effective April 7) repealed the condition in Stats. 2002, Ch. 1154, Sec. 8, which had prevented Ch. 1154 from becoming operative.)