ARIZONA MINING PERMITTING GUIDE - AZGS Document Repository

Arizona Mining Permitting Guide
County Aggregate Mining Operations Zoning Districts
The main purpose of this provision is to address complaints of residents near sand and gravel
operations. Title 11 - 830 of the Arizona Revised Statutes states that “the board of supervisors
of any county with a population of more than two million persons shall designate and
establish the boundaries of an aggregate mining operations zoning district on the petition of at
least one hundred persons who reside within one-half mile of an existing aggregate mining
operation.”
In addition, the board of supervisors of any county may establish, in its discretion and on the
board's initiative, one or more aggregate mining operations zoning districts. Aggregate
mining operations zoning districts may only be located in areas that are inventoried and
mapped as areas of known reserves or in areas with existing aggregate mining operations.
It was further established that a county and the state mine inspector may jointly adopt, as
internal administrative regulations, reasonable aggregate mining operations zoning district
standards.
The State Mine Inspector’s office has oversight over the aggregate mining operations zoning
districts and acts as an advisor.
At this time, only one aggregate mining district has been established, the West Valley
Aggregate Mining District in Maricopa County, which was formed in January of 2004. The
district boundary of the district is a 1 mile radius from the Agua Fria River Floodway
between Grand Avenue and the CAP Canal.
The West Valley Mining District Recommendation Committee consists of five industry
members and five community members. They make recommendations based on a majority
vote, must adhere to Public Meeting rules, and meet once per quarter at a public facility. New
operations are required to file a Community Notice that must be approved before mining may
commence.
Residents within 1/2 mile of operation have right to file complaints with the mine operator,
and if those complaints are not addressed to the resident's satisfaction, to the State Mine
Inspector. The Zoning Committee may hear the complaints and the State Mine Inspector
investigates complaints. The State Mine Inspector may issue compliance order, may
withdraw or revoke a notice, or may take court action.
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