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STAFF REPORT
CONSIDER APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL
OF A MINERAL EXTRACTION LEASE FOR MINERALS
OTHER THAN OIL, GAS, OR GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
APPLICANT:
U.S. Borax Inc.
AREA, LAND TYPE, AND LOCATION:
Approximately 15,534 acres of State sovereign land located on the dry lakebed
of Owens Lake in western Inyo County. This sovereign land is located east of
U.S. Highway 395, and approximately 10 miles south of the city of Lone Pine
(see Exhibits A and B, attached).
AUTHORIZED USE:
Extraction of industrial minerals, a sodium carbonate mineral (trona), and any
other mineral deposits except oil, gas, other hydrocarbons, and geothermal
resources.
LEASE TERM:
This is the second renewal with a lease term of 10 years, effective August 1,
2018, through July 31, 2028, with a preferential right to renew for two additional
terms, not to exceed 10 years each, upon such reasonable terms and conditions
as may be prescribed by the Commission.
CONSIDERATION:
The State’s royalty is 10 percent for unprocessed trona and 7 percent for
processed trona.
Annual rent of $2.50 per acre or $38,858 for a total of 15,543 acres and a
minimum annual royalty of $120,000.
INSURANCE:
In an amount not less than $2,000,000.
BOND:
In an amount of $60,000 to guarantee the faithful performance of Lessee’s lease
requirements.
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STAFF REPORT NO. C80 (CONT'D)
BACKGROUND:
In 1978 (Item C26, March 30, 1978), the Commission approved issuance of State
Mineral Extraction Lease (Lease) PRC No. 5464.1, through a competitive bid
sale, to Lake Minerals Corporation for a primary term of 20 years, with an option
to renew for three successive terms, not to exceed 10 years each.
In 1980 (Item C18, June 26, 1980), the Lease was amended to increase the
leased acreage from 7,440 acres to 16,120 acres, increase the performance
bond to $30,000, and to increase the minimum annual royalty from $80,000 to
$120,000.
In 1998 (Item C116, June 19, 1998), the Commission approved Lake Minerals
Corporation’s assignment to U.S. Borax Inc.(Lessee), and the Lease was
renewed for a 10-year term through July 31, 2008.
On April 28, 2004, the Inyo County Planning Commission (County) certified an
Environmental Impact Report to construct a wash plant, calcining and drying
facility (State Clearinghouse No. 2003041127). In 2004 (Item C52, October 6,
2004), the Commission approved a lease amendment allowing construction of
the wash plant, calcining and drying facility. The permitted activities are limited to
the County issued Conditional Use Permit No. 2002-13/U.S. Borax and
Reclamation Plan No. 2002-1/U.S. Borax, with conditions and mitigation
measures, approved by the County on the same date. These documents
authorized the drilling and completion of a water well, wash plant, and
calcining/drying facility (also known as the Trona Processing Upgrade Project).
However, these facilities have yet to be constructed. The 2004 amendment also
increased the financial security to $60,000 and provided for four successive 10year lease terms following July 31, 2008. The lease terms are as follows:
•
•
•
•
1st renewal - August 1, 2008 through July 31, 2018
2nd renewal - August 1, 2018 through July 31, 2028
3rd renewal - August 1, 2028 through July 31, 2038
4th renewal - August 1, 2038 through July 31, 2048
On August 1, 2008, the Lease was placed in holdover status pending
negotiations of a lease amendment, and the Lessee’s request to exercise its
option to renew the Lease for another 10-year term.
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STAFF REPORT NO. C80 (CONT'D)
Concluding the lease holdover, in 2009 (Item C35, December 17, 2009), the
Commission approved the Lease’s first of four possible 10-year renewals,
extending the existing Lease for a 10-year term, retroactive from August 1, 2008
through July 31, 2018. The Commission also approved a lease amendment to
reduce the leased acreage by approximately 420 acres, from 16,120 to 15,700
acres. The acreage was reduced to allow the City of Los Angeles Department of
Water and Power to mitigate those lands for dust abatement.
The 2009 lease amendment also resulted in a modification of the State’s royalty.
The State’s royalty calculation is based upon the carbon dioxide (CO2) content
found in the trona (Na2CO3∙NaHCO3∙2H2O). The CO2 content is determined by
complex laboratory analysis in the Lessee’s laboratory located in Lone Pine. For
Lease quarter beginning August 1, 2017, the value of CO2 per ton was $198.97.
The price of CO2 per ton is adjusted yearly on August 1, in accordance with the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index by Commodity for Special
Indexes: natural sodium carbonate and sulfate. The Lessee pays the State a
royalty of 10 percent of the gross value of the CO2 content in the trona. Per the
amendment, all processed trona, including use of the calcining and drying facility,
not yet constructed, is subject to a 7 percent royalty of the gross sales price.
In 2015 (Item C72, August 19, 2015), the Commission approved a partial
quitclaim deed for approximately 157 acres of the remaining 15,700 acres.
Following the acceptance of the quitclaim, the amended Lease area contained
approximately 15,543 acres of State sovereign land. Once again, the acreage
was reduced to allow the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to
mitigate those lands for dust abatement.
On March 6, 2018, before the Lease’s expiration date, the Lessee applied for
their second Lease renewal to continue mining trona. If the Lease renewal is
approved, the Lessee will continue their trona extraction operation. The trona is
stockpiled, allowed to dry, and is trucked to Boron. At Boron, the trona is used as
a chemical reagent in the processing of sodium and calcium borates at the U.S.
Borax’s operation site. One percent of the trona is added to 99 percent of the
borates at Boron to stop the precipitation of probertite, a mineral, which forms
scaling in the pipes and is difficult to remove. In addition, the Lessee also sells a
smaller portion of their product to Western Milling for commercial animal feed.
Pursuant to the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA), counties or cities
are the lead agency for a Conditional Use Permit and Mining and Reclamation
Plan that provides for how mining is to occur and how and when the land will be
reclaimed to a usable form. Under the SMARA, annual inspections are required
to be performed by the lead agency to determine the progress of mining and
reclamation and to ensure that all the terms and conditions of the Conditional
Use Permit are met.
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STAFF REPORT NO. C80 (CONT'D)
STAFF ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATION:
Authority:
Public Resources Codes sections 6005, 6216, 6301, 6890, 6895 and
6898; California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15096; California
Code of Regulations, title 2, section 2200 et seq.
Public Trust and State’s Best Interests Analysis:
The leased lands are located on the dry lakebed of Owens Lake. The
long-established mining activities have not been known to interfere with
Public Trust needs or uses.
The Lease contains restrictions that protect public rights and
environmental resources. The County also regulates the leased land while
protecting public health and safety. The County approved an
Environmental Impact Report and a Mitigation Monitoring and Compliance
Program for implementation of the mitigation measures. The Mitigation
Monitoring Program imposes feasible measures to avoid or substantially
reduce any significant environmental impacts.
This mine has an approved reclamation plan, approved financial
assurance, filed annual reports, paid reporting fees, and is inspected
annually by the lead agency, Inyo County.
The Lease also provides that the Lessee shall deliver to staff quarterly
royalty statements, which include the amount, quantity and value of all
minerals resources produced, extracted, shipped, and sold. This lease has
generated approximately $5.9 million in royalties for the State’s general
fund since 1981.
The Lessee has submitted the financial liability insurance in an amount of
not less than $2,000,000 and added the Commission to its policy as an
additional insured. The document is on file at the Commission’s Long
Beach office.
Conclusion:
Staff believes that approving the lease renewal will not substantially
interfere with Public Trust needs and uses at this time, and for the
foreseeable term of the Lease. For all the reasons above, staff believes
approval of the lease renewal is in the State’s best interests. Staff
recommends approval of the Lease renewal.
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STAFF REPORT NO. C80 (CONT'D)
OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION:
1.
Staff recommends that the Commission find that this activity is exempt
from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
as a categorically exempt project. The project is exempt under Class 1,
Existing Facilities; California Code of Regulations, title 2, section 2905,
subdivision (a)(2).
Authority: Public Resources Code section 21084; California Code of
Regulations, title 14, section 15300; California Code of Regulations, title 2,
section 2905.
2.
The Lessee will continue to mine trona consistent with the conditions
approved in the Environmental Impact Report (State Clearinghouse No.
2003041127), the Conditional Use Permit No. 2002-13 and the Mining
and Reclamation Plan No. 2002-1/U.S. Borax, approved by Inyo County
pursuant to the California Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975.
The Environmental Impact Report was prepared and circulated to revise
the Conditional Use Permit and Reclamation Plan to add the trona
Processing Upgrade Project, which has not been built.
3.
The Lessee has submitted the required filing fee and the approximate
expense deposit.
4.
This action is consistent with the Strategy 1.1 of the Commission’s
Strategic Plan to deliver the highest levels of public health and safety in
the protection, preservation and responsible economic use of the lands
and resources under the Commission’s jurisdiction.
EXHIBITS:
A.
B.
Land Description
Site and Location Map
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is recommended that the Commission:
CEQA FINDINGS:
Find that the activity is exempt from the requirements of CEQA pursuant
to California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15061 as a categorically
exempt project, Class 1, Existing Facilities; California Code of
Regulations, title 2, section 2905, subdivision (a)(2).
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STAFF REPORT NO. C80 (CONT'D)
PUBLIC TRUST AND STATE’S BEST INTERESTS:
Find that this lease renewal will not substantially interfere with Public Trust
needs and values; and is in the State’s best interests.
AUTHORIZATION:
Authorize the renewal of the existing Mineral Extraction Lease No. PRC
5464.1 to U.S. Borax Inc., for a term of 10 years beginning August 1,
2018, for all minerals other than oil, gas, other hydrocarbons, or
geothermal resources on sovereign lands described in Exhibit A and
shown on Exhibit B (for reference purposes only).
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EXHIBIT B
PRC 5464.1
U.S. BORAX INC.
OWENS LAKE
MINERAL LEASE –
SOVEREIGN LANDS
INYO COUNTY