2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 2 - GEOLOGY, MINES AND MINING › CHAPTER 9 - Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 175 › ARTICLE 5 - Reclamation Plans and the Conduct of Surface Mining Operations › Section 2774.2.

2774.2. (a) Within 30 days of the issuance of an order setting administrative penalties under subdivision (c) of Section 2774.1, the operator may petition the legislative body of the lead agency, if the lead agency has issued the order, or the board for orders issued by the supervisor, for review of the order. If the operator does not petition for review within the time limits set by this subdivision, the order setting administrative penalties shall not be subject to review by any court or agency.
(b) The legislative body of the lead agency or the board shall notify the operator by personal service or certified mail whether it will review the order setting administrative penalties. In reviewing an order pursuant to this section, the record shall consist of the record before the lead agency or the supervisor and any other relevant evidence which, in the judgment of the legislative body or the board, should be considered to effectuate and implement the policies of this chapter.
(c) The legislative body or the board may affirm, modify, or set aside, in whole or in part, by its own order, an order of the lead agency or the supervisor setting administrative penalties reviewed by the legislative body or the board pursuant to this section.
(d) An order of the legislative body or the board issued under subdivision (c) shall become effective upon its issuance unless the operator petitions the superior court for review as provided in subdivision (e). An order shall be served by personal service or by certified mail upon the operator. Payment of an administrative penalty that is specified in an order issued pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be made to the lead agency or the supervisor within 30 days of service of the order. However, the payment shall be held in an interest bearing impound account pending the resolution of a petition for review filed pursuant to subdivision (e).
(e) An operator aggrieved by an order of the legislative body or the board issued pursuant to subdivision (c) may obtain review of the order by filing in the superior court a petition for writ of mandate within 30 days following the issuance of the order. An operator aggrieved by an order of a lead agency or the supervisor setting administrative penalties pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 2774.1, for which the legislative body or board denies review, may obtain review of the order in the superior court by filing in the court a petition for writ of mandate within 30 days following the denial of review. The provisions of Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall govern judicial proceedings pursuant to this subdivision, except that in every case the court shall exercise its independent judgment. If the operator does not petition for a writ of mandate within the time limits set by this subdivision, an order of the board or the legislative body shall not be subject to review by any court or agency.
(f) (1) After the expiration of the time to petition for review pursuant to subdivision (a) or (e), the supervisor or the board acting as the lead agency may apply to the small claims court or the superior court, depending on the jurisdictional amount, in the county where the administrative penalty was imposed for a judgment to collect the unpaid administrative penalty imposed pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 2774.1. The application shall include all of the following:
(A) The order setting the administrative penalty pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 2774.1.
(B) A notice to the operator of the right to petition for review of the order.
(C) Either of the following:
(i) A declaration from the board that no petition was made or that the board declined to review the petition.
(ii) A copy of the final order of the board.
(2) An application submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall constitute a sufficient showing to warrant the issuance of the judgment. The court clerk shall enter the judgment immediately in conformity with the application.
(3) The judgment entered pursuant to this subdivision shall have the same force and effect as, and shall be subject to all the provisions of law relating to, a judgment in a civil action and may be enforced in the same manner as any other judgment of the court. The court shall make enforcement of the judgment a priority.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 521, Sec. 44. (SB 809) Effective January 1, 2018.)