PRC § 21151.7

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.