The Commission is authorized to grant hard mineral extraction leases and currently manages 11 of these leases. Examples of hard minerals are rock, sand, gravel, dirt, precious metals, and aggregate. These leases are typically for a term of 10 years or less. In 2022, the Legislature enacted the California Seabed Mining Protection Act, which prohibits the Commission from issuing a lease or permit to extract hard minerals from state waters.
Active Leases
Last Reviewed: February 20, 2026
| Lease No. | Lessee | Location | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5464 | U.S. Borax Inc. | Portions of Owens Lake (Inyo County) | 8/1/2018 | 7/31/2028 |
| 8253 | Vulcan Lands, Inc. | S36, T8N, R3W, SBM (San Bernardino County) | 12/1/2018 | 11/30/2028 |
| 8831 | Hi-Grade Materials, Co. | S30 & 31, T4N, R1E, SBM (San Bernardino County) | 7/1/2023 | 6/30/2030 |
| 7301 | Hanson Aggregates Pacific Southwest, Inc. | S36, T14S, R1W, SBM (San Diego County) | 9/1/2022 | 8/31/2032 |
| 9451 | County of San Bernardino | S36, T8N, R7E, SBM (San Bernardino County) | 5/1/2018 | 4/30/2028 |
| 8039 | Western Mesquite Mines, Inc. | S5 & 6, T13S, R19E, SBM (Imperial County) | 10/1/2012 | 9/30/2022 |
| 709 | Martin Marietta Marine Operations, LLC | San Francisco Bay (San Francisco and Marin Counties) | 2/9/2026 | 2/8/2036 |
| 2036 | Martin Marietta Marine Operations, LLC | San Francisco Bay (San Francisco and Marin Counties) | 2/9/2026 | 2/8/2036 |
| 7779 | Martin Marietta Marine Operations, LLC | San Francisco Bay (San Francisco and Marin Counties) | 2/9/2026 | 2/8/2036 |
| 7780 | Martin Marietta Marine Operations, LLC | San Francisco Bay (San Francisco and Marin Counties) | 2/9/2026 | 2/8/2036 |
| 7781 | Lind Marine, LLC | San Francisco Bay (Solano, Sacramento and Contra Costa Counties) | 2/9/2026 | 2/8/2036 |
Typical Lease Terms
- Bonding: performance bond plus an additional reclamation bond held separately by the county.
- Liability Insurance Coverage: combined personal liability and property damage coverage of $1 million.
- Rent: typically tied to the acreage of the lease area.
- Royalty: typically, a minimum annual royalty or 6.5 percent of gross sales (whichever is greater).
- Lease Management Fee: used to reimburse the state for costs associated with lease management.