Scoped to the question in front of you.

An independent assessment of a property: what is known, what is claimed, and what the record actually supports. We review title and claim standing, historic production and workings, previous technical work, access, and site conditions.

The deliverable is a written opinion on whether the property merits further investment, what the realistic development path looks like, and where the significant risks sit.

Review of geology, sampling, resource work, metallurgy, and engineering assumptions. Where a project requires a licensed or qualified professional, we bring in the appropriate specialist and coordinate their work rather than stretching beyond our own scope.

This service is often used by owners preparing for a transaction, and by buyers testing a seller's technical claims.

Support from approval through startup: sequencing, equipment selection, site layout, water management, staffing, contractor coordination, and the compliance programs an operation needs in place on its first day.

The objective is an operation that runs the way the permit says it will.

California Mining Consultants develops mine-specific MSHA safety and compliance programs for new mines, active operations, and surface or underground mines returning to service after an extended shutdown. The objective is not a generic safety manual. The program is built around the actual mine, equipment, workforce, operating method, contractor structure, and hazards.

For a new or restarting operation, CMC can organize the compliance framework from pre-startup through inspection readiness, coordinate required registrations and notices, determine whether Part 46 or Part 48 training applies, develop or support required training plans, and establish the records and operating procedures management needs to maintain compliance after startup.

• Mine startup and restart readiness: MSHA Mine ID and operator information support, commencement or status notices, compliance calendars, restart checklists, and pre-production readiness reviews.
• Part 46 and Part 48 training systems: new miner, experienced miner, task, annual refresher, site-specific hazard awareness, contractor training coordination, training plans, and training records. Part 48 instruction is provided through an MSHA-approved instructor within the scope of the instructor approval.
• Written safety programs: mine-specific policies, hazard communication under Part 47, surface mobile-equipment safety programs, workplace examination procedures, corrective-action tracking, and required records.
• Emergency and Part 50 systems: accident notification procedures, Form 7000-1 and 7000-2 reporting workflows, emergency contacts, incident preservation, evacuation, first-response procedures, and documentation controls.
• Underground readiness: review and coordination of escapeways, ventilation, ground conditions, ground support, electrical systems, fire protection, communications, emergency egress, mine-rescue coverage, and other mine-specific restart requirements.
• Health and exposure programs: procedures addressing dust, silica, noise, gases, fumes, diesel particulate exposure, respiratory protection, and other hazards applicable to the operation.
• Contractor compliance: contractor onboarding, training verification, site-specific hazard communication, required MSHA information, and integration into the mine's safety and emergency systems.
• Inspection readiness: internal compliance audits, simulated inspection walk-throughs, review of Parts 56 and 57 requirements applicable to the operation, corrective-action lists, and an organized compliance file for records an MSHA inspector is likely to request.

CMC develops, implements, audits, and maintains compliance systems and prepares operators for MSHA inspection. MSHA remains the enforcement authority, and the exact requirements for any mine depend on commodity, mine type, equipment, workforce, location, and operating conditions.

Pre-transaction review of title, claim maintenance, patented and unpatented status, encumbrances, leases, royalties, permits in force, reclamation obligations, and outstanding agency matters.

Findings are documented so counsel and lenders can rely on them.

Ongoing support for working operations: compliance calendars, agency reporting, inspection readiness, production and cost review, and problem solving as conditions change.

Available as a defined engagement or on a retained basis.

Guidance for owners deciding what to do with an asset. Develop, lease, joint venture, sell, or hold, and under what structure and on what timeline.

We work alongside the client's counsel and accountants rather than substituting for them.

Preparing a property for market or evaluating one that is on it. Data room assembly, technical summaries, buyer and partner discussions, and support through structure, diligence, and closing.

Where a property meets the criteria, financing and joint venture introductions may be available.

Acting as the single point of contact across consultants, engineers, surveyors, biologists, counsel, and agency staff, so that a project has one schedule and one person answerable for it.

Owners frequently find this is the difference between a project that advances and one that stalls.

Establishing which authorizations a specific property requires, in what order, from which agency, and on what schedule. Preparation of submittals, response to agency comment, and management of the process through approval.

See the capabilities page for the pathways most often involved.