Permit applicants would seek wildlife reviews when state agencies require them

Applicants would request a Fish and Game review when another state agency requires one. This covers people seeking a permit, approval, or other written permission from a state agency other than Fish and Game. The issuing agency must require the review. The request must include proposed wildlife protections and the relevant application with required attachments.

Fish and Game would respond to a review request and decide whether the proposed permission meets wildlife protection rules. The decision concerns whether a requested state permit, approval, or other written permission meets rules protecting threatened or endangered species and their critical habitat. The applicant may agree in writing to a longer review period. If Fish and Game misses the final deadline, the applicant’s proposed protections count as enough only if the applicant follows them. The issuing agency cannot add Fish and Game recommendations that exceed its legal authority. Fish and Game would confirm receipt within 10 days, then respond within 60 days of sending that confirmation or a longer period agreed to in writing. If it misses that deadline, the applicant may request a final answer in writing; Fish and Game would then have 14 days.

Fish and Game would write rules stating when payments to a species conservation fund are required and how to calculate them. The payment rules would cover affected projects when the rules require a payment. The rules concern payments for impacts to threatened or endangered species or their habitats.