Bill > AB697

This bill amends the California Endangered Species Act to allow the Department of Fish and Wildlife to authorize the incidental take (harm or disturbance) of four specific fully protected species - the salt-marsh harvest mouse, California Ridgway's rail, California black rail, and white-tailed kite - for the State Route 37 improvement project between Lakeville Highway in Sonoma County and Sacramento Street in Solano County. The authorization is only permitted if the department ensures that: (1) standard permit requirements are met, (2) conservation measures are incorporated to minimize species impact, (3) a monitoring and adaptive management plan is developed to track and adjust mitigation efforts, and (4) the applicant pays the required permit fee. The bill specifically modifies existing law that previously prohibited taking these fully protected species, creating a narrow exception for this particular transportation infrastructure project. The permit would cover any incidental take that occurs during project implementation and mitigation efforts, and the permit conditions can be amended based on monitoring results. Importantly, the bill does not exempt the project from other existing environmental laws and regulations.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB697