Bill > AB763

This bill aims to streamline the timber harvesting approval process by requiring faster response times from two key California agencies: the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and regional water quality control boards. Specifically, the bill mandates that the DFW must issue a streambed agreement within five working days of a timber harvesting plan being approved by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which is a significant reduction from the current 60-day waiting period. Similarly, for regional water quality control boards that have established general waste discharge requirements for timber harvesting, the bill requires them to authorize timber harvesting operations within five working days of receiving a complete request, provided the operations are consistent with an approved timber harvesting plan. The bill modifies existing laws, including the Z'berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, with the goal of expediting the administrative processes for timber harvesting while maintaining environmental safeguards. This change is intended to reduce bureaucratic delays and make timber harvesting permitting more efficient, potentially benefiting forestry and timber industries in California.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB763