A multiple species habitat conservation plan recently approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) allows for development of California’s largest contiguous expanse of private land, Tejon Ranch, while protecting the California condor, golden eagle, and 23 other rare species. Founded in 1843, Tejon Ranch comprises 270,000 acres, largely within Kern County, and provides
We are in the midst of the California rainy season, and construction project sites must be compliant with the Construction General Permit (CGP) and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) regulations to avoid project delays and violations. “The most effective SWPPP designs combine environmental knowledge to ensure regulatory compliance while minimizing SWPPP implementation and maintenance
Missing the February deadline to clear vegetation at pre-construction sites prior to bird nesting season doesn’t need to put the project on hold until September 15 when nesting season ends. To avoid potential construction delays, vegetation should be cleared at pre-construction sites prior to the breeding season because destroying a bird nest or causing nesting
Permit processing time for Meteorological Testing (MET) facilities can be streamlined when engineering parameters and environmental permitting considerations are managed concurrently and collaboratively. When pursuing MET facility construction on private land in California, permit issuance to construct by the lead agency is subject to CEQA requirements. A categorical exemption is often used by a lead
Creating a self-reliant mutual water company to serve development could avoid annexation approvals by public water purveyors and the politics associated with those approvals. Developing large properties using a site’s own water resources may become an increasingly attractive option for developers. A number of factors — early melt of Sierra snowpack, persistent drought in the
Soil remediation for developing California’s agricultural fields often requires a Removal Action Workplan (RAW) setting target concentrations so each chemical contaminant is reduced to an acceptable level for human health. A multi-family residential development proposed on a former 15-acre Placer County orchard illustrates how an environmental impact report (EIR) can effectively address both the proposed
Two trends are impacting long-term native habitat mitigation projects in California: (1) regulatory agency compliance checks have become more frequent, and (2) depleted municipal budgets have seriously curtailed spending on effective project oversight. The following tips for avoiding unnecessary costs due to regulatory violations, extended maintenance, or remedial repair work are offered by the habitat
Public agencies may now find it advantageous to develop wetland mitigation banks rather than pursue project-specific mitigation due to rule changes by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The regulatory change is an effort to develop watershed-based planning. Mitigation banks create larger wetlands projects with greater ecological functions and sustainability
The California Department of Fish & Game (CDFG) has certified the final EIS/EIR for the 14,000 acre Newhall Ranch and Santa Clara River and issued the Master Streambed Alteration Agreement and Incidental Take Permits for state-listed species. This means the environmental permits are in place for the Newhall Ranch Master planned community for the next
