Conservation and mitigation bank: marine artificial reefs.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide details on the cost or specific environmental laws and regulations.

Marine Artificial Reefs in Conservation Banks

This law allows marine artificial reefs to be part of conservation banks, requiring full environmental reviews and state leases for reefs on state-owned land.

What This Bill Does

• Expands the definition of 'conservation bank' and 'mitigation bank' to include marine artificial reefs.
• Requires a person to complete a full environmental review in compliance with California and federal laws before creating a marine artificial reef for conservation or mitigation purposes.
• Clarifies that both nonprofit and for-profit organizations can establish and operate these banks.
• Requires a lease from the State Lands Commission if the reef is on state-owned land, which satisfies the requirements for establishing the bank.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who want to create marine artificial reefs for conservation or mitigation purposes
• Nonprofit and for-profit organizations interested in setting up conservation banks
• The State Lands Commission, which issues leases for state-owned land

Terms To Know

Conservation bank

A place set aside to protect natural habitats and wildlife.

Mitigation bank

An area where efforts are made to fix damage done to the environment in other places.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how much it will cost or who will pay for creating marine artificial reefs.
• It is unclear what specific environmental laws and regulations must be followed when creating a reef.
• The exact process for getting approval from the State Lands Commission is not detailed.

Official Summary Text

AB 807, as introduced, Dixon.
Conservation and mitigation bank: marine artificial reefs.
Existing law provides that mitigation banks and conservation banks provide for the conservation of important habitats and habitat linkages, take advantage of economies of scale that are often not available to individualized mitigation projects, and simplify the state regulatory compliance process while achieving conservation goals. Existing law provides that no conservation bank, mitigation bank, or conservation and mitigation bank is operative, vested, or final, nor bank credits issued, until the Department of Fish and Wildlife has approved in writing and a conservation easement has been recorded on the site. Existing law authorizes banks to issue and sell bank credits to private and public entities. Existing law defines “conservation bank” and “mitigation bank” for these purposes.
This bill would expand the definition of “conservation bank” and
“mitigation bank” to include marine artificial reefs. The bill would authorize a person to, after completion of a full environmental review in compliance with applicable California and federal laws and regulations, create a marine artificial reef for purposes of establishing a mitigation or conservation bank. The bill would clarify that both nonprofit and for-profit organizations are authorized to establish and operate a conservation bank, mitigation bank, or conservation and mitigation bank. The bill would provide that if a marine artificial reef is located on state sovereign land then a lease is required from the State Lands Commission, as provided. The bill would provide that the lease from the commission would satisfy the requirements for a bank enabling instrument and for the department to grant a conservation easement.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF