Plain English Breakdown
The source relies heavily on 'as specified' and references existing law for definitions of connectivity areas and target species, leaving specific details outside this text.
Transportation Projects and Wildlife Movement Barriers
This law requires lead agencies building transportation projects in connectivity areas to add wildlife passage features, while exempting state highway projects where Caltrans is the lead agency.
What This Bill Does
- Requires a lead agency to include appropriate wildlife passage features in transportation infrastructure projects located in connectivity areas.
- Exempts projects on the state highway system from this requirement if Caltrans is the lead agency.
- Authorizes a lead agency to use compensatory mitigation credits to meet these requirements, as specified by law.
Who It Names or Affects
- Lead agencies responsible for transportation infrastructure projects in connectivity areas.
- The Department of Transportation (Caltrans) regarding its exemption status on state highway system projects where it acts as the lead agency.
- Local agencies and school districts that may receive reimbursement if the Commission on State Mandates determines costs are mandated by the state.
Terms To Know
- Connectivity area
- A specific geographic zone where wildlife movement is important enough to require special attention in planning projects, as defined under existing law.
- Wildlife passage features
- Appropriate structures or designs incorporated into transportation infrastructure to help animals cross safely.
- Compensatory mitigation credits
- Credits that a lead agency may use, as specified by law, to satisfy the requirement for wildlife passage features instead of building new ones immediately.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not define what specific structures count as 'appropriate' wildlife passage features without referring to other laws or specifications.
- Reimbursement for costs is only provided if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains state-mandated local program costs.
- The text does not specify which projects qualify as being in a 'connectivity area' beyond referencing existing law definitions.