Wildlife Corridor Action Plan; interagency implementation group, report.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not specify funding details or consequences for non-compliance with group agreements.

Wildlife Corridor Action Plan Implementation

This bill establishes an Interagency Implementation Group to advance wildlife corridor projects and policies in Virginia.

What This Bill Does

• Creates the Interagency Implementation Group, led by the Secretaries of Natural and Historic Resources and Transportation, to work on wildlife corridors.
• Requires the group to develop a statewide memorandum of understanding among participating state agencies for roles, data sharing, and collaboration.
• Facilitates the sharing of wildlife vehicle collision data with local areas.
• Supports local level connectivity planning by providing guidance, mapping, and data reflecting local needs.
• Develops and offers training on wildlife crossings and habitat connections for state agencies, localities, and metropolitan planning organizations.

Who It Names or Affects

• State agencies involved in transportation, natural resources, and wildlife management.
• Local governments and regional planning organizations.
• Federal agencies when requested by the state group.

Terms To Know

Interagency Implementation Group

A team made up of representatives from different government departments working together on wildlife corridor projects.

Wildlife Corridor Action Plan

A plan to create safe paths for animals to move between habitats without crossing dangerous roads.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the group will be funded.
• It is unclear what happens if state agencies do not follow the agreements made by the Interagency Implementation Group.

Official Summary Text

Wildlife Corridor Action Plan; interagency implementation group; report.
Directs the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to, in coordination with the Secretary of Transportation, convene an Interagency Implementation Group to advance projects, policies, and priorities identified under the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan. The bill requires the Group to (i) facilitate the development of a statewide memorandum of understanding among participating state agencies to formalize roles, data-sharing practices, and collaborative processes; (ii) facilitate sharing of wildlife vehicle collision data; (iii) support local level connectivity planning; (iv) develop and offer training to state agencies, localities, and metropolitan planning organizations relating to wildlife crossings and habitat connectivity strategies; (v) coordinate and prioritize projects identified in the Plan; and (vi) assist state agencies and political subdivisions, and by request any federal agency, in considering and incorporating wildlife corridors and the recommendations of the Plan when developing any governmental strategic plan, map, or action. The bill requires the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to jointly submit a report of the Group's progress in advancing the Plan to the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and Transportation and the House Committees on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and Transportation by September 1 of each year.

Current Bill Text

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 8 of Chapter 5 of Title 29.1 a section numbered
29.1-580
, relating to Wildlife Corridor Action Plan; interagency implementation group; report.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 8 of Chapter 5 of Title 29.1 a section numbered
29.1-580
as follows:

§
29.1-580
.
Establishment of
Interagency Implementation Group
; report
.

A.
The Secretary of
Natural and Historic Resources
, in coordination with the
Secretary of Transportation
, shall convene

an
Interagency Implementation Group (
the
Group) to advance p
rojects, policies, and priorities identified under the Plan.
The Group shall consist of representatives of the Department of
Transportation
,
Department
of Wildlife
Resources
, other relevant state agencies,
federally recognized
t
ribes, and the Virginia Safe Wildlife Corridors Collaborative.
The Group shall:

1.
Facilitate the development of a statewide memorandum of understanding
among participating state agencies to formalize roles, data-sharing practices, and collaborative processes, including wildlife
crossing
proje
ct planning, development, and design
;

2.
Facilitate sharing of wildlife vehicle collision data, including communications to localities and regional planning organizations
;

3. Support local level connectivity planning by providing guidance, mapping, and data that reflect local needs
;

4.
Develop and offer training for state agencies
, localities, and
metropolitan planning organizations
on the benefits, cost-effectiveness,

and
implementation of wildlife crossings and habitat connectivity strategies
;

5. Coordinate and prioritize implementation
of projects identified in the Plan to ensure alignment across state agencies and local and tribal partners
; and

6
. Assist state agencies and political
subdivisions
, and by request any federal agency, in considering and incorporating, where applicable, wildlife corridors and the recommendations of the Plan when
developing
any governmen
tal strategic
plan, map, or action
.

B. The
Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources shall jointly submit a report of the Group's progress in advanc
ing the Plan to
the Chair
s
of the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Co
nservation and Natural Resources
and Transportation
and the House Committees on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
and Transportation
by September 1 of each year.