Natural community conservation plans.

The Natural Community Conservation Planning Act authorizes the Department of Fish and Game to enter into agreements with any person or public entity for the purpose of preparing a natural community conservation plan, in cooperation with a local agency that has land use permit authority over the activities proposed to be addressed in the plan, to provide comprehensive management and conservation of multiple wildlife species. The act requires the department to approve a natural community conservation plan for implementation after making specified findings based upon substantial evidence in the record, including a finding that the plan has been developed consistent with the planning agreement process. This bill would include in the required finding that the plan has been developed consistent with the planning agreement process an additional finding of cooperation with a local agency that has land use permit authority over the activities proposed to be addressed in the plan.