Wildlife resources: natural community conservation plans: public review.

The Natural Community Conservation Planning Act authorizes the Department of Fish and Wildlife 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. Existing law requires the department to establish a process for public participation throughout plan development and review, and requires this process to include a requirement that draft documents associated with a natural community conservation plan that are being considered for adoption by the plan lead agency are available for public review and comment for at least 60 days before the adoption of that draft document, and preliminary public review documents are made available by the plan lead agency at least 10 working days before any public hearing addressing these documents. This bill would also require draft documents associated with a natural community conservation plan and preliminary public review documents to be posted on the plan lead agency's internet website within the timeframes described above.