Drought Mortality Amendments, 2015: Extends until December 2018 various exemptions to the forest practice rules allowing for the removal of dead, dying, and diseased trees due to the drought. Agency: California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection Status: Draft released for public review, comments due by 5 p.m. on March 28, 2016. Hearing set for April 6, 2016. Proposed regulatory language and related documents can be accessed here. RCRC Comments: RCRC is seeking member county input. RCRC Advocate: Staci Heaton sheaton@rcrcnet.org
Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program Regional Strategy: Provides strategies and potential actions for the improvement of watershed health in the Sierra Nevada region. Agency: Sierra Nevada Conservancy / USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region Status: Draft available for public comment, comments due March 18, 2016. Draft strategy and related documents can be accessed here. RCRC Comments: RCRC is seeking member county input. RCRC Advocate: Staci Heaton sheaton@rcrcnet.org
Revised Proposal to Update CEQA Guidelines regarding Analysis of Transportation Impacts: Senate Bill 743 (Steinberg; 2013) required an initial draft of changes be developed to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) regarding the analysis of transportation impacts by the summer of 2014. This revised proposal reflects input received on that preliminary discussion draft. Agency: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) Status: Draft language released January 20, 2016 with comments due February 29, 2016. RCRC comments: Staff is seeking input from member counties. A copy of the revised proposal can be accessed here. RCRC Advocate: Mary Pitto mpitto@rcrcnet.org
Proposed Changes to the CDBG Regulations: The proposed changes to current Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Regulations will include additional language to allow special allocations of funding for use in mitigating disasters and disaster recovery. Agency: The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Status: The proposed language was released January 22, 2016, with public comment open until March 8, 2016. RCRC comments: Staff is seeking input from member counties. A copy of the proposal and additional information can be accessed here. RCRC Advocate: Mary Pitto mpitto@rcrcnet.org