Section 3005 Of Article 1. Methods Of Taking From California Fish And Game Code >> Division 4. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 1.
3005
. (a) It is unlawful to take birds or mammals with any net,
pound, cage, trap, set line or wire, or poisonous substance, or to
possess birds or mammals so taken, whether taken within or without
this state, except as provided in this code or, when relating to
ongoing mining operations, in accordance with a mitigation plan
approved by the department.
(b) (1) Mitigation plans relating to mining operations approved by
the department shall, among other criteria, require avoidance of
take, where feasible, and include reasonable and practicable methods
of mitigating the unavoidable take of birds and mammals. When
approving mitigation plans, the department shall consider the use of
the best available technology on a site-specific basis.
(2) Mitigation plans relating to mining operations approved by the
department shall include provisions that address circumstances where
mining operations contribute to bird deaths, including ponding of
process solutions on heap leach pads and exposure of process solution
channels, solution ponds, and tailing ponds.
(3) The mine operator shall prepare a mitigation plan that shall
be submitted to the department for approval. For ongoing mining
operations, the mitigation plan shall result in an overall reduction
in take of avian or mammal species. The department shall provide an
opportunity for public review and comment on each mitigation plan
during the department's approval process. The mitigation plan shall
be prepared on a site-specific basis and may provide for offsite
mitigation measures designed to reduce avian mortality. The mine
operator shall submit monthly monitoring reports on avian mortality
to the department to aid in evaluating the effectiveness of onsite
mitigation measures.
(4) The department shall monitor and evaluate implementation of
the mitigation plan by the mine operator and require modification of
the plan or other remedial actions to be taken if the overall
reduction in take of avian or mammal species required pursuant to
paragraph (3) is not being achieved.
(5) The mining operator shall reimburse the department for its
direct costs to provide appropriate notice of the mitigation plan to
affected local government entities and other affected parties. The
mine operator shall provide the department a limited number of
copies, as determined by the department, of the mitigation plan for
public review.
(c) Proof of possession of any bird or mammal that does not show
evidence of having been taken by means other than a net, pound, cage,
trap, set line or wire, or poisonous substance, is prima facie
evidence that the birds or mammals were taken in violation of this
section.
(d) This section does not apply to the lawful taking of
fur-bearing mammals, nongame birds, nongame mammals, or mammals found
to be injuring crops or property, to the taking of birds or mammals
under depredation permits, to taking by employees of the department
acting in an official capacity, or to taking in accordance with the
conditions of a scientific or propagation permit by the holder of
that permit.