Section 3800 Of Chapter 3. Nongame Birds From California Fish And Game Code >> Division 4. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 3.
3800
. (a) All birds occurring naturally in California that are not
resident game birds, migratory game birds, or fully protected birds
are nongame birds. It is unlawful to take any nongame bird except as
provided in this code or in accordance with regulations of the
commission or, when relating to mining operations, 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 alone or in conjunction with
regulations adopted by the commission 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 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) 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.