(a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the term of an agreement shall not exceed five years.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), after the agreement expires, the entity shall remain responsible for implementing any mitigation or other measures specified in the agreement to protect fish and wildlife resources.

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(b) Any entity may request one extension of a previously-approved agreement, if the entity requests the extension prior to the expiration of its original term. The department shall grant the extension unless it determines that the agreement requires modification because the measures contained in the agreement no longer protect the fish and wildlife resources that the activity may substantially adversely affect. In the event the department makes that determination, the department shall propose measures intended to protect those resources.

(c) If the entity disagrees with the department’s determination that the agreement requires modification to protect fish and wildlife resources or with the measures proposed by the department, the disagreement shall be resolved pursuant to the procedures described in subdivision (b) of Section 1603.

(d) The department may not extend an agreement for more than five years.

(e) (1) An original agreement shall remain in effect until the department grants the extension request, or new measures are imposed to protect fish and wildlife resources by agreement or through the arbitration process.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an original agreement may not remain in effect for more than one year after its expiration date.

(f) If the entity fails to submit a request to extend an agreement prior to its expiration, the entity shall submit a new notification before commencing or continuing the activity covered by the agreement.

(g) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), the department may issue an agreement, that otherwise meets the requirements of this chapter, for a term longer than five years if the following conditions are satisfied:

(1) The information the entity provides to the department in its notification meets the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 1602.

(2) The entity agrees to provide a status report to the department every four years. The status report shall be delivered to the department no later than 90 days prior to the end of each four-year period, and shall include all of the following information:

(A) A copy of the original agreement.

(B) The status of the activity covered by the agreement.

(C) An evaluation of the success or failure of the measures in the agreement to protect the fish and wildlife resources that the activity may substantially adversely affect.

(D) A discussion of any factors that could increase the predicted adverse impacts on fish and wildlife resources, and a description of the resources that may be adversely affected.

(3) The department shall review the four-year status report, and conduct an onsite inspection to confirm that the entity is in compliance with the agreement and that the measures in the agreement continue to protect the fish and wildlife resources. If the department determines that the measures in the agreement no longer protect the fish and wildlife resources that are being substantially adversely affected by the activity, the department, in consultation with the entity, and within 45 days of receipt of the report, shall impose one or more new measures to protect the fish and wildlife resources affected by the activity. If requested to do so by the entity, the department shall make available the information upon which it determined the agreement no longer protects the affected fish and wildlife resources. If the entity disagrees with one or more of the new measures, within seven days of receiving the new measures, it shall notify the department, in writing, of the disagreement. The entity and the department shall consult regarding the disagreement. The consultation shall be completed within seven days after the department receives the entity’s notice of disagreement. If the department and entity fail to reach agreement, the entity may request, in writing, the appointment of a panel of arbitrators to resolve the disagreement. The panel of arbitrators shall be appointed within 14 days of the completed consultation. The panel of arbitrators shall issue a decision within 14 days of the date it is established. All other provisions of subdivision (b) of Section 1603 regarding the panel shall apply to any arbitration panel established in accordance with this subdivision. If the entity fails to provide timely status reports as required by this subdivision, the department may suspend or revoke the agreement.

(4) The agreement shall authorize department employees to conduct onsite inspections relevant to the agreement, upon reasonable notice. Nothing in this section limits the authority of department employees to inspect private or public sites.

(5) Except as provided in paragraph (3), subparagraph (D) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 1602 and the time periods to process agreements specified in this chapter do not apply to agreements issued pursuant to this section.

(h) Each region of the department shall log the notifications of activities for which a long-term agreement is being considered pursuant to subdivision (g). The log shall list the date the notification was received by the department, a brief description of the proposed activity, and the location of the activity. Each item shall remain on the log for one year. Upon written request by any person, a regional office shall send the log to that person monthly for one year. A request made pursuant to this subdivision may be renewed annually.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 132, Sec. 20. (AB 1760) Effective January 1, 2024.)