Nothing in this chapter prohibits the taking or the incidental take of any identified species if the taking is authorized by the department pursuant to any of the following:

(a) A natural community conservation plan or amended plan approved by the department prior to January 1, 2002. Any permits, plans, implementation agreements, and amendments to those permits, plans, or implementation agreements described in this section are deemed to be in full force and effect as of the date approved or entered into by the parties insofar as they authorize the take of identified species pursuant to an approved natural community conservation plan and shall be governed solely by former Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 2800) as it read on December 31, 2001.

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(b) Any natural community conservation plan, or subarea plan, approved, or amended on or after January 1, 2002, for which a planning or enrollment agreement meets any of the following criteria, which shall be solely governed in accordance with former Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 2800) as it read on December 31, 2001:

(1) The natural community conservation plan was entered into between the department and plan participants prior to January 1, 2001, and is carried out pursuant to Rule 4(d) for the California Gnatcatcher (Federal Register Volume 58, December 10, 1993), including the southern subregion of Orange County.

(2) The natural community conservation plan was prepared pursuant to the planning agreement for the San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Plan.

(3) The natural community conservation plan was prepared pursuant to the planning agreement for the San Diego Multiple Habitat Conservation Plan.

(c) Any programmatic natural community conservation plan approved by the department on or before January 1, 2002.

(d) Any natural community conservation plan developed pursuant to a planning or enrollment agreement executed on or before January 1, 2001, and for which the department finds that the plan has been developed using a public participation and scientific analysis process substantially in conformance with the intent of paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 2810 and Section 2815.

(e) Any natural community conservation plan developed pursuant to a planning agreement executed on or before January 1, 2002, and which the department finds is in substantial compliance with Section 2820.

(f) (1) Any natural community conservation plan or subarea plan initiated on or before January 1, 2000, or amendments thereto, by Sweetwater Authority, Helix Water District, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Santa Fe Irrigation District, or the San Diego County Water Authority, which the department determines is consistent with the approved San Diego Multiple Habitat Conservation Program or the San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Program, is exempt from Section 2810, and paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 2820, except as provided in paragraph (2), if the department finds that the plan has been developed and is otherwise in conformance with this chapter.

(2) The public water agencies identified in this subdivision and the department shall include independent scientific input as described in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 2810 into the proposed plans in a manner that focuses on the covered species that are proposed for take authorization and that are not otherwise covered in the San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Program or the San Diego Multiple Habitat Conservation Program.

The scientific input required by this paragraph shall be based on the best and most current scientific data generally available, and shall assure that documentation for coverage of all species is equal or greater than the San Diego Multiple Habitat Conservation Program.

(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 61, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)