State Responsibility Area (SRA) Fees

The Board of Forestry (BOF) released their latest version of the proposed State Responsibility Area (SRA) fee regulations last week. As you may recall, BOF pulled the proposed regulations from consideration by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) earlier this month after a BOF hearing, where public testimony was taken on the proposed regulation. It was our understanding that OAL asked the Board to clarify how the fee will be levied on multi-unit structures, and what qualifies as a dwelling unit.

The latest version does not change the fee structure; it remains $150 per habitable structure, with a $35 discount to those structures that have protection from an existing fire protection entity. The protest petition process also remains the same in the latest version. However, the amendments do include a change in the definition of “habitable structure” which now includes only structures for residential use— government buildings are now excluded— as well as a slightly modified definition of “dwelling unit.” In addition, the amendments eliminate the $25 fee per additional dwelling unit. 

The BOF will be taking up these proposed regulations at their meeting on Wednesday, January 11, 2012. If approved by BOF, the proposed regulations will be transmitted to the Office of Administration Law (OAL) for consideration. Comments are then due to OAL within five calendar days of their posting on the OAL website. We strongly encourage counties concerned or opposed to these regulations to submit comments to the BOF before the hearing date. Comments can be emailed to the Board at: Board.public.comments@fire.ca.gov. Comments to OAL, focusing more on process can be emailed to staff@oal.ca.gov. 

We also encourage Supervisors to attend the BOF hearing, if able. The hearing will take place in Sacramento at the Resources Building, located at 1416 9th St., beginning at 8:00 a.m. For more, please visit the BOF website. The CSAC Comment letter to BOF can be found on the ANR webpage of the CSAC website.

Delta Plan EIR – Public Comment 

The Delta Stewardship Council, the state agency charged with developing a comprehensive, long-term and legally enforceable management plan for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, is seeking public input on the draft Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Delta Plan. Comments are being accepted electronically via the Council’s website or by e-mail ateircomments@deltacouncil.ca.gov. The deadline for submitting written comments on the draft EIR is February 2, 2012. For more information, visit the Council’s website.

Public comment is also being taken in person at any of the following field hearings:

San Diego | Wednesday, January 11, 2012, 6:00pm
Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library, Multipurpose Room | 5148 Market St. | San Diego, CA 92114

Southern California | Thursday, January 12, 2012, 6:00pm
Pasadena Public Library, Central Location, Donald R. Wright Auditorium
285 East Walnut Street | Pasadena, CA 91101
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Central California | Tuesday, January 17, 2012, 6:00pm
Ceres Community Center, Large Assembly Room | 2701 4th Street | Ceres, CA 95307

Delta | Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 6:00pm
Clarksburg Middle School Auditorium | 52870 Netherlands Rd. | Clarksburg, CA 95612

Northern California | Thursday, January 19, 2012, 6:00pm
Willows City Council Chambers | 201 North Lassen Street | Willows, CA 95988