Assemblymember Holden’s Bill Expanding Wildlife Prevention Efforts Heads To Governor’s Desk

Sacramento, CA – Last week, Assemblymember Chris Holden’s bill, AB 2330, which would allow local agencies to submit a wildfire preparedness plan to the Department of Fish and Wildlife for an initial review, heads to the Governor’s desk. This bill will help local agencies have greater certainty in a timely manner to move wildfire preparedness projects, while avoiding, minimizing, and mitigating the take of endangered, threatened, and candidate species incidental to activities conducted by local agencies on lands that are within fire hazard severity zones adjacent to urban areas.

“Local agencies often take it upon themselves to volunteer with wildfire aftermath and clean-up. Why not give them the opportunity to get involved in the prevention and have a hand in their own security and the safety of their community?” said Assemblymember Holden. “This bill allows the people who know and understand their community to have a hand in protecting it and gives us a greater advantage in tackling our wildfire disasters.” 

“As Chair of the San Gabriel Valley Caucus AB 2330 was one of our top priorities. Expediting permits for fuel management activities is crucial and this bill creates a balance between public safety and environmental protection. It is important that we protect our communities against future catastrophic wildfire events while upholding environmental laws,” said Senator Susan Rubio.

“The constant threat of wildfires in California jeopardizes public safety and well-being. While progress has been made, proactive measures prove most effective. Fire departments enforce defensible space rules to protect life and property. To manage fuel loads efficiently and protect the environmental and residential areas, we need streamlined processes, transparency, and greater clarification from state environmental agencies. This legislation aims to achieve these mutual goals.” - Chris Nigg, Fire Chief, City of La Verne

AB 2330 provides a clear process to accelerate wildfire preparedness activities in local responsibility areas (LRAs) to ensure environmental protections are met and public safety is upheld by:

• Requiring CDFW, consult with the State Fire Marshall, to overlay existing critical habitat maps with lands that are within the fire hazard severity zones (very high, high or moderate). Maps should be updated no less than every five years.

• Allowing local agencies to submit a wildfire preparedness plan to CDFW for review within 90 days to inquire if an incidental take permit or other permits are needed; once a completed ITP application is submitted, CDFW must process them within 45 days.

• Where approved applications receive a 5-year permit for wildfire preparedness activities to occur within the fire hazard severity zones.

• Require CDFW to post a summary of these efforts on their webpage on an annual basis.

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