Protection of fish and wildlife: projects: filing fees and exemptions.

Existing law requires project applicants and public agencies subject to the California Environmental Quality Act to pay a filing fee to the Department of Fish and Wildlife for each proposed project for the purpose of defraying the costs of managing and protecting fish and wildlife trust resources. Existing law specifies the required filing fees and provides that a filing fee is not required to be paid if specified conditions exist, including, among other things, that the project has no effect on fish and wildlife. This bill would instead not require the above-described filing fee to be paid if the project has only a de minimis effect on fish and wildlife, and make other nonsubstantive changes.