Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) recently reintroduced a bill that would provide loans and loan guarantees to enable public entities to acquire assets associated with habitat conservation plans approved by the Interior Department.
Calvert’s proposed bill, the Infrastructure Facilitation and Habitat Conservation Act, has companion legislation in the Senate sponsored by Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.).
The proposed legislation would have a positive impact on California’s Riverside County.
“In order to construct the infrastructure Riverside County needs to grow its economy and create jobs, we must find innovative ways to comply with existing environmental obligations,” Calvert said. “Our local leaders have moved forward to establish a habitat conservation plan that provides the necessary mitigation and compliance with our state and federal environmental laws.”
The establishment of a revolving loan program would provide Riverside County and other regions with the resources needed to accelerate the execution of habitat conservation plans.
“By taking these steps sooner rather than later, we can avoid delays in making the needed improvements in our infrastructure to sustain Riverside County’s economic growth,” Calvert said.
Habitat Conservation Plans are planning documents required as part of an application for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act. The documents describe the anticipated effects of the proposed taking, and how those impacts will be minimized or mitigated. The proposed legislation does nothing to alter eminent domain laws or private property rights.