This agreement provides funding to california state coastal conservancy (SCC). #8239; specifically, the recipient will fund up to six SAN francisco BAY restoration regulatory integration team…

This $3,400,000 Project Grant award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 under the San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund (CFDA 66.126) will provide 5 years of funding to the California State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) to support the San Francisco Bay Restoration Regulatory Integration Team (BRRIT). The BRRIT is an interagency team that coordinates the permitting process to streamline restoration projects in the San Francisco Bay. Specifically, the grant will fund up to six BRRIT agency staff positions, SCC administrative tasks, and increased tribal engagement. Key deliverables include regular pre-application coordination between BRRIT and project applicants, real-time tracking of permitting timelines, quarterly agency progress reports, and an annual BRRIT report. The grant is intended to improve the permitting process for shoreline restoration projects and increase engagement with tribal partners in the San Francisco Bay region.

This agreement provides funding to california state coastal conservancy (SCC). #8239; specifically, the recipient will fund up to six SAN francisco BAY restoration regulatory integration team (BRRIT) agency staff, SCC administrative tasks, and increased tribal engagement over a five-year period. The BRRIT consists of an interagency team of dedicated staff working together to coordinate the processing of permit applications to make the permitting process more efficient. The BRRIT's coordinated permitting approach entails reviewing project, processing permit applications in a timely fashion, and identifying policy issues. The proposed grant will provide funding to support these efforts for an additional 5-years. This agreement provides full federal funding in the amount of $3,400,000. Activities:to implement the SAN francisco estuary partnership comprehensive conservation and management plan (CCMP), as part of this grant the SCC will accomplish the following activities: provision of a dedicated staff person to serve on the BRRIT, to coordinate the review of project information to process permit applications for projects on the BRRIT priority list and work directly with regulatory agencies and permit applicants to effect substantive changes as needed to streamline permitting process. Subrecipient:SAN francisco BAY conservation and development commission - sub-award agency and BRRIT member SAN francisco water quality control board - sub-award agency and BRRIT member california department of fish and wildlife - sub-award agency and BRRIT member honoraria for tribal members and tribal engagementoutcomes:anticipated deliverables include: BRRIT members will confer regularly with applicants in a pre-application phase and when applications are submitted. The BRRIT will review project information and provide comments regarding project design, and avoidance, minimization, and other potential measures that would help to expedite permitting. The BRRIT will provide real-time tracking of timelines and other administration milestones starting with the pre-application process through permit application completion on a monthly basis. The BRRIT will also produce quarterly agency progress reports and an annual BRRIT report to the SAN francisco BAY restoration authority board. The funding provided in the award will support a tribal honoraria for SCC to provide directly to participating tribal members. Finally, this award will enable implementation and progress tracking of initiatives identified on the permit and policy improvement list. Expected long-term outcomes include: improved permitting process for shoreline multi-benefit restoration projects as increased engagement with tribal partners in the SAN francisco BAY. The intended beneficiaries of this project are the shoreline communities and the living resources of the SAN francisco BAY and its watersheds.