The BRCP is both a federal Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and a state Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP). It is a voluntary plan that will provide streamlined endangered species act permitting for transportation projects, land development and other covered activities over the 30-50 year term of the permits. It will also provide comprehensive species, wetlands and ecosystem conservation and contribute to the recovery of endangered species within the planning area.
The BRCP will replace the existing environmental permitting process that is unpredictable, inconsistent, time consuming, costly, and results in ineffective conservation. The BRCP will:
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Reduce the cost and increase the consistency of the state and federal permitting process
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Provide certainty of regulatory costs and requirements
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Provide local control by consolidating and streamlining environmental permitting under one locally controlled plan
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Provide improved habitat preserves for species
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Protect the right of private property owners -- conservation land acquisition will be through willing sellers only
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