Permit Compliance Programs for Large Scale Development Projects

by Dev Vrat, County of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United States,
Robert B. Almy, County of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United States,
Kevin Drude, County of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United States,
Jo Ann Daily, County of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Coastal Zone '91

Abstract:

California Assembly Bill 3180 requires that the implementation of environmental mitigation measures be monitored for compliance during project development. Permit compliance programs for large development projects can be highly complex. In response to large scale oil and gas development on the Santa Barbara Channel coast, Santa Barbara County has developed a sophisticated Permit Compliance Program. Program issues include legal basis, funding, program development, environmental quality assurance programs, permit condition compliance status databases, inter-agency enforcement agreements, and mitigation measure effectiveness studies. Santa Barbara County has developed a 100% cost recovery program for its Permit Compliance Program. This program started with a Board of Supervisors' formal policy of not net County cost for permit processing activities of the various County Departments. Formal Cost Reimbursement Agreements are executed before applications are deemed complete. Permit conditions require funding of all permit implementation. Finally, a specific condition is included requiring each developer to fund the administration of the Permit Compliance Program on a pro rata basis. In order to develop the Countywide Permit Compliance Program the departments developed work programs and budgets including staffing, office equipment, computers, vehicles and communication equipment. The preliminary program was negotiated with the affected industry who would provide funding as required by various permit conditions. The program was formally approved by the County in 1986. Considerations should be given for program staffing as well as actual project related staff.

Subject Headings: Permits | Project management | Financing | Benefit cost ratios | Mitigation and remediation | Vehicles | Quality control | California | United States

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