The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will hold three public meetings about proposed regulation changes relative to scientific collecting permits.

At these meetings, CDFW staff will address common concerns received during initial stakeholder outreach conducted in 2012 and 2013, and discuss improvements anticipated with the proposed regulations

The proposed regulation changes adjust permit fees, extend the duration of permit terms, establish procedures relative to permit program administration, and clarify entity permits and the relationship between scientific collecting permits and state-listed threatened, endangered, candidate and fully protected species.

CDFW will be working through the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) rulemaking process in 2015, with an anticipated effective date of Jan. 1, 2016.

CDFW invites comments and suggestions prior to initiating the formal APA rulemaking process.

This pre-notice period provides opportunity for input as the draft regulations are written.

The three meetings will be held from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on the following dates:

– Thursday, February 19: Resources Building Auditorium, 1416 Ninth St., Sacramento.
– Wednesday, March 4: Humboldt Area Foundation, Emmerson Room, 363 Indianola Road, Bayside.
– Wednesday, April 1, West Ed Building, Ed Meyers Classroom, 4655 Lampson Ave., Suite A, Los Alamitos.

Online participation via a Web-based conference tool (WebEx) will be available to those who cannot attend a meeting in person.

Due to space and staffing limitations, CDFW requests that interested parties RSVP with their intent to attend in person or via WebEx at least one week prior to the meeting they wish to attend.

Please send an email with your name, affiliation, phone number and preferred meeting location to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Written comments regarding the proposed regulation changes may also be submitted by mail to the CDFW’s Regulations Unit, 1416 Ninth St., Room 1342-A, Sacramento, 95814 or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

All pre-notice comments must be postmarked or received by Friday, April 17, to be considered by CDFW in this round of drafting the proposed regulations.

Interested parties will have an additional opportunity to comment on the proposed regulations during the official 45-day public comment period, expected to start in July 2015.

Additional information for permit applicants and permittees will be available on the CDFW website in spring 2015, at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Scientific-Collecting .