RTAP’s initial focus is helping cattle producers navigate regulatory requirements related to their operations. This can include water, land use, wildlife, transportation and other issues. For example, a cattle producer may call with questions about stockpond registrations, prescribed fire regulations or vehicle code requirements. When the RTAP team does not know the answer immediately, they will research the issue and respond as quickly as possible.
The RTAP team will also work to help you with non-regulatory questions where they can. This might include issues like the tax provisions related to drought-related livestock sales, conservation programs and disaster relief. Recognizing that cattle producers in California are always facing new challenges, RTAP will work to help you understand and adapt to new issues.
Examples of issues RTAP may be able to assist with include:
- State and federal labor laws
- Air quality regulations and permitting
- Access to public lands and grazing opportunities
- State and federal vehicular/transportation regulations
- Depredation/take permit compliance
- California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) water rights applications
- SWRCB measurement and reporting regulations
- Rangeland water quality planning and state and regional water quality regulations
- Various state and federal permitting issues (lake and streambed alteration agreements administered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, dredge and fill permits through the Army Corps of Engineers, etc.)
- Safe Harbor Agreements
- Rangeland monitoring