The Bay Restoration Regulatory Integration Team (BRRIT) was formed to improve the permitting process for multi-benefit habitat restoration projects and associated flood management and public access infrastructure in the San Francisco Bay and along the shoreline of the nine Bay Area counties (excluding the Delta Primary Zone).
The BRRIT consists of staff dedicated to this purpose from six of the state and federal regulatory agencies that may have jurisdiction over habitat restoration projects in San Francisco Bay, including:
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
- NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries)
- San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board)
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)
- San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) provides policy guidance at the management level on the Policy Management Committee (PMC) and participates on an ad hoc basis.
The PMC, made up of agency managers, was formed to coordinate with the BRRIT. The PMC has developed a Permit and Policy Improvement List identifying issues limiting the flexibility of design and/or permitting of multi-benefit restoration projects and are working to resolve these issues. The PMC will also review substantive issues raised by the BRRIT or others in project-specific cases and propose resolutions at a management or policy level where appropriate.
The key to successful permitting through the BRRIT is engaging in the pre-application process that the BRRIT provides, where applicants can receive early review and project input. Eligible projects are expected to engage with the BRRIT early and as often as needed through pre-application meetings. The BRRIT representatives work in close coordination to resolve issues identified during the pre-application process prior to the submittal of permit applications.
Projects are expected to participate in the BRRIT pre-application process prior to submitting permit applications to each individual BRRIT agency. Permit applications are subject to review under each individual agency’s laws, policies, regulations, and permitting timelines.
The Restoration Authority will regularly issue calls for projects to participate in the BRRIT pre-application and permitting process. Please contact the Restoration Authority at BRRIT@sfbayrestore.org to receive emails about the Restoration Authority's solicitation for projects or if you have any questions about how to get your restoration project on the Project List for BRRIT review.
To contact the BRRIT, please email us at BRRIT@waterboards.ca.gov
