2023 California Code › Public Resources Code - PRC › DIVISION 13 - ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY › CHAPTER 2.6 - General › Section 21080.51.

21080.51. (a) This division does not apply to a project funded by Item 7502-062-8506 of the Budget Act of 2021 or any entity, including a public entity or private or nonprofit corporation, that consists of linear broadband deployment in a right-of-way if the project meets all of the following conditions:
(1) The project is located in an area identified by the Public Utilities Commission as a component of the statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network pursuant to Section 11549.54 of the Government Code.
(2) The project is constructed along, or within 30-feet of, the right-of-way of any public road or highway.
(3) The project is either deployed underground where the surface area is restored to a condition existing before the project or placed aerially along an existing utility pole right-of-way.
(4) The project incorporates, as a condition of project approval, measures developed by the Public Utilities Commission or the Department of Transportation to address potential environmental impacts. At minimum, the project shall be required to include monitors during construction activities and measures to avoid or address impacts to cultural and biological resources.
(5) The project applicant agrees to comply with all conditions otherwise authorized by law, imposed by the planning department of a city or county as part of a local agency permit process, that are required to mitigate potential impacts of the proposed project, and to comply with the Keene-Nejedly California Wetlands Preservation Act (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5810) of Division 5), the California Endangered Species Act (Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code), as applicable, other applicable state laws, and all applicable federal laws.
(b) If a project meets all of the requirements of subdivision (a), the person undertaking the project shall do all of the following:
(1) Notify, in writing, any affected public agency, including, but not limited to, any public agency having permit, land use, environmental, public health protection, or emergency response authority, of the exemption of the project pursuant to this section.
(2) Provide notice to the public in the area affected by the project in a manner consistent with subdivision (b) of Section 21108.
(3) In the case of private rights-of-way over private property, receive from the underlying property owner permission for access to the property.
(4) Comply with all conditions authorized by law imposed by the planning department of a city or county as part of any local agency permit process, that are required to mitigate potential impacts of the proposed project, and otherwise comply with the Keene-Nejedly California Wetlands Preservation Act (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5810) of Division 5), the California Endangered Species Act (Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code), as applicable, other applicable state laws, and all applicable federal laws.
(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 112, Sec. 6. (SB 156) Effective July 20, 2021.)