EPIMS Help

Step-by-step instructions for notifying for a General Agreement for a cannabis project

1. From the left navigation panel, select .
2. Select “Notify for General Agreement (Cannabis Only)” under the “Project Name” column for the region that serves the county where the project is located.
   • If the wrong region is selected, the applicant will have to start a new notification for the correct region. The notification cannot be transferred to a different region.

   

3. Click .
4. “Notification Title” - Enter a name for the project. This is the name of the overall project. Do not use special characters.
   • If the project does not have a formal name or title, use a name that best describes the project. For example, if the project is the installation of a culvert on private property, name the project, “Culvert on Smith Property.” If the project has already been assigned a name for other permitting or environmental review purposes, use the same name.
5. “Applicant” - Select the applicant’s name from the drop-down list.
   • The applicant drop-down will list all users associated with the user’s organization. If associated with more than one organization, all users associated with each organization will show in the drop-down list.
   • If not associated with an organization only the user’s name will appear in the drop-down list.
   • IMPORTANT: The legally responsible party (e.g., the landowner, lessee) should always be listed as the “Applicant,” with any consultants, employees, engineers, lawyers, etc. being listed under “Additional Contacts” (see step 9).
6. Click .
   • To access the notification forms after logging out, go to and select the notification from the list of “Current Notifications”, then click the button in the upper right-hand corner.
7. “Organization” - Select the organization associated with the project.
   • If associated with more than one organization, select the applicable organization for the project.
   • If notifying as an individual, select the applicant’s name.
8. Click Save Form Information.
9. “Additional Contacts” - If applicable, select additional contacts associated with the same EPIMS organization. The individuals selected here will have access to the notification and receive all emails related to the notification and permit.
   • Multiple Additional Contacts can be added. Select as many people as needed from the list.
   • If not associated with an organization, only the user’s name will be available.
   • If a name is missing from the list, please make sure the person has an EPIMS account; then send an email request to EPIMSHelp@wildlife.ca.gov to request the user be added to the organization.
10. “Designated Representative” - If applicable, select the person that is authorized to represent and sign the notification and any agreement on behalf of the applicant.
    • Only one Designated Representative can be selected.
    • If not associated with an organization, only the user’s name will be available.
    • To add a user to an organization, please make sure the person has an EPIMS account, then send an email request to add the user to the organization to EPIMSHelp@wildlife.ca.gov.
    • To have access and receive alerts related to the notification or permit, the Designated Representative must also be listed in the “Additional Contacts” field.
11. Click .
    • Upon clicking , the “Notification Details” page will open with all necessary forms that must be completed before submitting the notification
      • General Information (This component was completed when the notification was started. No further action is required for this component.) 
        • To update the component, select it from the list, and click Edit Form.
        • Note: only the Applicant will be able to Edit this component. Additional Contacts can edit the rest of the notification, but they cannot edit the General Information component.
      • Covered Activities and Project Site Location
      • Cannabis Cultivation Operation
      • Remediation
      • Documents and Maps
      • Fees Schedule
      • Acknowledgement and Signature
    • All components must include a green checkmark in the “Complete?” column before submitting the notification.
12. Select the Covered Activities and Project Site Location component.
13. Click the button.
14. Read and follow the instructions on the form carefully. Complete all required fields on the form.
    • Form sections to complete:
      • Covered Activity
      • Activity Location and Description
      • Affected Body of Water
15. When all fields are complete, click the  button.
    • If there are multiple covered activities and/or site locations associated with the project, repeat steps 13-15.
    • Identify all the projects that are subject to the notification requirements in Fish and Game Code section 1602. Only projects identified here will be covered by the agreement. See California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 699.5, subdivision 11(A)-(C) for the definition of “Project.”
    • The project locations entered in this component will autopopulate in the Fees Schedule component.
16. When finished adding project activities and locations, click the button.
17. Select the General Agreement Documentation and Eligibility Criteria component.
18. Read and follow the instructions on the form carefully. Complete all required fields on the form.
    • Form sections to complete:
      • Eligibility Criteria
      • Required Documentation
19. When all fields are complete, click the button.
    • Upon clicking , based on the responses entered in the “Eligibility Criteria” and “Required Documentation” sections, you may receive an alert indicating that the project is not eligible for the General Agreement.
      • If you did not receive an alert indicating the project is not eligible for General Agreement, click and continue to step 20.
      • If you receive an alert, it means your project activity may not be a covered activity, and/or you do not have the required documents in your possession at the time of your submittal. If you have any questions regarding the General Agreement requirements go to the Cannabis Permitting page.
        • In the event the project is not eligible for a General Agreement, submit a notification for a Standard Agreement. Completing a notification for a Standard Agreement will help CDFW understand your project in its entirety.
        • Once we receive your notification, we may later determine that your project is not subject to Fish and Game Code section 1602 requirements, and you will receive a refund.
20. Click the button.
21. Select the Cannabis Cultivation Operation component.
22. Click the green button.
23. Read and follow the instructions on the form carefully. Complete all required fields on the form.
24. When all fields are complete, click the button.
    • If there are multiple cultivation sites associated with the project, repeat steps 22-24.
25. Click the button.
26. Select the Remediation component.
27. Answer the first question at the top of the form, “Does the project include remediation?”
    • Select “Yes” or “No” and click .
      • If “No,” skip to step 30.
      • If “Yes”, in the “Remediation” section click the button and move to step 28.
28. Read and follow the instructions on the form carefully. Complete all required fields on the form.
    • The “Remediation Fee” will autopopulate after clicking .
29. When all fields are complete, click the button.
    • To include more than one remediation project, click the button and repeat steps 28-29.
30. Click the button.
31. Select the Documents and Maps component.
    • Select the Click here for Tips to Create a Quality Map (PDF) link found in the form instructions for help with creating a project map.
32. Click the button.
33. Read and follow the instructions on the form carefully. Complete all required fields on the form.
    • If a map is not included, or the map does not provide enough information to allow a person not familiar with the area to find the project site or identify the features of the project, CDFW may determine your General Agreement is incomplete.
34. When all fields are complete, click the button.
    • To add multiple documents, repeat steps 32-34.
    • If you have the required documents (e.g., Biological Resources Assessment, Property Diagram), you may submit them with your notification. If not submitted, they will be due within 90 days of authorization.
    • Attach any other documents and photos related to the project.
35. Click the button.
36. Select the Fees Schedule component.
    • IMPORTANT: CDFW annually adjusts the LSA Fee Schedule on January 1st for inflation. Any notification received on or after January 1st shall include a fee that complies with the new fee schedule.
37. In the “General Agreement Fees” section, click the button.
38. Read and follow the instructions on the form carefully. Complete all required fields on the form.
39. When all fields are complete, click the button.
    • To add multiple covered activities, repeat steps 37-39.
    • Each covered activity entered in the Covered Activities and Project Site Location component MUST have an associated fee.
40. If the project includes remediation, click the button in the “Remediation Fees” section.
    • If no remediation fees need to be added, skip to step 43.
41. Read and follow the instructions on the form carefully. Complete all required fields on the form.
42. When all fields are complete, click the button.
43. Scroll down to the “Payment Information” section, click the button.
    • The “Total Fees Due” section will auto-populate based on the information entered in the “General Agreement Fees” and “Remediation Fees” sections. The “TOTAL (All Fees)” is the amount needed to enter in the “Payment Information” section.
44. Read and follow the instructions on the form carefully. Complete all required fields on the form.
    • If paying by credit card, a 5% service fee is included with each transaction through CDFW’s Online Sales site. Upload the receipt that was emailed to you in the Documents and Maps component.
    • If paying by check/money order, submit the fee with the Pay by Check or Money Order form (PDF) and send to the correct regional office.
    • IMPORTANT: CDFW is not required to determine whether a notification is complete or otherwise begin processing the notification until the correct CDFW regional office has received the notification AND correct notification fee.
45. When all fields are complete, click the button.
46. Click the button.
47. Select the Acknowledgement and Signature component.
48. Read and follow the instructions on the form carefully. Complete all required fields on the form.
    • The electronic signature should only include the name of either the Applicant or Designated Representative. If it includes a name other than those two users, the notification will be considered incomplete.
    • If you do not understand any of the statements, contact the regional office where your project is located to discuss further.
49. When all fields are complete, click the button.
50. Click the button.
51. Click the button.
    • Once all notification forms have been Marked as Complete, the notification can be submitted.
52. Click the button.
    • An alert window will open notifying the user that after clicking Submit the notification components will not be able to be edited. If complete, click Submit. If further changes are needed to any of the components, click Cancel and edit the applicable components.
    • After submittal, an email will be sent to the applicant (and additional contacts) confirming the notification was submitted.
    • CDFW will receive notification of the submittal and will begin processing the General Agreement notification.
    • Once CDFW has completed the review, an email will be sent to the applicant (and additional contacts) regarding CDFW’s decision and will include additional steps for the applicant to follow.
    • IMPORTANT: Follow all instructions outlined in subsequent emails from CDFW.