Debit Project Proponents

About Debit Projects

CCS Debit Projects can be any development that occurs on public land (e.g., US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management) and are within proximity to greater sage-grouse (GRSG) habitat. Disturbances such as mines, geothermal facilities, energy development, and transmission lines are the most common Debit Project types in Nevada. Agricultural activities are generally not considered impacts and can contribute to conservation objectives. 

Proposed development footprints within six kilometers (3.73 miles) of CCS greater sage-grouse habitat management areas qualify as a Debit Project. Development projects that qualify as a CCS Debit Project, must complete CCS compensatory mitigation for the proposed impacts to greater sage-grouse habitat and be compliant with Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS 321.592 and NRS 321.594). Depending on the geographic region, the greater sage-grouse habitat management areas of other regulatory agencies may not match the CCS habitat management areas. To ensure State compliance, contact the SETT for consultation. 

The required CCS compensatory mitigation is determined by the CCS Habitat Quantification Tool, which calculates the proposed impacts as debits. Debits are a quantifiable unit of loss of GRSG habitat function from a disturbance and are offset with credits. Credits are a quantifiable unit of a GRSG habitat function and serve as the currency in the CCS.

Debit Generation Process:

The following steps outline the process to quantify debits for a Debit Project under the CCS. For more information on the Credit Generation Process refer to the Sagebrush Ecosystem Manual

• Initial CCS Consultation
  • Reach out to the SETT as early as possible to discuss siting and mitigation requirements, or even to start formulating a public lands project to offset. Email Debit Review Form 1 below to sage-admin@sagebrusheco.nv.gov.
• Initial Debit Estimate
  • The SETT will review the form and inform the Proponent whether their project impacts greater-sage grouse habitat, along with a general estimate if so. If not, then the SETT can provide an exemption letter.
• Select a Verifier
  • See the Verifier List below to choose one of our annually certified verifiers. Work your Verifier to have an extensive habitat assessment (called the Habitat Quantification Tool or HQT) completed to quantify the debits during the next spring/summer.
• Create a Management Plan
  • See Management Plan Template below, fill it out yourself or have a verifier assist, and submit to your SETT project lead
• Purchase Credits or Develop a Mitigation Plan
  • After review of the habitat assessment (HQT) and near the end of the NEPA process, the Proponent will receive a final debit amount. Once received, then a transaction can be finalized with a credit producer or a public lands projects can begin. See the Transactions page for more information.

Public Land Credit Projects

Generating credits on public land through uplift or restoration actions is a great way to expand sagebrush ecosystems. Debit Proponents can generate credits on public land for the offset of a CCS project’s credit obligation with a standalone Public Land Credit Project. Such projects must be developed in close coordination with the SETT and the applicable federal agencies. Credits generated on public land cannot be banked or sold for other project obligations but only used for the direct offset of the associated Debit Project. 

The SEC has approved specific Public Land Credit Project types which are pinyon-juniper removal, meadow improvement, post-fire restoration or weed control, and anthropogenic feature removal. Each project type has specific administrative or action-based conditions required for credits to be released/transferred to the Proponent.

If interested in generating credits on public land, contact the SETT for consultation.

For more information regarding project timelines see the CCS Project Checklist or contact the SETT to discuss a specific project timeline. For a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions relating to Nevada Conservation Credit System Credit Projects, please visit our Debit FAQ.