SB 224 (Jackson) would require, at the time of the next
review of the guidelines, the Office of Planning and Research
(OPR) to prepare, develop, and transmit to the Secretary of the
Natural Resources Agency recommended proposed changes or
amendments to determine the baseline physical conditions by which
a lead agency determines whether a project has a significant
effect on the environment.
The Administration on Wednesday released a proposed
trailer bill aimed at reconciling the differences between
medical and recreational cannabis laws. This is an important step
in the ongoing state and local implementation of cannabis policy
in California.
The State Water Resources Control Board issued a
new round of FAQs about the Sustainable Groundwater
Management Act (SGMA). This document addresses various questions
about SGMA implementation as the initial deadline of June 30,
2017 approaches.
CSAC’s Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources Policy
Committee wants your feedback on a variety of bills working
through the legislative process. From CEQA to solar siting to
coastlines to utility issues – your input is needed to help CSAC
advocate for county interests please see below for the list of
bills and descriptions. and please contact Cara Martinson or
Besty Hammer with your
feedback.
SB 224 (Jackson) makes changes to CEQA and would prohibit
lead agencies, in determining the baseline physical conditions by
which a lead agency determines whether a project has a
significant effect on the environment, from considering the
effects of certain actions.
The California Water Commission is offering a workshop and other
resources to those interested in applying for the Water Storage
Investment Program (WSIP). This program is funded by Prop 1,
which provided $2.7 billion for public benefits related to new
water storage projects. The Commission will use this funding to
support water storage projects that improve the operation of the
state water system, are cost effective, and provide a net
improvement in ecosystem and water quality conditions.
The Governor’s Tree Mortality Task Force met this week to discuss
the ongoing tree mortality crisis. Updates were generally
positive with lots of meaningful work underway. Since the Task
Force last met in February, the Little Hoover Commission held a
hearing about tree mortality, which helped raise interest from
areas of the state not immediately impacted by the crisis. The
U.S. Forest Service reported that it may get a little additional
funding, and if it is in fact received the dollars will be
directed to high priority areas.
In a matter of months, California has gone from one of the most
severe droughts in recorded history to some of the most
significant flooding in three decades. Water is vital to the
whole state, but the Central Valley in particular relies on a
water supply that is not nearly as stable as it could be. That’s
why CSAC chose to focus attention on water with a regional
meeting in Kern County today.
Last week, the California Air Resources Board offered the first
2017 auction of greenhouse gas emissions on Wednesday. The
results were lackluster: final revenue numbers were not yet
available, but the total will likely be around $8 million with
only about 16 percent of allowances sold. The next auction will
be held in May.
DWR, Water Education Foundation Present Water Summit in
April
Mark your calendars for Building Capacity for Regional
Sustainability in California: A Water Summit. This event will
take place on Wednesday, April 12 at the Sacramento Convention
Center, and will allow stakeholders and regional leaders and
practitioners to discuss challenges and opportunities for
establishing governance, developing plans, improving regulatory
processes, and securing sustainable funding for achieving
sustainable water balance. Public registration opens Friday,
February 24.
Another week, another informational hearing about
cannabis! This time, the Assembly Committee on Local Government
brought in local experts, including people from Humboldt and
Monterey Counties, to delve into the issue of how local
governments are implementing recreational cannabis usage in the
wake of Prop 64.
The California Office of Emergency Services (OES) recently
offered some sage advice about how to apply for disaster
assistance, and provided an update about how the office is
responding to several rounds of severe storms, issues with water
infrastructure, and tree mortality. The presentation came during
the recent CSAC Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources
Policy Committee meeting.
