AB 890 (Olsen) – Support
As Amended on January 4, 2012
AB 890, by Assembly Member Kristin Olsen, would exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) a project within a
city or county’s existing road right-of-way that would improve
public safety. The bill also specifically states the exemption
does not apply to a project that would increase traffic
capacity.
The measure passed out of the Assembly Natural Resources
Committee on a 6-0 vote with amendments. The amendments will
exclude projects over waterways, define the existing road
right-of-way, and include a 3-year sunset. These were requested
by the Chair, Assemble Member Wesley Chesbro, and the
environmental community that spoke in opposition to the bill. It
is unclear what remaining opposition will exist as the bill moves
forward.
While CSAC supports the goals of CEQA, to inform elected
officials, decision-makers, and the public at large about
potential environmental impacts from public works projects; and
to ensure necessary mitigation; unnecessary environmental review
processes increase project delivery times and overall project
costs without advancing CEQA’s goals. On major projects,
environmental review remains necessary. However, some safety
projects, such as installing or replacing a guardrail to address
safety concerns on a local street or road, in the existing
right-of-way, do not have significant, if any, environmental
impacts. Requiring CEQA review on these projects makes the
process unnecessarily long and delays important infrastructure
improvements that are necessary to protect the safety and
well-being of all Californians. As previously mentioned, the
proposal would not exempt projects that would disturb previously
undeveloped land or increase traffic capacity. It would, however,
streamline the project delivery process for important safety
improvements on the rural road system where the fatality rate is
twice that of the freeway system.
AB 890 now awaits a hearing before the Assembly Appropriations
Committee.
