March 21, 2019

CSAC and our wildfire coalition partners sent a letter to the Governor and Legislature regarding the California’s increasingly devastating wildfires. The letter reaffirms the coalition’s commitment to working with the Legislature and Administration to address both the root causes of the growing threat of catastrophic wildfire and on critical safety measures that will help to prevent future events. The letter also reiterates our opposition to any changes in utility liability law, specifically to the constitutionally protected property rights doctrine of inverse condemnation.

March 7, 2019

CSAC has been tracking and analyzing hundreds of bills that have been introduced this session. This week, the CSAC AENR team provides you with bills of interest in the area of wildfire and disaster. We are actively soliciting feedback on the following measures.  

March 7, 2019

CSAC and several county engineers joined a broad coalition of water agencies and business industry stakeholders at a public workshop of the State Water Resources Control Board to support changes to a draft Waters of the State regulation.

Dave Leamon, Chair of the CEAC Flood Control and Water Resources Policy Committee and Stanislaus County Public Works Director and Dr. Mark Strudley, Santa Cruz County Flood Control Division Manager both testified at the hearing, expressing the impacts the proposed regulations would have on counties.  

February 21, 2019

February 14, 2019

January 31, 2019

CSAC is actively monitoring the complex situation related to Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)’s official filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy this week. As a key stake holder in a wildfire coalition that includes insurance companies, wildfire victims groups, other local government advocates, and consumer protection attorneys, CSAC’s top priority is ensuring that our communities are safe and that people who are trying to recover from a disaster can be made whole.

January 24, 2019

On January 14, the State’s Forest Management Task Force met for the first time this year. This was also the first time the group had met under the new administration. The Task Force heard presentations from the Board of Forestry, the Governor’s Office, and the CPUC on key legislation and rulemakings related to forest management.

Board of Forestry Rulemaking Updates:

January 24, 2019

January 11, 2019

CSAC is encouraging boards of supervisors statewide to adopt a local resolution requesting action from Governor Gavin Newsom on a major recycling issue related to Chinese trade import policies. Local governments are partners with the state in meeting California’s recycling and waste diversion goals. California has been largely successful in achieving and making progress towards these goals and others over recent years.

January 11, 2019

The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) will hold a public meeting to consider adoption of proposed final amendments to both the Water Quality Control Plan for Ocean Waters of California (Ocean Plan), and the forthcoming Water Quality Control Plan for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries of California (ISWEBE Plan).

These amendments will include a State Wetland Definition and Procedures for Discharges of Dredged or Fill Material to Waters of the State.

During the latest State’s Forest Management Task Force meeting, Mariposa County Supervisor Rosemarie Smallcombe was featured in a roundtable of local leaders who shared their views on how to improve alignment of regulatory programs between multiple environmental agencies and the best ways to create complimentary sources of revenue for local forest health projects.

Dec. 6, 2018

Webinar: Paying for Climate Change Adaptation in California

Oct. 25, 2018

Resources Legacy Fund (RLF) and AECOM’s Sustainable Economics practice have created a primer that can help counties find ways to invest in more resilient communities and natural systems. A copy of the primer can be found here: Paying for Climate Adaptation in California: A Primer for Practitioners.

Oct. 11, 2018

With Governor Brown signing over 1,000 bills into law this year CSAC is publishing a series of articles to spotlight new laws that impact counties from each policy area. This week, the report from the AENR provides information on new laws affecting fire hazard planning in high fire areas, fire and forest management resources, drinking water, cannabis, and solid waste management. Stay tuned for more updates from other policy areas over the next several weeks.

Sept. 6, 2018

CSAC Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources staff took active positions on the following enrolled bills. These bills are currently being reviewed by the Governor for signature or veto. If you have any questions please contact Nick Cronenwett at Ncronenwett@counties.org or 916-224-9133 or Cara Martinson at cmartinson@counties.org or 916-327-7500, ext. 504.

Aug. 23, 2018

Conference Committee Co-Chair Senator Bill Dodd announced last week that changes to the existing inverse condemnation law were off the negotiating table after intense lobbying by CSAC and its coalition partners. The Committee, which was formed to tackle the issues of wildfire preparedness, response, and liability, continues its work this week with an anticipated hearing to discuss an emerging deal.

July 12, 2018