The PCL Insider: News From The Capitol

“LATE ALREADY? BUT I JUST GOT HERE!” LEGISLATIVE DEADLINES LOOM

The legislative session in Sacramento started just a few weeks ago and deadlines for lawmakers and environmental advocates are already fast approaching.

Here are two dates you’ll want to make sure are on your calendar:  

Friday, January 26th - Last day for lawmakers to submit bill requests to the Office of Legislative Counsel in Sacramento. The non-partisan Legislative Counsel staff translates lawmakers’ proposals into formal legal language with descriptions of current statutory requirements and citations to the sections of the state’s legal code that would be modified by the proposal.

If any organization or individual wishes to sponsor legislation they should be working with a legislator to submit language to the Legislative Counsel. Keep in mind that a legislator may submit a bill to the Legislative Counsel without agreeing to serve as the bill’s official author. These “un-backed” bills buy time for an organization to find a suitable legislator to advocate for their issue.

Friday, February 23rd - Last day for Senators and Assembly members to introduce bills into the Legislature. By now environmental advocates will need to have found a legislator willing to serve as an author for any un-backed bills. Make sure your author remembers this deadline!

PCL is talking to old friends and new faces in the Legislature to find authors for progressive environmental legislation. We’re especially interested in improvements to the California Environmental Quality Act, protecting low-income individuals who lack access to clean, affordable drinking water, ensuring that the state wisely spends over $40 billion in voter-approved infrastructure bonds, implementing sustainable flood management policies, and integrating climate change into the State’s water planning.

Do you have other ideas for PCL to take to the Legislature this year? Let us know! Contact Rene Guerrero (rguerrero@pcl.org or 916-313-4518).

PCL STAFFER RECEIVES “DELTA SLEUTH AWARD”

Last Saturday, respected journalist and environmental activist, Dan Bacher, presented his annual “Leaping Steelhead” Conservation Awards for 2006. Imagine our surprise to see PCL’s own Mindy McIntyre among this year’s recipients!

McIntyre received the “Delta Sleuth” award for exposing the Delta Intertie Project, a state and federal construction plan to export more water from the California Delta. The Intertie caught McIntyre’s attention because of its potential to wreak havoc on the Delta’s ailing aquatic environment, already in precipitous decline after an increase in exports dating back to 2000.

Despite a woefully inadequate review of the potential environmental impacts of the project and the lack of a comprehensive plan to restore the health of the estuary, the California Department of Water Resources and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation planned to start construction of the Intertie in early 2006.
 
With the help of allies, McIntyre raised the alarm to lawmakers, concerned residents, and the media. When the agencies refused to correct the failures in their analyses or consider environmentally preferable alternatives, she coordinated PCL’s litigation of the project’s environmental review.

In a move that shocked longtime water policy experts, the agencies brushed aside PCL’s suit and continued preparations for the project. Upon hearing of the agencies’ actions, PCL applied for a Preliminary Injunction to prevent the illegal construction.

According to a source familiar with the Intertie proposal, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California approved PCL’s request just in time; the construction contracts had been signed by the agencies and the groundbreaking ceremony was just three days away. In fact, agency staff had already ordered hors d’oeuvres for the festivities when the Injunction came through.

The District Court agreed with PCL’s claims that the Intertie project could cause significant environmental harm and called for full environmental review. The hors d’oeuvres – and millions of misspent taxpayer dollars – were dumped into the wastebasket. 

McIntyre continues to track the Intertie project. The Bureau of Reclamation reports that a new Environmental Impact Statement will be ready for public review in May 2007.

Thanks to Dan for noticing McIntyre’s hard work!

MORE “LEAPING STEELHEAD” AWARD WINNERS

The top “Leaping Steelhead” prize this year goes to Regina Chichizola, Erika Chase and Kayla Carpenter, for their efforts to restore water quality on the Klamath River by advocating for the removal of several old, ineffective dams in the lower stretches of the river.

Regina Chichizola, the new Klamath Riverkeeper, was commended for generating tremendous public awareness of the Klamath’s water quality problems and mobilizing public support for restoration of the river.

Erika Chase, a Hoopa tribal member, and Kayla Carpenter, a Yurok tribal member, were accoladed for organizing an annual relay run to draw attention to the massive fish kill on the Klamath River in 2002. Last year, the young duo helped extend the run from its original 41 miles to a 214-mile relay, bringing a new level of statewide attention to the health of the Klamath River salmon.

Congratulations to Chichizola, Chase and Carpenter!

Dan's unique brand of truth-sleuthing appears regularly in the Fishsniffer Magazine and other publications. His column on "Leaping Steelhead" winners will be followed by the annual "Cold, Dead Fish" awards for 2006. Read more of Dan's great reporting by visiting the Fishsniffer. Happy reading!