PCL Insider: News from the Capitol

CALIFORNIA SUES EPA OVER FOOT DRAGGING ON CLEAN CAR WAIVER: “LEAD OR GET OUT OF THE WAY”

Last Friday, Governor Schwarzenegger announced that California has filed suit against the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its refusal to allow implementation of a 2002 state law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new automobiles.

Here's the hang-up: The federal Clean Air Act requires California to receive a waiver from EPA to enact and enforce air quality standards that are stronger than those in other states. Although the EPA has routinely granted such waivers in the past, they have yet to act on California's request to implement AB 1493, authored by former Assemblymember Fran Pavley.

Many insiders believe the Bush Administration is dragging its feet at the behest of its auto industry supporters, which are challenging California's law in court.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Attorney General Jerry Brown, and California Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols briefed the press about the lawsuit on the steps of the State Capitol, flanked by legislative advocates from Environment California, PCL, NRDC, Sierra Club, Environmental Defense, and several other allied environmental organizations.

Hear more about the suit and California's fight against global warming in Grist magazine.

"COMMUNITY GUIDE TO CEQA" NOW AVAILABLE

Want to protect your community's health and environment? Then it's time to brush up on the public participation provisions of our state's premier environmental law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). And get ready – doing so just got a lot easier!

The PCL Foundation is pleased to announce the release of our latest edition to the popular Community Guide to CEQA. It is, if we may be so bold, a jaw-dropper of a guide. Full color and packed with helpful "What to Do" break-outs, the Guide is perhaps the Foundation's finest publication to date.  We've even thrown in tips on how to make sure global warming is addressed properly in CEQA and we've included the latest on assessing water supplies for new developments.

Purchase your guide online today for only $35 (includes tax and shipping) or request a CEQA workshop in your community by contacting Rene Guerrero at rguerrero@pcl.org.

FROM AIR QUALITY TO WATERSHEDS – PCL's ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM A MUST FOR ALL YOUR CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

PCL's Annual Environmental Legislative Symposium on Saturday, January 12, 2008 in Sacramento will bring together hundreds of grassroots groups, decision-makers, environmental advocates, business leaders and attorneys for an action-oriented day addressing California's most pressing environmental concerns. Will you be there or will you miss out?

Here are two sneak previews to make sure you don’t miss this golden opportunity:

With “Improving our Air, One Breath at a Time,” we’ll be discussing how science and community advocacy can lead to better legislation and healthier air.  Dr. Tom Cahill (UC Davis), Joshua Tooker (Legislative Director for State Senator Alan Lowenthal), and Carolina Simunovic (Central Valley Air Quality Coalition) will lead this discussion on how airborne particulates and other pollutants are wreaking havoc on our lungs and our environment.

In "Creating a Watershed Moment in a Watershed Movement," you'll learn from Robert Meacher (Plumas County Supervisor), Dr. Ann Riley (Waterways Restoration Institute) and Katie Burdick (CABY Integrated Regional Watershed Management Plan) about how the watershed movement can continue to be a critical component of environmental activity throughout California. We'll address opportunities to increase watershed funding and discuss watershed-based planning concepts and successful policy approaches.

Want more? Take a gander at our Symposium Agenda to learn how to make California a State of Change and take advantage of our early bird registration rates by registering before December 12, 2007.  Register NOW!

"SHOW ME THE WATER?" WATER AGENCIES PUNT TO THE CITIES

In a perplexing move, the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) has declared that water agencies should not be held responsible for estimates of water supplies for new development. Rather, according to ACWA, that responsibility belongs to the cities.

California has very prudent rules which require that prior to approval of all developments over 500 units, it must be determined that there is adequate water to supply the new homes. Water agencies are the logical entity for determining whether water is available. After all, these agencies are responsible for servicing the new demand while ensuring continued service to existing residents.

Apparently, these are responsibilities that water agencies would rather not take on. Last month, ACWA decided to file an amicus curiae brief (a legal opinion submitted to a court by someone potentially affected by the case) declaring that while the water agencies prepare the required water assessments, they should not be held responsible for the accuracy of their water assessments. ACWA has declared that the cities are responsible for determining whether water actually exists.

If water agencies won't stand behind their own assessments, residents, cities and the state should think twice before allowing new demands on their existing supplies. After all, if water agencies can't show the water, perhaps it really isn't there.

CHIME IN ON PROPOSED STATE WATER PROJECT AMENDMENTS

Readers will recall the recent PCL Insider alert on the State's proposed State Water Project contract amendments. If adopted, these amendments would eliminate drought safeguards for urban areas, and give away one of the State's largest storage facilities.

Now is your opportunity to speak out and tell the State to seek a better alternative for California.  The Department of Water Resources will hold four hearings on the proposed SWP amendments.

November 29, 2007   3-5 PM                                       
520 Main Street                                                                
Board of Supervisors, Room 308                                     
Quincy, CA 

December 3, 2007  1-3 PM
Room 102-A, Hearing Room, Bonderson Building
901 P Street
Sacramento, CA

December 4, 2007  6-8 PM
800 South Victoria Avenue
Lower Plaza Assembly Room  
Ventura, CA                                                                                                                                       
December 5, 2007  Time TBA
1115 Truxton Avenue
Supervisors’ Board Room, 5th Floor
Bakersfield, CA

Please attend the hearing closest to you and speak up for the protection of California's water resources. You can also submit written comments on the Draft EIR for the proposed amendments. Written comments are due on December 13, 2007.

For more information on the hearings or the SWP amendments, please contact Mindy McIntyre at mmcintyre@pcl.org.

BAD NEWS NOW, GORY DETAILS COMING NEXT WEEK?

PCL was at the Coastal Commission hearing on Thursday to speak in opposition to Poseidon Resources' permit application for its Carlsbad oceanwater desalination facility. 

We regret to report that, countering even the recommendation of its own staff, the Coastal Commission approved Poseidon's permit request.

In next week's Insider, look for PCL's take on what this Coastal Commission decision may mean for state water policy and our efforts to reduce global warming (as the title suggests, it won't be pretty).