Weekly Green: August 17, 2012

In this week's headlines:

• Environmentalists call on lawmakers to stop CEQA attacks;
• State, federal regulators poised for water fray;
• California legislators shelve fracking bills;
• Jerry Brown launches website to rebut climate change skeptics;
• Big Food girds for California GMO fight;
• And much more.

Top of the Ticket: Using CEQA as Bait?

Sacramento Bee Editorial: What price will Pérez pay for his pet causes?
As we've opined before, CEQA has problems, particularly the way it can easily be leveraged to obtain concessions that have nothing to do with the environment. But any attempt to rework this law, enacted in 1970, deserves careful consideration, not last-minute surgery. Unfortunately, some lawmakers seem all too ready to use a butcher knife.
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/16/4729965/what-price-will-perez-pay-for.html

Using CEQA as bait, Pérez muscles tax bill
To round up the few Republicans he needs, Pérez is offering sweeteners. The biggest plum would be an overhaul of the California Environmental Quality Act... In an email that is bouncing around the Capitol, a Pérez aide circulated language for one version of the overhaul. Proponents of the changes say the proposal would remove red tape from development. Environmentalists say the proposal would gut the law.
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/15/4726262/using-ceqa-as-bait-perez-muscles.html

Environmentalists, unions fear last-minute CEQA changes
Environmentalists and labor unions are raising concerns that state lawmakers will use the final weeks of this year's legislative session to make sweeping changes to California's landmark environmental law.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/08/environmentalists-unions-fear-last-minute-ceqa-changes.html

Delta Delta Delta

Redirecting Fresh Water Raises Fears for Farmers
Supporters say the pipelines will improve the environment of an increasingly fragile delta by replacing the pumps that now suck water directly from the southern delta... But opponents, including elected officials and farmers from this area, say the tunnels will reduce the amount of fresh water in the delta and cause irreparable damage to fish and farmland by raising the level of salt water.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/12/us/california-farmers-fear-impact-of-water-distribution-plan.html

State, federal regulators poised for water fray
The times are different, the plan is different but after generations, California's basic water conundrum is the same: How do you balance the goals of environmentalists with the needs of a thirsty, growing population?
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=10saqc9ue35d7hp

Delta tunnel project to receive endangered species grant
California will receive $11 million in federal grants to acquire habitat and plan more protections for wildlife.
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/15/4726741/delta-tunnel-project-to-receive.html

More Environment & State Politics

California legislators shelve dozens of bills
A gift ban on lobbyists, two proposals to regulate fracking and a bid to exempt Olympic medals and the honorariums that go with them from state income taxes are among the measures tabled.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-legislature-20120817,0,158648.story

Jerry Brown launches website to rebut climate change skeptics
Gov. Jerry Brown said today that "humanity is getting dangerously close to the point of no return" on climate change, and he launched a website criticizing conservatives who dispute its significance.
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/08/jerry-brown-launches-website-to-rebut-climate-change-skeptics.html

Ad Watch: Foes say Prop. 32 helps oil companies, Wall Street, super PACs
The union-sponsored ad implies that Proposition 32 exempts oil companies and Wall Street interests from campaign fundraising and spending rules put on labor groups.
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/17/4733517/ad-watch-foes-say-prop-32-helps.html

Battle shaping up over repairs to Chevron's Richmond refinery
Chevron and environmental groups are poised for an epic clash over the repair of the oil giant's century-old refinery in the wake of the Aug. 6. fire. The conflict could delay a return to full production at the refinery and prolong a period of high gas prices for Northern California motorists.
http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21337089/battle-shaping-up-over-repairs-chevron-richmond-refinery

Chevron refinery has history of fires and pollution releases, but that is par for industry
Federal investigators say last week's massive blaze at Chevron's Richmond refinery was a "near disaster" that could have killed more than a dozen workers trying to fix an old, leaky pipe, but a review of air pollution violations, accidents and fires at Contra Costa's four refineries show the San Ramon-based oil giant is not the worst offender.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_21292343/chevron-refinery-has-history-fires-and-pollution-releases

Big Food girds for California GMO fight
After two decades fighting to force U.S. food companies to tell consumers when their products are made with genetically modified organisms, activists in California have mounted what is potentially their most promising offensive to date.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/16/california-gmo-idUSL2E8JG5NG20120816

ARB looks at reducing 'cap and trade' burden on businesses
The idea behind "cap and trade" is to inject market forces into the war on global warming. Companies that scrub their smokestacks clean will have credits to spare - and could make a killing selling them to firms that have exceeded their limit. More free credits don't sit well with some environmentalists. They say extra freebies would undermine the law.
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/13/4720127/arb-looks-at-reducing-cap-and.html

Yuba River hydroelectric plan called threat to fish
A Canadian company's surprise proposal to build a hydroelectric generation facility on the Yuba River has raised alarm among government agencies and nonprofits working to restore salmon runs on the river.
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/16/4730227/yuba-river-hydroelectric-plan.html

Radiation history on Treasure Island more widespread than reported
Radioactive contamination at the Treasure Island Naval Station, where San Francisco plans to build a high-rise community for 20,000 residents, is more widespread than previously disclosed, according to a new U.S. Navy report and other documents obtained by The Bay Citizen.
http://californiawatch.org/environment/radiation-history-treasure-island-more-widespread-reported-17616

Parks cash disclosed months ago, says ex-employee
In the drip, drip of details about the state parks hidden money saga, the latest drops aren't huge... but they do cast even more doubt on the notion that no one knew about the cash until last month.
http://www.news10.net/capitol/article/205025/525/Hidden-parks-cash-disclosed-in-April-says-ex-employee

Metal recycling firms burgeon in state, but regulators can't keep up
The operations commonly handle hazardous materials and sometimes are near homes, but are subject to inconsistent oversight by a patchwork of agencies. Many are rarely if ever inspected.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-recycle-20120812,0,7688222.story

• Next Weekly Green
•  
• Previous Weekly Green