Weekly Green: October 7, 2013

Environmental headlines of the past week:

• Sen. Fran Pavley on SB 4, her fracking bill;
• Brown's campaign contributions from fossil fuel interests tracked;
• Climate change catastrophes loom for California's farmers;
• Oil price gaming, water, toxics, and much more;
• And 10 years later, recalling the Davis recall.

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Above the Fold: Fracking

Pavley: Bill addresses practice of ‘fracking’ that has been unmonitored and unregulated in California
We need to look honestly at our addiction to fossil fuels. That is why I authored Assembly Bill 32 in 2006 – to cut pollution from fossil fuels and incentivize a cleaner, more efficient economy. That is also why I authored Senate Bill 4 this year – to hold the oil industry accountable for its actions and shed light on the impacts of new extraction techniques.
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/10/05/5795185/viewpoints-bill-addresses-practice.html

Fracking Jerry Brown
Before Jerry Brown signed legislation last month that promises to greatly expand fracking in California, the governor accepted at least $2.49 million in financial donations over the past several years from oil and natural gas interests, according to public records on file with the Secretary of State's Office and the California Fair Political Practices Commission.
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/fracking-jerry-brown/Content?oid=3726533

Summits on Tenth: A Conversation About Fracking
Michael Shellenberger of the Breakthrough Institute and Kate Sinding of the Natural Resources Defense Council present strong — and sometimes opposing — points of view on this complicated topic.
http://www.alternet.org/summits-tenth-conversation-about-fracking

California Environmental News

California farmers eye climate change challenges
Heat waves, drought, floods, insect invasions -- what sounds like a list of biblical catastrophes are the challenges California's farmers are expected to face in coming decades due to climate change.
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/watsonville/ci_24243871/california-farmers-eye-climate-change-challenges

Oil price gaming allegations may get another look
Legislators pass a bill that would direct the state Energy Commission to ferret out any fuel price manipulation. Gov. Jerry Brown hasn't signed or taken a public position on the legislation.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-capitol-business-beat-20131007,0,1214191.story

PG&E starts shutting down pipeline in San Carlos
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. began shutting down a natural-gas pipeline in San Carlos on Sunday to comply with a court order, company officials said.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/PG-amp-E-starts-shutting-down-pipeline-in-San-4874008.php

Brown signs law amending state's anti-toxins law, Proposition 65
Gov. Jerry Brown on Saturday signed into law changes to Proposition 65, the state's landmark anti-toxins law, that aim to reduce lawsuits and fines for businesses.
http://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-ln-brown-california-amend-antitoxins-law-20131005,0,4688431.story

California’s Sustainable Transport Incentives Leave Other States in the Stone Age
California has more electric vehicles per capita than any other state in the nation, in part because policymakers seem to love them.
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/10/california-bills-ev-ready/

Are $25 billion in water projects too much to swallow?
The public generally understands the importance of a reliable delivery network in this arid state. But as long as water keeps coming out of the tap, Californians don’t seem to share the same sense of urgency expressed by state leaders who warn the system is on the verge of total collapse.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/oct/04/are-25-billion-in-water-projects-too-much-to/

A Balancing Act Around Lake Tahoe
Protecting this natural wonder, set in a mountain-ringed bowl 6,225 feet atop the Sierra Nevada, would have been difficult enough. But its placement, straddling the California-Nevada border, brings the two states into play, with sometimes-competing visions for the lake’s future.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/07/us/a-balancing-act-around-lake-tahoe.html

State’s proposed chromium-6 water standard draws ire
Some, including the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, think a historic proposed California limit for cancer-causing chromium-6 in drinking water is set too low and so will cost too much to implement.
http://www.dailybulletin.com/article/20131005/NEWS/131009652

Morain: State’s attempt to regulate toxic chemicals draws long list of opposition
The list is impressive: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Chemistry Council, the American Petroleum Institute, Exxon, ConocoPhillips, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Toyota, General Motors, Koch Industries, Dow Chemical, General Electric, National Manufacturers Association. The list goes on.
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/10/02/5786334/dan-morain-states-attempt-to-regulate.html

Game wardens urge Brown to veto lead ammo ban
The California Fish and Game Wardens’ Association, representing current and retired sworn state game wardens, sent a letter to the governor Wednesday urging him to veto AB 711, which would ban the use of lead ammunition in hunting by mid-2019. In taking this position, the wardens are breaking with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, which had supported AB 711.
http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2013/10/04/game-wardens-urge-brown-to-veto-lead-ammo-ban/

Yosemite

Yosemite's largest ice mass is melting fast
Lyell Glacier has shrunk 62% over the past century and hasn't moved in years. It's a key source of water in the park, and scientists say it will be gone in 20 years.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-glaciers-20131002,0,7692754.story

In Rim fire's aftermath, controversy over the recovery effort
Calls for salvage logging, restoration and reforestation projects in scarred wilderness spark controversy over how to proceed.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-salvage-20131007,0,7428268.story

National Parks Becoming Flashpoint in Shutdown Debate
No one, it seems, can agree on if or how to fund the government or who's to blame for the shutdown, but everyone wants credit for defending your right to go to the park.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/national-parks-becoming-flashpoint-in-shutdown-debate-20131001

In Yosemite, an emptying park becomes an emblem of partisan divide
A pall settles over Yosemite National Park amid the federal government shutdown, an area already reeling from the Rim fire.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-shutdown-yosemite-20131003,0,1866078.story

Local California Environmental News

Car-Free CicLAvia Deemed a Success; Planning Starts for 2014
Organizers of Sunday’s CicLAvia festival estimated that more than 100,000 people turned out to bike, walk, run and roller-skate along 7 1/2 miles of downtown streets that were closed to cars for the event.
http://ktla.com/2013/10/06/car-free-ciclavia-deemed-a-success-planning-starts-for-2014/

Marin County's plastic-bag ban upheld by court
Plastic bag manufacturers lost another challenge to local ban-the-bag measures Wednesday when the state Supreme Court allowed Marin County to continue enforcing its restrictions at checkout counters in unincorporated areas.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Marin-County-s-plastic-bag-ban-upheld-by-court-4864617.php

Chevron Richmond refinery pulls back the curtains year after major fire
In its third annual Community Tour Day -- which was not held last year because of the accident -- the company sought to assure residents that it had stepped up safety since corroded piping in its crude oil unit leaked, causing a fire that sent 15,000 people to local hospitals, many with respiratory complaints.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/breaking-news/ci_24248298/chevron-richmond-refinery-pulls-back-curtains-year-after

Eastern Sierra's Lower Owens River is ripe for a recreational rebirth
After a major restoration effort, the river is a haven for wildlife. Via its link to the L.A. Aqueduct system, it has nurtured a faraway metropolis for a century.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-1006-owens-river-20131006,0,5911838.story

Scientists track cougar's wild nightlife above Hollywood
The mountain lion — known as P-22 — living in Griffith Park is giving scientists insight into the behavior of an urban puma on the prowl.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-griffith-park-lion-20131005,0,6885857.story

Election reform

Study finds downsides for off-year local elections
The Greenlining Institute, which advocates for racial justice, says its analysis suggests consolidating elections would raise overall turnout, cut costs and draw a more representative group of voters.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-city-elections-turnout-20131007,0,2522707.story

New multi-state group pushes campaign disclosure
California's top campaign finance watchdog announced Thursday a collaboration among multiple states to share information on enforcing disclosure rules.
http://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-pc-california-campaign-finance-disclosure-20131003,0,2787863.story

Quinn: The “Top Two” System: Working Like It Should
California’s new “top two” election system is now having exactly the impact that its sponsors hoped it would. It is moderating the legislature. This can be seen in the remarkable success the business community enjoyed in this legislative session despite the fact that the Democrats enjoy a two-thirds majority in both houses.
http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2013/10/top-two-system-working-like/

Do you recall...?

10 years later, 10 California recall moments
It was one for the record books, a political firestorm that blew through California and clobbered the status quo in a way that we may never see again.
http://www.news10.net/capitol/article/259609/525/10-Years-Later-10-California-Recall-Moments

Recalling California's recall: Arnold Schwarzenegger era changed nothing
Ten years ago, California chose a different and even weirder path. A state already renowned for wacky politics recalled Gov. Gray Davis -- only the second U.S. governor ever kicked out of office -- and replaced him with international movie megastar Arnold Schwarzenegger.
http://www.mercurynews.com/politics-government/ci_24244212/recalling-californias-recall-arnold-schwarzenegger-era-changed-nothing

Gray Davis strikes philosophical tone 10 years after recall
'Obviously, I wanted to complete my second term,' says the former governor, now at a Los Angeles law firm. But 'those are the rules of the road.'
http://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-recall-davis-anniversary-20131007,0,610669.story

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