Weekly Green: September 18, 2013

This week's environmental headlines include:

• Sizing up the now-closed legislative year;
• California takes aim at lead bullets;
• Bill focuses on gas price manipulation;
• Buying and selling solar may get easier;
• ... and much more!

» Welcome to another edition of the Weekly Green, a no-frills news roundup provided free of charge by the California League of Conservation Voters. If you're not a regular subscriber, sign up today! Get your free subscription here: http://ecovote.org/wg

Top News

CLCV: Legislative session concludes with environmental progress and hurdles
Overall, the year included some important wins and some hard fought losses. We are proud of victories on bills to protect our environment and our families from lead in the environment, reduce toxics in building materials, and begin a process to hold accountable oil companies for manipulation of gas prices for political effect. Losses on coastal protection, banning plastic bags, and increasing fines for air pollution were disappointing and we will keep up the fight.
http://www.ecovote.org/blog/legislative-session-concludes-environmental-progress-and-hurdles

Paul Rogers: Bad year in Sacramento for environmental measures
The measure would have allowed the California Coastal Commission to fine people who illegally block public access to beaches, destroy wetlands or build homes without permits -- rather than having to take them to court. But at the last minute, eight Democrats, including three from Bay Area coastal districts, reversed their earlier votes and killed the bill at the urging of developers and farm interests.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_24092156/bad-year-sacramento-environmental-measures

California takes aim at hunters' lead bullets
California would become the first state in the nation to ban hunting with lead bullets under a bill approved by the Legislature this week that environmentalists hope will inspire the rest of the country to follow suit.
http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/California-takes-aim-at-hunters-lead-bullets-4813392.php
(Editor's note: Take action! Tell Governor Brown to sign AB 711: http://ecovote.org/LeadAmmo).

Bill focuses on gas price manipulation
A bill, Senate Bill 448, looks to shine a spotlight on price manipulation, setting up the California Energy Commission to act as a watchdog for consumers and look for indications of fixed gas prices by oil companies in California.
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/08/31/5695822/viewpoints-bill-focuses-on-gas.html
(Editor's note: SB 448 passed the legislature and is on its way to Governor Brown).

Bills will make it easier for Californians to buy and sell solar power
No rooftop? No yard? No problem! All Californians will be able to invest in solar and wind projects to reduce their power costs and their carbon footprints under a bill awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown's (D) signature.
http://grist.org/news/bills-will-make-it-easier-for-californians-to-buy-and-sell-solar-power/

Lawmakers approve bill to aid Sacramento NBA arena
Attempts to overhaul California's landmark environmental law are expected to continue next year after the Legislature passed a narrow measure Thursday that focuses on assisting the effort to build an NBA arena in the state capital.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/09/12/2781505/assembly-approves-bill-to-aid.html

With dumping on the rise in Oakland and Richmond, mattress surcharge plan advances
A bill that would tack a fee onto new mattress purchases in order to keep used mattresses off the streets of Oakland, Richmond and many other cities across the state is heading to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_24108352/dumping-rise-mattress-surcharge-plan-advances

Jerry Brown will sign bills extending fees, incentives to reduce emissions
Gov. Jerry Brown said today that he will sign legislation extending a fee on vehicle registrations and tire sales in California to pay for programs designed to reduce emissions and promote alternative fuels.
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2013/09/jerry-brown-will-sign-bills-extending-fees-incentives-to-reduce-emissions.html

Bobcat bill approved by state Legislature would set no-trapping zones
A bobcat protection bill approved this week by the California Legislature would establish no-trapping zones around Joshua Tree National Park and other public parks and wildlife refuges throughout the state.
http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-bobcat-buffer-zone-20130911,0,173695.story

In Lake Tahoe development struggle, California blinks, Nevada wins
Almost as long as California and Nevada have shared Lake Tahoe's pricey shoreline, the two states have harbored competing visions of how best to prosper from the region's stunning natural beauty while preserving the lake's deep-azure color and remarkable clarity.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-tahoe-development-20130916,0,5656799.story

Fracking California: News & Opinion

Environmental Groups Bail On California Fracking Bill
California passed what is arguably the toughest bill regulating hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the country on Wednesday, and Gov. Jerry Brown (D) is expected to sign it into law. But he'll be doing so without the support of the country's biggest environmental groups.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/12/environmental-fracking-bill_n_3916763.html
(Editor's note: Take action! Urge Governor Brown to impose a moratorium on fracking. http://ecovote.org/StopNow)

New America Media: California to Experiment With Fracking Regulation
As California is on the brink of a great experiment in fracking regulation, state residents are grappling with a key question-whether fracking can be successfully regulated and safely conducted. Throughout the state, key interest groups -- from anti-fracking activists and environmentalists to pro-business and oil industry representatives -- are lining up to wage a battle over community support for fracking.
http://newamericamedia.org/2013/09/california-to-experiment-with-fracking-regulation.php

Bob Collier opinion: What's next after SB4?
Sen. Fran Pavley's oil and gas regulation bill, SB4, has passed the Legislature and is headed for an expected signature by Gov. Jerry Brown. But it remains a source of bitter debate among California's environmental movement, and there may be plenty of infighting - and bad electoral strategy - to come.
http://www.climatespeak.com/2013/09/whats-next-after-sb4.html

Monterey Herald editorial: SB 4 not what was intended
It started as a very good bill with serious protections for the environment and the public. Heavy behind-the-scenes surgery by the oil and gas industries eviscerated important parts of it, however.
http://www.montereyherald.com/editorials/ci_24106083/editorial-sb-4-not-what-was-intended

Sen. Bill Monning opinion: Fracking review needs teeth
Recent misinformation being reported about what Senate Bill (SB) 4 contains regarding hydraulic fracturing and acid well stimulation is causing undue distress for many people. I am a co-author of the measure introduced by my colleague, Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, who has a long history and outstanding reputation for being an advocate on behalf of environmental protections in the Legislature.
http://www.montereyherald.com/opinion/ci_24099354/fracking-review-needs-teeth

Los Angeles Times editorial: A fracking bill gone bad
SB 4 would still require disclosure of the chemicals used in fracking. It also would require an overarching environmental impact report as well as a scientific report on the potential effects of fracking in the state. These are both worthwhile. But the bill now could exclude many fracking projects from meaningful environmental review.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-fracking-california-sb4-20130912,0,3646987.story

More CA Environment & Politics

California, China to link climate-change efforts
With international agreements to control climate change hard to achieve, environmentalists hope an innovative new link between California and the Chinese government to cooperate on a range of low-carbon economic ventures jump-starts other ways to tackle the problem.
http://www.sfgate.com/politics/joegarofoli/article/California-China-to-link-climate-change-efforts-4813917.php

Often-tainted tap water unaffordable to many in rural San Joaquin Valley
New research shows that a swath of San Joaquin Valley people living in rural poverty pay more than they can afford for their often-tainted tap water.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/09/15/3500170/tap-water-unaffordable-to-some.html

Pérez says California water issues on next year's agenda
The Legislature will reconvene in January, during which time Pérez said issues surrounding water infrastructure and water quality need to be addressed. Pérez held up a bottle of brown water collected from a home in Maywood, a city in southeast Los Angeles County, to illustrate his point.
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2013/09/assembly-speaker-says-water-issues-on-next-years-agenda.html

Tsunami Debris May Be Mixed in With the Local Trash at This Year's Beach Cleanup
Littered with cigarette butts, water bottles and tires, California's beaches accumulate millions of pounds of trash every year. And every year volunteers sweep them clean during the California Coastal Commission's annual beach and inland shore cleanup, which happens this Saturday.
http://blogs.kqed.org/science/2013/09/17/tsunami-debris-may-be-mixed-in-with-the-local-trash-at-this-years-beach-cleanup/

Air Force hopes to stick California city with radioactive waste dump
In a case that could affect bases around the state, the Air Force is burying radioactive waste on the site it supposedly is cleaning up, bypassing state environmental regulations because it is on federal land. The state regulators aren't warning of a health risk to the surrounding neighborhood. But by pushing through the unwanted dump, the Air Force might create a precedent for other places where military agencies wish to avoid costly out-of-state hauling fees.
http://cironline.org/reports/air-force-hopes-stick-california-city-radioactive-waste-dump-5159

Air board has allies in diesel pollution crackdown: Truckers
Truckers want tougher enforcement and point to competitors who violate state rules to install filters or upgrade to cleaner engines.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-air-inspectors-20130916,0,1884363.story

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