ON. WELCOME TO THE ASSEMBLY
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
HEARING, WHILE WE WAIT FOR A
QUORUM, WE'RE GOING TO START AS
A SUBCOMMITTEE. WE'VE GOT 18
MEASURES ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
PLEASE NOTE, AB 2208 XABBER AND
AB 3183 ALVAREZ HAVE BEEN PULLED
BY THE AUTHORS. AB 2212
LOWENTHAL HAS BEEN PULLED BY THE
COMMITTEE. THE FOLLOWING FIVE
MEASURES ARE PROPOSED FOR
CONSENT, WE'LL DEAL WITH THAT
LATER. BUT IT'S ITEM FOR AB 2298
HART. ITEM NINE AB 2522 WENDY
CARRILLO. ITEM TEN AB 2600.
CALDERON ITEM 13 AB 2731 WENDY
CARRILLO. ITEM 16 AB 2958.
CALDERON OAN. THIS LEAVES 13
BILLS TO PRESENT, AND I SEE
MAJORITY LEADER AGUILAR CURRY IS
HERE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME ON
DOWN? I SURE WOULD. YOU CAN
BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY. I HAVE.
TO LEAVE HIS HAND BEHIND.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO
THANK THE COMMITTEE STAFF FOR
ALL THEIR WORK ON THIS BILL. I
WILL BE ACCEPTING THE
COMMITTEE'S AMENDMENTS AND
APPRECIATE THE CHANGES THAT
HELPED TIGHTEN THE LANGUAGE TO
AVOID UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
MEMBERS. THE ISSUE OF ORGANIC
WASTE, INCLUDING AG WASTE AND
FOREST BIOMASS. FOREST BIOMASS
IS ONE I'VE BEEN WORKING ON
SINCE I CAME TO THE CAPITOL IN
2016. I LIVE IN WINTERS, A SMALL
TOWN 40 MILES FROM HERE. THAT IS
SURROUNDED BY AGRICULTURE. AS I
DRIVE AROUND MY DISTRICT, I SEE
FRUIT AND NUT TREES BEING PULLED
UP, PILED AND BURNED BECAUSE
THERE'S NOWHERE FOR THIS WASTE
TO GO. COMMUNITIES LIKE THE
RURAL AREAS IN MY DISTRICT HAVE
BEEN STRUGGLING TO FIND WAYS TO
DIVERT THEIR ORGANIC WASTE FROM
OUR LANDFILLS. WE NEED TO PUT
THE WASTE TO BENEFICIAL CLIMATE
FRIENDLY USE AND RURAL
COMMUNITIES NEED RELIABLE ENERGY
SUPPLIES, SO CONVERTING ORGANIC
WASTE TO ENERGY MAKES SENSE FOR
ENERGY RELIABILITY, TOO. NOT
JUST EMISSIONS REDUCTION AND
WASTE REDUCTION AND WASTE
REDUCTION. THIS GOAL, THE GOAL
OF THIS BILL, IS TO HELP PROVIDE
CERTAINTY TO COMMUNITIES AND
PROJECTS AS THEY LOOK FOR WAYS
TO DEAL WITH ORGANIC WASTE.
FIRST, THIS BILL CODIFIES A
DEFINITION OF PYROLYSIS. THIS
THIS DOES NOT CHANGE HOW
PYROLYSIS IS PERMITTED OR
REGULATED, BUT IT HELPS
COMMUNITIES AND COMPANIES KNOW
WHAT PROJECTS COUNT AS PYROLYSIS
PROJECTS. SECOND, THIS BILL
ALLOWS COMMUNITIES TO GET
PROCUREMENT CREDIT FOR PROJECTS
THAT USE EXCLUSIVELY SOURCE
SEPARATED ORGANIC WASTE TO
GENERATE BIOMETHANE AND
HYDROGEN. THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR
COMMUNITIES THAT NEED MORE
OPTIONS FOR MEETING THEIR SB
1383 GOALS. AT THE SAME TIME,
COMMUNITIES NEED CLEAN, FIRM
POWER AND ALTERNATIVE FUELS FOR
SECTORS THAT ARE HARD TO
DECARBONIZE. FINALLY, THIS BILL
WILL ASK CALRECYCLE TO CONSIDER
THE LIFE CYCLE EFFECTS OF
PROJECTS WHEN IT MAKES DECISIONS
ON INCENTIVE FUNDING. THIS IS A
BILL TECHNOLOGY NEUTRAL WAY OF
MAKING SURE THAT OUR WASTE
DISPOSAL PROCESS ARE CLIMATE
FRIENDLY. THIS BILL WILL HELP
REDUCE FUTURE EMISSIONS BY
HELPING DIVERT ORGANIC WASTE
FROM LANDFILLS, AND IT WILL HELP
INCREASE ENERGY RELIABILITY AND
RESILIENCY FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES
THAT NEED IT THE MOST. WITH ME
TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE
BILL IS JULIA LEVIN, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE BIOENERGY
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA, AND
EVAN EDGAR OF EDGAR AND
ASSOCIATES. THANK YOU FOR
ATTENDING TODAY. GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR, AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. APOLOGIES FOR MY
VOICE. JULIA LEVIN, AS THE
MAJORITY LEADER SAID, I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
BIOENERGY ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA. WE HAVE ABOUT 100
MEMBERS IN CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING
MANY CITIES AND COUNTIES, PUBLIC
AGENCIES, PUBLIC RESEARCH
INSTITUTIONS, TRIBAL MEMBERS AND
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL
AS PRIVATE COMPANIES AND
UTILITIES WORKING TO CONVERT
ORGANIC WASTE TO ENERGY. WE ARE
SOLELY FOCUSED ON ORGANIC WASTE,
AS IS THIS LEGISLATION, RATHER
THAN LANDFILLING IT OR PILING
AND BURNING IT, WE THINK THEY'RE
FAR MORE BENEFICIAL USES. THIS
BILL IS A REALLY IMPORTANT STEP.
AS THE MAJORITY LEADER SAID, TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PATHWAYS FOR
DIVERTED ORGANIC WASTE. AND SB
1383 REQUIRES THAT CITIES AND
COUNTIES DIVERT 75% OF ALL
ORGANIC WASTE AWAY FROM
LANDFILLS BY 2025, AND WE ARE
NOWHERE NEAR ON TRACK, AND
CITIES AND COUNTIES NEED MORE
OPTIONS. MANY OF THEM WOULD LIKE
TO CONVERT THEIR ORGANIC WASTE
TO RENEWABLE HYDROGEN OR TO
PIPELINE BIOMETHANE IN
COMPLIANCE WITH ANOTHER PROGRAM
THAT WAS CREATED BY LEGISLATION,
SB 1440, WHICH IS NOW A
PIPELINE. BIOMETHANE PROCUREMENT
PROGRAM AT THE PUC. BUT
CALRECYCLE DOES NOT YET HAVE
CLEAR PATHWAYS TO DO THIS. TO BE
VERY CLEAR, WE ARE NOT TRYING TO
DO ANYTHING TO PROMOTE MORE
BURNING. WE ACTUALLY AREN'T EVEN
TRYING TO PROMOTE PYROLYSIS BY
PUTTING IT IN DEFINITION. WE'RE
TRYING TO CLARIFY WHAT IS
PYROLYSIS S, WHICH IS TREATED AS
TRANSFORMATION AND THEREFORE
DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR LANDFILL
DIVERSION VERSUS GASIFICATION,
WHICH DOES QUALIFY FOR LANDFILL
DIVERSION AND PRODUCES HYDROGEN
OR BIOMETHANE. IN FACT,
PYROLYSIS DOESN'T EVEN GO TO
BIOMETHANE OR HYDROGEN. IT
PRODUCES A LIQUID OIL, WHICH IS
NOT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROMOTE
HERE. SO AS THE MAJORITY LEADER
SAID, WE ARE JUST TRYING TO
PROVIDE MORE OPTIONS THAT ARE
CLIMATE FRIENDLY, THAT PROVIDE
LOCAL BENEFITS FOR AIR QUALITY
AND MORE. AND THIS IS THE MOST
URGENT THING WE CAN DO FOR THE
CLIMATE. CLIMATE SCIENTISTS
GLOBALLY ARE IN AGREEMENT.
THERE'S NOTHING MORE URGENT THAN
REDUCING METHANE. SO WE URGE
YOUR AYE VOTE ON THIS BILL.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU TWO
MINUTES, SIR. THANK YOU. CHAIR.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
EVAN EDGAR. I'M THE INDEPENDENT
GARBAGE MAN FOR THE GARBAGE
HAULERS AND ORGANIC COMPOSTERS
OF CALIFORNIA. WE ARE THE
COMPANIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THAT TAKES ALL
THE SB 1383 ORGANICS AND MAKES
COMPOST OUT OF IT. AND PLUS, I'M
THE ENGINEER OF THE BIOENERGY
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA, WHERE
WE WORK WITH LOCAL WASTEWATER
DISTRICTS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT 1380 THREE
INCHES A COST EFFECTIVE FASHION,
WE'VE BEEN MAKING OUR OWN FUEL
OUT OF ORGANIC WASTE FOR YEARS.
WE CALL IT A RENEWABLE NATURAL
GAS. WE TAKE FOOD WASTE AND
GREEN WASTE. AND DOWN IN SAN
JOSE WITH SEAWEED AND THE ZENKER
FOLKS, WE'RE MAKING CARBON
NEGATIVE FUEL IN SOUTH CITY. SO
FOR OVER TEN YEARS, OUR INDUSTRY
HAS STEPPED UP. AND THE GARBAGE
TRUCK THAT PICKS UP THE ORGANICS
MAKES RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS OUT
OF THE SAME ORGANICS. AND IT'S
HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL WHEN YOU PUT
IT RIGHT BACK INTO THE GARBAGE
TRUCKS WITHIN 30 DAYS. IT'S
CALLED THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY.
PLUS, I REPRESENT THAT
CALIFORNIA COMPOST COALITION OR
THE INDEPENDENT ORGANIC
CERTIFIED COMPOSTERS OF
CALIFORNIA. WE REPRESENT TWO
THIRDS OF THE MARKET. WE TAKE A
LOT OF GREEN WASTE. THEY DO
CARBON FARMING WITH YOLO LAND
AND CATTLE. WE GO OUT TO THE
RANCHES. IT'S A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY. SO BUT WE CAN'T
COMPOST THE WORLD. ALL THAT
FOREST SECTOR WASTE AND THE AG
WASTE IS TOO WOODY. IT TAKES A
CARBON NITROGEN RATIO TO MAKE A
GOOD COMPOST. SO SIERRA CLUB AND
OTHER PEOPLE SAY WE'RE GOING TO
COMPOST EVERYTHING. WE CAN'T WE
CAN'T COMPOST FOREST SECTOR
WASTE, WE CAN'T COMPOST A LOT OF
AG WASTE, BUT WE CAN COMPOST
URBAN WASTE AND WE DO THAT. SO
WE NEED MORE HOMES. AND WE'VE
BEEN WORKING WITH YOUR OFFICE
FOR THREE YEARS ON TRYING TO
FIND WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THIS
BIOMASS AND WHAT. 24 2515 DOES
ON 2414 DOES IS MAKE A PATHWAY
FOR HYDROGEN USING TECHNOLOGIES,
ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO WITH SENATOR
LARA, WE GOT GASIFICATION
COUNTY'S BIOMASS CONVERSION. WE
MAKE BIOCHAR 100% RENEWABLE. SO
THE GOOD BIOMASS PROGRAM FOR
COMMUNITY SCALE ENERGY. SO OUR
INDUSTRY HAS STEPPED UP WITH
WHEN IT COMES TO WOOD WASTE AND
WHEN IT COMES TO ALL THIS
BIOMASS, WE BELIEVE WE CAN MAKE
HYDROGEN THE SAME WAY THAT WE'RE
MAKING RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS
WITH ANAEROBIC DIGESTION. WE CAN
MAKE HYDROGEN WITH GASIFICATION
AND PYROLYSIS. OUR INDUSTRY FEED
HUNGRY PEOPLE FIRST WITH EDIBLE
FOOD RECOVERY. WE FEED THE GRID
WITH RENEWABLE POWER. WE FEED
THE TANK WITH LOW CARBON FUEL.
BUT WE DON'T FEED THE GRID. WE
DON'T FILL UP THE LANDFILL. SO
WE'RE TAKING STUFF OUT OF THE
LANDFILL THAT CAN'T GET
COMPOSTED. AND FROM THE FOREST
SECTOR TO MAKE HYDROGEN. SO THIS
IS TRULY IT UP FOR ME. THE
CIRCULAR ECONOMY. ONE MORE TIME.
CAN YOU WRAP IT UP FOR ME? YEAH,
YEAH. SO, PFAS IS ANOTHER BILL
UP ON PARALYSIS. IT DESTROYS
PFAS AND BIOSOLIDS. SO IT'S
REALLY A TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION
ON BEHALF OF OUR WASTEWATER
PEOPLE TO MAKE HYDROGEN AND
DESTROY PFAS WITHIN THE BIOMASS.
WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT TODAY.
THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY WITNESSES IN
THE ROOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO
VOCALIZE THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS
MEASURE? THANK YOU. THERESA COOK
. YES. HAHA. THERE WE GO, GOOD
AFTERNOON, THERESA COOK, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
HYDROGEN COALITION, CALIFORNIA
HYDROGEN BUSINESS COUNCIL, AND
STRONG SUPPORT FOR THIS
RENEWABLE HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
TECHNOLOGY. THANK YOU,
PRISCILLA, KUDOS HERE ON BEHALF
OF THE SOLID WASTE ASSOCIATION
OF NORTH AMERICA LEGISLATIVE
TASK FORCE, THE CALIFORNIA
CHAPTERS AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. LUIS SANCHEZ, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA WASTE
HAULERS COUNCIL AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY
PRIMARY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION
IN THE ROOM? OKAY I'M JUST GOING
. WE'VE GOT TWO MINUTES. UNLESS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'LL DO TWO
MINUTES PER WITNESS, BUT A
LITTLE BIT OF GRACE. BECAUSE I
GAVE SOME TO THE TO THE FIRST
FOLKS AND JUST WANT TO MAKE
CLEAR, WE GOT A REALLY LONG
COMMITTEE. WE GOT A LOT OF
FOLKS, AND A LOT OF GOOD
LEGISLATION. AND SO I DON'T WANT
TO BE TOO TOUGH ON THAT. TWO
MINUTES, BUT JUST, JUST FLAGGING
IT FOR YOU NOW, YOU CAN BEGIN
WHEN YOU'RE READY. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MEMBER, NICK LOPEZ
WITH CALIFORNIANS AGAINST WASTE.
WE'RE HERE RESPECTFULLY IN
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL. AT THIS
TIME, WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN
OPPOSING US AMENDED POSITION,
HOWEVER, WE DID WANT TO EXPRESS
OUR GRATITUDE TO THE AUTHOR AND
HER STAFF AND TO THE COMMITTEE
STAFF FOR PUTTING A LOT OF TIME
AND EFFORT INTO THIS BILL. IT IS
A WONKY, COMPLICATED ISSUE THAT
HAS A LOT OF NUANCE AND VERY
SPECIFIC WORDING, CAN HAVE
DRAMATIC IMPACTS ON
INTERPRETATION. AND MUCH OF THIS
HAS BEEN ARGUED OVER AND
LITIGATED OVER FOR, FOR DECADES.
AND SO IT IS, VERY MUCH
APPRECIATED THAT IT'S BEEN GIVEN
THE TIME THAT IT DESERVES BY THE
AUTHORS STAFF AND BY THE
COMMITTEE. THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS
ADDRESSING SOME OF OUR CONCERNS,
BUT EVEN, AS AMENDED, THE BILL
STILL HAS A FEW, GLARING,
CONCERNS LEFT OVER. PRINCIPALLY,
WE REMAIN OPPOSED TO THE
INCLUSION OF HYDROGEN AS A
PROCUREMENT PATHWAY, ESPECIALLY
IF IT ISN'T LIMITED TO NON
DISPOSAL TECHNOLOGIES AND SAU
SEPARATED SB 1383 FEEDSTOCKS,
WHILE 1383 IS OFTEN THOUGHT OF
AS A METHANE AVOIDANCE MEASURE
TO GET STUFF OUT OF LANDFILLS.
IT'S MORE THAN THAT. MOST OF THE
BENEFIT OF DIVERTING ORGANIC
WASTE ACTUALLY COMES FROM MAKING
A COMPOST OUT OF THE FINISHED
PRODUCT OR A COMPOSTED
DIGESTATE. WHEN YOU APPLY THAT
COMPOST OR COMPOST DIGESTATE ON
NATURAL WORKING LANDS, YOU
SEQUESTER CARBON, YOU BUILD
HEALTHIER SOILS, YOU DO ALL THE
AMAZING THINGS THAT MY FRIEND
EVAN MENTIONED. HOWEVER, WHEN
YOU MAKE ENERGY OUT OF THE SAME
MATERIAL THROUGH A MOST WASTE
ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES OUTSIDE OF
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION, YOU DESTROY
THAT RESOURCE IN THE PROCESS. SO
YES, YOU AVOID THE LANDFILL
METHANE, BUT YOU DO NOT END UP
WITH A FINISHED COMPOST THAT YOU
CAN APPLY ON AGRICULTURAL LANDS.
AND EVEN WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF
ENERGY AND FUELS, THE
LEGISLATURE HAS BASICALLY
DELINEATED WASTE ENERGY INTO TWO
DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. WE HAVE
THE CATEGORY OF BIOMASS
CONVERSION AND ANAEROBIC
DIGESTION, WHICH CAN HANDLE VERY
SPECIFIC FEEDSTOCKS. AND THEY'RE
VERY LIMITED BY THE STATUTE.
THEY'RE ELIGIBLE TO COUNT AS
RECYCLING IN CALIFORNIA AND TO
COUNT AS RPS ELIGIBLE SEPARATELY
. WE HAVE OTHER WASTE TO ENERGY
TECHNOLOGIES THAT FALL UNDER THE
BUCKET OF TRANSFORMATION THAT
INCLUDES, TRANSFORMATION, MSW
CONVERSION, PYROLYSIS, AND THESE
ARE ALL FORMS OF DISPOSAL. AND
THE MAIN DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN
THE TWO IS THE MATERIAL THAT
GOES INTO IT. WHEN WE'RE
REFERRING TO SPECIFIC CLEAN
AGRICULTURAL BIOMASS. THANK YOU.
SORRY WE'RE REFERRING TO
SPECIFIC CLEAN AGRICULTURAL
BIOMASS. AS MENTIONED BY EVAN.
THAT IS ALLOWABLE UNDER THE RPS
ALLOWABLE UNDER DIVERSION
ACCOUNTING, IF YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT MIXED WASTE OR PLASTIC,
IT'S NOT. AND THAT'S AN
IMPORTANT DISTINCTION THAT WE'D
LIKE TO SEE ADDED TO THIS BILL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY TWO
FINAL, THAT'S OKAY. I'LL COMING
UP ON THREE, BUT LEAVE IT FOR
EMILY BEFORE WE, GET YOUR
TESTIMONY. MADAM SECRETARY, I
THINK WE HAVE A QUORUM. CAN WE
CAN WE CALL THE ROLL REAL QUICK?
YES, BRIAN. HERE, BRIAN. HERE.
FLORA. HERE. FLORA HERE.
CONNOLLY FRIEDMAN. HOOVER
CHOLERA. CHOLERA HERE.
MURATSUCHI PATTERSON. PATTERSON.
HERE. PELLERIN PELLERIN. HERE.
WICKS. WOOD. WOOD HERE. BEFORE
YOU CAN BEGIN. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. ASSEMBLY MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS EMILY GARCIA, AND I'M
WITH NRDC. WHILE NRDC
APPRECIATES THE AUTHOR'S
WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN AND TO OUR
CONCERNS ABOUT AB 2514 AND ADOPT
AMENDMENTS THAT IMPROVE THE
BILL, WE REGRETTABLY REMAIN
OPPOSED FOR THE FOLLOWING
REASONS. FIRST, THAT AB 2514
WOULD UNDERMINE THE INTENT OF SB
1383, PART OF WHICH WAS TO
IMPROVE ORGANICS RECYCLING
THROUGH ORGANICS RECYCLING
RETURNS NUTRIENTS AND CARBON TO
SOIL VIA COMPOSTING AND OTHER
PROCESSES. NRDC DOES NOT SUPPORT
USING ORGANICS WASTE, ESPECIALLY
SOURCE SEPARATE ORGANICS WASTE
AS FEEDSTOCK TO PRODUCE HYDROGEN
AND HYDROGEN PRODUCED ORGANICS.
WASTE SHOULD NOT COUNT AS
RECOVERED ORGANICS WASTE TO MEET
THEIR PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENTS.
UNDER SB 1383. SECOND, THE
PROPOSED PARALYSIS DEFINITION IS
AT ODDS WITH THE REGULATIONS OF
PARALYSIS FACILITIES UNDER THE
FEDERAL CLEAN AIR ACT. THE BILL
SUGGESTS THAT PARALYSIS
PROCESSES IS TAKING PLACE IN THE
ABSENCE OF OXYGEN. WHEN THE
CLEAN AIR ACT REGULATIONS
RECOGNIZES THAT PYROLYSIS
FACILITIES ARE TYPES OF
INCINERATORS WHERE SOME
COMBUSTION IS NEEDED, AS WELL AS
OXYGEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
ANY WITNESSES IN THE ROOM IN
OPPOSITION. CHRISTINA SCARINGE
AT THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL
DIVERSITY AND RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW
RETURN IT TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
MR. KARAS. OH, I'M SORRY, I'M
SORRY. JANET COX FOR CLIMATE
ACTION. CALIFORNIA IN
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU VERY YOU,
JANET. I APOLOGIZE, MR.
CHAIRMAN. I MISSED THE EARLIER
SUPPORT. DAVID QUINTANA, ON
BEHALF OF H CYCLE AND GREEN
HYDROGEN COALITION AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU SIR. MEGAN SHUMWAY, A
CITIZEN OF ARDEN-ARCADE
SACRAMENTO. IN OPPOSITION. THANK
YOU. AND WITH THAT, WE'LL TURN
IT TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MR.
CARRO. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
THANK YOU TO SUMMER AGUA CURRY
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND
FOR THE COMMENTARY ON BOTH SIDES
OF IT. AND TO THE GENTLEMAN YOU
HAD MENTIONED, THAT SOME THINGS
YOU'D LIKE TO SEE, ALTHOUGH
THERE'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT SOME
OF THE AMENDMENTS ALREADY DO
IMPROVE THE BILL TO SOME EXTENT.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF THE
COMMITTEE STAFF AND THE
COMMITTEE CHAIR AND THE
AGREEMENT FROM THE AUTHOR ON
SOME OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS,
WHICH I THINK CLEARLY NARROW
SOME OF THE CONFINES OF THE
BILL. BUT THE MIXED RECYCLING
WITH YOU MENTIONED THE MIXED
RECYCLING WITH PLASTICS ISSUE,
CAN YOU FURTHER, DEFINE THAT,
THAT AMENDMENT THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE TO SEE? JUST CURIOUS ABOUT
THAT. THANK YOU. SO WE'D LIKE TO
SEE THREE AMENDMENTS OR AT LEAST
THREE MAIN AMENDMENTS. THE FIRST
IS LIMITING THE HYDROGEN TO NON
DISPOSAL TECHNOLOGIES, WHICH
LIMITS THE FEEDSTOCKS THAT ARE
ALLOWED TO ACCEPT TO JUST
TRADITIONAL BIOMASS. SO
BASICALLY LIMITING IT TO
FACILITIES LIKE BIOMASS
CONVERSION FACILITIES. THE
SECOND IS AT THIS POINT WE
RECOMMEND TAKING OUT THE
DEFINITION OF PYROLYSIS BECAUSE
IT IS A VERY THORNY ISSUE. IT'S
BEING ARGUED ABOUT UNDER THE
FEDERAL CLEAN AIR ACT. SO WE
RECOMMEND JUST STRIKING IT. I
DON'T BELIEVE THE AUTHOR HAS
INDICATED THAT IT HAS ANY
SPECIFIC, IMPACT ON THE STATUTE
HERE. AND THEN FINALLY, UNDER
THE CARBON LOW LIFE CYCLE
ANALYSIS OF CARBON, WE'RE
CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE SOME
TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT MIGHT NOT
COME ACROSS AS THE MOST COST
EFFECTIVE PER TON. THINGS LIKE
EDIBLE FOOD RECOVERY, RURAL
COMPOSTING AND ANAEROBIC
DIGESTION, COMMUNITY COMPOSTING.
THESE SMALL NONPROFIT OR RURAL
PROJECTS DON'T ALWAYS COME OUT
AHEAD IN A DOLLARS PER TON
METRIC, BUT HAVE A LOT OF OTHER
BENEFITS. OKAY. SO SOME MAYBE
SOME WAYS OF CLARIFYING OR
DEFINING THE BENEFITS IN SOME
MANNER THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT,
SOME OF THOSE SMALLER ACTORS
THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COMPETE,
IF IT'S JUST A DOLLAR KIND OF
EQUATION, ONE ANOTHER THING THAT
I THINK GENERALLY I'M HEARING IS
THAT, YOU KNOW, THE OPPOSITION
WOULD LIKE EVERYTHING TO BE
COMPOSTED. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE
MAY NOT BE CAPACITY TO COMPOST
EVERYTHING, BUT IF THERE WAS
SOME WAY TO MAXIMIZE COMPOSTING
AS THE FIRST KIND OF OPTION,
RIGHT, LIKE, AS, YOU KNOW,
COMPOST AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. AND
WHAT THAT WHICH YOU CAN'T
COMPOST, FROM OPPOSITION
PERSPECTIVE, HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE
A PURE, PURELY ORGANIC AND THEN
GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS BECAUSE
I SHARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS. I
ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THE
OUTPUT OF THE PARALYSIS PRODUCT
IS ALSO EMITTED INTO THE
ATMOSPHERE. AND SO ONE OF THE
ISSUES OF WHERE THESE ARE
LOCATED IS ALSO A FACTOR THAT WE
TALK A LOT ABOUT THE
ENVIRONMENTAL JUST CGRTS ASPECTS
OF WHERE THESE KINDS OF
FACILITIES ARE LOCATED. SO I
THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE
SOMETHING THAT SHOULD AT LEAST
BE ACCOUNTED FOR AS WELL, AT
THIS TIME, GIVEN SOME OF THE
IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE AMENDMENTS
AND, AND I KNOW THE AUTHOR IS
SOMEONE THAT ALWAYS IS WILLING
TO CONTINUE TO COME BACK TO THE
TABLE. I THINK THE OPPOSITION
DOES BRING UP SOME VALID
CONCERNS AND IT LOOKS LIKE FOLKS
ARE AT LEAST ARE ALL TALKING TO
EACH OTHER, WHICH IS A GOOD
THING. AND SO I'LL SUPPORT THE
BILL TODAY TO ALLOW THOSE
CONVERSATIONS TO CONTINUE. AND
HOPEFULLY SOME OF THE OTHER
REMAINING ISSUES CAN BE WORKED
OUT IN ADDITION TO THE ONES THAT
ALREADY HAVE BEEN. THANK YOU,
MR. VICE CHAIR. FLORA THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR, APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR
, BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AND I
KNOW PROBABLY SEVEN MILES FROM
WHERE I GREW UP, THERE'S AN
INCINERATOR IN STANISLAUS
COUNTY. AND, FOR FAR TOO LONG,
WE IN THIS BUILDING, WE LET
PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF GOOD. SO
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND WOULD
LOVE TO MOVE THE BILL, MISS
PELLERIN, THANK YOU. THANK YOU
TO THE AUTHOR AS WELL FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD. SO
I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT THE
DEFINITION OF PYROLYSIS AS FAR
AS IS. AND THERE WAS A QUESTION
RAISED IN THE ANALYSIS AS WELL,
WHETHER IT IS THE CORRECT
DEFINITION. AND DOES IT SORT OF
LOCK US IN TO CHANGING
TECHNOLOGIES IN THE FUTURE? SO
IF THE AUTHOR CAN ADDRESS THAT
QUESTION, THAT'D BE GREAT. THANK
YOU FOR THE QUESTION. SO JUST BY
WAY OF BACKGROUND, I'M A FORMER
COMMISSIONER FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENERGY COMMISSION. AND THE BILL
WHEN IT WAS INTRODUCED ACTUALLY
WOULD HAVE CODIFIED THE
DEFINITION USED BY THE
CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION FOR
MORE THAN A DECADE, WHICH IS
IDENTICAL TO THE DEFINITION USED
BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY,
WHICH IS IDENTICAL TO THE
DEFINITION USED BY THE US
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.
THE COMMITTEE REQUESTED TO MAKE
SOME CLARIFYING CHANGES TO THAT
WHICH THE AUTHOR ACCEPTED, BUT
THIS IS THE TECHNICALLY ACCEPTED
DEFINITION ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN
STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, SO I
DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO
CHANGE. IT'S A TECHNOLOGY LIKE
COMBUSTION, LIKE GASIFICATION
THAT IS WELL UNDERSTOOD,
PYROLYSIS HAPPENS WITH VERY
LITTLE TO NO OXYGEN AT VERY HIGH
TEMPERATURE. AND EVERY SINGLE
ONE OF THOSE EXPERT AGENCIES
DIFFER MINES IT AS BEING THERMAL
DECOMPOSITION. SO THAT
DEFINITION REALLY ISN'T IN FLUX.
HOW IT'S USED, WHAT THE
FEEDSTOCKS ARE. AND I THINK SOME
OF THE CONCERNS FROM THE
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY ARE
JUSTIFIED BECAUSE PYROLYSIS WAS
DEVELOPED ORIGINALLY TO DEAL
WITH PLASTIC AND OTHER VERY
TOXIC FEEDSTOCKS. THE PROFILE OF
THE EMISSIONS AND THE PRODUCTS
IS VERY DIFFERENT WHEN YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT PURELY ORGANIC
WASTE, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE
FOCUSED ON HERE, AND SO THERE
ARE A LOT OF CONCERNS, AND I
SHARE THOSE CONCERNS WHEN YOU
GET TO PLASTIC AND OTHER
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE THAT GO
AWAY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
PYROLYSIS OF PURELY ORGANIC
WASTE. MR. WOOD, THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. A COUPLE A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS, ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT CAME UP HERE IS I SAW
REFERENCE TO INCENTIVE FUNDING
OR, FOR PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO
FACILITATE PROGRESS. SO TOWARDS
ORGANIC AND WASTE REDUCTION
TARGETS. SO CAN YOU DESCRIBE
THOSE WHAT THOSE INCENTIVES
MEAN. AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
FOR RURAL SMALL RURAL OPERATIONS
VERSUS LARGER ENTITIES WHO
HISTORICALLY TEND TO GOBBLE UP
LOTS OF GRANTS AND FUNDING? DO
YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M GOING?
YEAH, SO I'M GOING TO ALSO LET
ONE OF MY, SPONSORS SPEAK ON
THIS. BUT, I WANT YOU TO
REMEMBER, I WILL ALWAYS TAKE
CARE OF MY RURAL COMMUNITIES,
AND I'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE
INCENTIVE INCENTIVIZATION IS
TAKEN CARE OF FOR THEM AS WELL.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE,
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PIECES THAT
WE'LL MAKE SURE WE CLARIFY. GO
AHEAD. PERFECT THANK YOU. GREAT
QUESTION, I WORK AT CAL RECYCLE
A LOT, AND OVER THE LAST YEAR
THEY DISTRIBUTED $130 MILLION OF
GRANT FUNDING TOWARDS ANAEROBIC
DIGESTION AND COMPOSTING. GREAT
JOB. BUT OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS,
THEY'VE NEVER FUNDED ANYTHING
WITH BIOENERGY IN A SENSE OF
GASIFICATION. AND SO THIS WOULD
ALLOW A LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS WITH
THE CARBON INTENSITY AND WHAT WE
WERE SHOWING AT AT CAL RECYCLE.
THEY HAVE I CALL IT ARTICLE TWO
FINDING THAT SHOWS THAT THE
PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN USING
BIOMASS MATERIAL IS EQUAL OR
BETTER THAN COMPOSTING. AND I
REPRESENT THE CALIFORNIA COMPOST
COALITION, AND WE NEED ALL THE
TOOLS AND A TOOL BELT FOR THOSE
OTHER FEEDSTOCKS THAT WE CAN'T
COMPOST, LIKE WOODY BIOMASS FROM
THE FOREST SECTOR AND FROM THE
SO DEFINITELY WE NEED MORE
INCENTIVE FUNDING, AND IT SHOULD
BE BASED UPON THE LIFE CYCLE
ANALYSIS AND THE CARBON
INTENSITY. AND WE'RE CARBON
NEGATIVE. AND THIS PROJECT WILL
BE CARBON NEGATIVE AS WELL,
MAKING HYDROGEN OUT OF BIOMASS.
OKAY OKAY. COULD I ALSO JUST ADD
I THINK THERE'S A PERCEPTION
THAT THIS IS AN ANTI COMPOST
MOVE BECAUSE COMPOST EMITS A LOT
OF METHANE AND VOCS AND ACTUALLY
IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PERMIT. NOW IN
SEVERAL AIR DISTRICTS. FOR THAT
REASON THIS IS NOT AT ALL AN
ANTI COMPOST MOVE. EVEN WHEN
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ANAEROBIC
DIGESTION VERSUS COMPOST YOU GET
THE BIGGEST GREENHOUSE GAS
REDUCTIONS IF YOU DO BOTH. SO
THIS ISN'T AN EITHER OR. WHAT
WE'RE SAYING IS CALRECYCLE HAS
RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS OF GREENHOUSE GAS
REDUCTION FUND MONEY. SB 1383 IS
A SHORT LIVED CLIMATE POLLUTANT.
METHANE OR CARBON REDUCTION
BILL, AND CALRECYCLE HAS NOT
INCLUDED THE AMOUNT OF CARBON
REDUCTIONS IN ITS SCORING
CRITERIA. WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT
SHOULD BE THE ONLY CRITERIA. WE
ARE DEFINITELY NOT SAYING WHAT
NICK IS TALKING ABOUT. NOTHING
IN THE BILL SAYS WE'RE ASKING
FOR A DOLLAR PER TON METRIC, AND
THAT THAT SHOULD BE THE DECIDING
FACTOR. WE'RE JUST SAYING
CONSIDER IT. AMONG THE THINGS
THAT YOU CONSIDER WHEN YOU
DECIDE BETWEEN PROJECTS, BECAUSE
THERE WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH
MONEY. BUT I, I WOULD HOPE WE
CAN ALL AGREE FOR A CLIMATE
PROGRAM PRIORITIZING THE
PROJECTS THAT MAXIMIZE CLIMATE
BENEFITS, WHICH IS BIOENERGY
PLUS COMPOST OR BIOENERGY PLUS
BIOCHAR PRODUCTION IS HOW WE GET
TO THE BIGGEST BENEFITS. NOT
EITHER OR. GREAT. AND JUST A
FOLLOW UP TO THE CHAIR ONE. AND
JUST JUST IN GENERAL, UNLESS
SOMETHING'S CHANGED
DRAMATICALLY, I KNOW WE CAN'T
COMPOST EVERYTHING AND MY
EXPERIENCE IN MY PREVIOUS LIFE
WHEN I WAS WITH ON A BOARD OF
DIRECTORS FOR A WASTE STATE,
WASTE MANAGEMENT AGENCY SITING
NEW COMPOST FACILITIES IS
PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE IN THIS
STATE. AND I SEE YOU NODDING
THERE. SO I DON'T, YOU KNOW, SO
WE NEED FLEXIBILITY. I WAS FULLY
SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT YOU WANT TO
DO HERE. WE NEED FLEXIBILITY. WE
NEED THE ABILITY TO DO THAT
BECAUSE WE CANNOT SITE UP ENOUGH
FACILITIES TO PROCESS EVERYTHING
IN THE MOST BENEFICIAL WAY. SO
WE HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT
ALTERNATIVES. SO. SO ANYWAY,
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'D LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A
COAUTHOR TO YOUR BILL. IF YOU'D
HAVE ME, AND I'M HAPPY TO
SUPPORT YOU TODAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. WOOD. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS IT'S A FULL
HOUSE TODAY. OKAY, MR.
PATTERSON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MINE AND HEATH'S. MIKE'S ARE
WORKING. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY
ELSE IS. I CAN'T HEAR ANYBODY
TODAY, BUT I CAN ALWAYS HEAR
MYSELF, THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE
FROM THE OPPOSITION ABOUT HOW
THERE ARE OTHER SOLUTIONS THAT
ARE, I MEAN, I'M PARAPHRASING,
BUT MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT HAVE
OTHER BENEFITS. AND JUST
YESTERDAY I WAS LOOKING THROUGH
MY, GARBAGE BILL. AND IN THE
NEXT FOUR YEARS, IT'S SUPPOSED
TO GO FROM $50 TO $85. THE
IMPACTS OF THE LEGISLATION AND
REGULATIONS COMING THROUGH ARE
HAVING AN IMPACT. AND WE HAVE TO
KEEP THAT IN MIND FOR THE PEOPLE
THAT HAVE TO PAY THESE BILLS.
AND WHEN I LOOK AT THIS
LEGISLATION, THÀNH, IT'S STILL
ACCOMPLISHING THE GOALS. I'M NOT
A SCIENTIST, BUT IT'S STILL
ACCOMPLISHING THE GOALS THAT WE
SET OUT TO BE TO HAVE AS A STATE
AS FAR AS THE ENVIRONMENT IS
CONCERNED. BUT IT GIVES A LITTLE
BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY. SO MAYBE
WHEN MY CONSTITUENTS ARE LOOKING
AT THE BILL IN THE NEXT FOUR
YEARS, GOING UP ALMOST, YOU
KNOW, 40% MORE, 140% THAT
THEY'RE THINKING, OKAY, LOOK,
YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT DOESN'T HAVE
TO CONTINUE TO GO UP SO MUCH.
SO, I MEAN, WE HAVE TO ALWAYS
TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT IF WE CAN
ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS WHILE ALSO,
KEEPING PRICES LOW OR FOR
CALIFORNIANS, I THINK THAT'S
SOMETHING WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO
ACCOUNT. SO, LOOKING FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING THIS. BRING US HOME,
MR. MURATSUCHI. Þ. THANK YOU.
KNOW, I, I APOLOGIZE FOR,
MISSING. I WAS IN THE BUDGET
HEARING AND JUST CAME ACROSS THE
HALL. I, MISS, MAJORITY LEADER.
I'M LOOKING AT THE, OPPOSITION
LETTER OF NRDC, AND I APOLOGIZE,
I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO GET
BACK TO YOU, REGARDING MY
THOUGHTS ON THE BILL, BUT FIRST,
A CLARIFICATION. I, IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS JUST
DEALING WITH OR, OR, ORGANIC
WASTE FROM LANDFILLS. IT'S NOT
INVOLVING. IT'S NOT INCLUDING,
THE DAIRY BIOMETHANE. NO, NO.
OKAY ALL RIGHT, AND, THERE IS A
PROVISION IN THE NRDC LETTER
THAT TALKS ABOUT EXEMPTING
COUNTIES WITH FEWER THAN 70,000
RESIDENTS. WAS THAT ADDRESSED?
WE TOOK THAT OUT. OKAY. OKAY ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ABSOLUTELY. MISS AGUIAR-CURRY,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? I WOULD
LIKE TO CLOSE AS SOON AS I FIND
MY. YEAH, MY CLOSE HERE, FIRST
OF ALL, CALIFORNIA IS BEHIND
MEETING ITS SB 1383 GOALS, AND
THE STATUS QUO IS CREATING
HARMFUL METHANE EMISSIONS. THIS
BILL DOES NOT CHANGE THE WAY
PROJECTS ARE PERMITTED IN
CALIFORNIA, AND THEY WILL STILL
HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PUBLIC CEQA
PROCESS, AND THAT ADDRESSES ANY
IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT. BUT THIS
BILL IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT
GIVES COMMUNITIES AND PROJECTS
MORE CERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT
CREDITS THE PROJECTS WILL
QUALIFY FOR BEFORE THEY INVEST
SIGNIFICANT TIME AND RESOURCES
FOR THE PROJECT. I RESPECTFULLY
ASK YOUR AYE VOTE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE CONSIDER HOW TO USE THIS
WASTE IN WAYS THAT BENEFIT THE
ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY, RELIABILITY
, AND OUR ECONOMY. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MADAM
MAJORITY LEADER. IT, IT HAS BEEN
A PROCESS AND I APPRECIATE YOUR
STAFF FOR ENGAGING. I APPRECIATE
THE FACT THAT YOU AND I HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO ENGAGE, WE'VE MADE
GREAT STRIDES IN MAKING THIS A
BETTER BILL. AND I KNOW YOU AND
I DON'T THINK YOU'RE DONE, AND
NEITHER IS THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS. SO WE'VE GOT A MOTION
BY MR. LARA. I THINK I HEARD A
SECOND BY MR. WOOD, THIS BILL
HAS A DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION.
MADAM SECRETARY, CAN WE CALL THE
ROLL? THE MOTION IS TO PASS, AS
AMENDED, TO APPROPRIATIONS.
BRIAN, I BRIAN, I FLORA. FLORA I
CONNOLLY. FRIEDMAN. HOOVER
CHOLERA. CHOLERA. I MURATSUCHI
MURATSUCHI NOT VOTING.
PATTERSON. YES. PATTERSON I
PELLERIN I PELLERIN I. WICKS
WOOD. WOOD I THANK THANK YOU.
THAT BILL IS OUT GREAT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. AND AGAIN THANK
YOU TO YOUR COMMITTEE STAFF.
THEY WERE FABULOUS. ABSOLUTELY.
MR. LEE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO WOULD
YOU LIKE TO START WITH 2346?
SINCE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC OF
WASTE, WHY NOT? THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR AND COLLEAGUES, FIRST, I
WOULD LIKE TO ACCEPT THE
SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS ON PAGE
FOUR OF THE COMMITTEE ANALYSIS.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE COMMITTEE
STAFF FOR WORKING WITH US ON
THIS BILL. THIS BILL PROVIDES
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MORE
FLEXIBILITY TO MEET REQUIREMENTS
FOR ORGANIC WASTE PROCUREMENT
UNDER THE SB 1383 STRUCTURE TO
REDUCE CLIMATE POLLUTANTS CAUSED
BY ORGANIC WASTE IN LANDFILLS.
AMONG THE POINTS TO IMPROVE
IMPLEMENTATION ARE ALLOWING
PROCUREMENTS THROUGH A DIRECT
SERVICE CONTRACT ON A
RETROACTIVE BASIS IN ADDITION TO
A PROSPECTIVE BASIS. IN
ADDITION, THIS BILL ALLOWS FOR
THE COUNTY OF COMPOST
PROCUREMENT FROM ADDITIONAL
SOURCES AND TO COUNT INVESTMENTS
TO BUILD COMPOST PROCUREMENT
CAPACITY. THE SB 1383 PROGRAM IS
IMPORTANT FOR THE STATE TO
REDUCE CLIMATE POLLUTANTS, AND
THIS BILL HELPS TO KEEP
IMPLEMENTATION MOVING FORWARD.
WITH ME TODAY ARE TIMOTHY
BURROWS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF ALAMEDA STOP WASTE, AND
XINGSHI TANG, THE ORGANICS
PROGRAM MANAGER FOR ZERO WASTE
SONOMA. YOU CAN BEGIN WHEN
YOU'RE READY. OKAY. THANK YOU.
I'M TIMOTHY BURROWS. STOP. WASTE
IS A JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY
REPRESENTING THE 17
JURISDICTIONS IN ALAMEDA COUNTY.
AND OUR MISSION IS TO KEEP WASTE
OUT OF THE LANDFILL, WE HAVE A
30 YEAR HISTORY OF HELPING TO
MANAGE ORGANIC WASTE IN OUR IN
OUR COUNTY AND PROMOTING THE USE
OF COMPOST IN THE JURISDICTIONS
THAT WE SERVE. THE SB 1383
PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENTS WERE
DEVELOPED BY THE STATE TO
STIMULATE MARKETS FOR THE
INCREASE IN COMPOST. THAT IS
ANTICIPATED TO BE AVAILABLE FROM
THE ORGANICS COLLECTION
REQUIREMENTS WITHIN SB 1383. AND
OF COURSE, WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF
WASTE OF ORGANIC WASTE DIVERSION
EFFORTS ADVANCED THROUGH SB
1383, BUT THE TARGETS
PROCUREMENT TARGETS FOR EACH
CITY ARE QUITE HIGH AND THEY ARE
QUITE RIGID IN WHAT COUNTS
TOWARDS COMPLIANCE. SO, FOR
EXAMPLE, A CITY OF 100,000
PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO SPREAD
COMPOST ON ABOUT 250 SPORTS
FIELDS EVERY YEAR, AND THE COST
OF DOING THAT COULD RUN UP TO $1
MILLION PER YEAR, 1.2 MILLION,
WE'VE HEARD FROM COMPOSTERS THAT
THEY DO NOT EXPECT TO HAVE
ENOUGH COMPOST TO MEET THE
EXISTING MARKET DEMAND, PLUS THE
ADDITIONAL DEMAND CREATED BY THE
1383 PROCUREMENT TARGETS. AND WE
KNOW THAT JURISDICTIONS ARE
STRUGGLING TO MEET THE
PROCUREMENT TARGETS WITHIN SB
1383. SO AB 2346 IS THE RESULT
OF OVER A YEAR OF DISCUSSIONS
WITH A COALITION OF COMPOSTERS
AND SEVERAL COUNTIES TO IDENTIFY
A SET OF RECOMMENDED SOLUTIONS.
THE BILL WOULD ADD FLEXIBILITY
REGARDING WHAT PRODUCTS COUNT
FOR COMPLIANCE. IT WOULD ALSO
ADD MORE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS
THAT CAN HELP CITIES COMPLY, AND
IT WOULD MAKE AN EASIER, AS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER LEE SAID, FOR A
CITY TO USE DIRECT SERVICE
PROVIDERS TO PROCURE PRODUCTS ON
THEIR BEHALF, WE WANT TO THANK
ASSEMBLY MEMBER LEE AND HIS
STAFF FOR ALL THEIR LEADERSHIP
AND THEIR WORK ON THIS MEASURE,
AND WE ALSO WANT TO THANK
CALRECYCLE FOR THEIR OPEN DIALOG
WITH US ON POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS
TO THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. IT WAS
FANTASTIC TIMING, FANTASTIC. ARE
YOU READY? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
NANCY TAN AND I LEAD COUNTYWIDE
IMPLEMENTATION OF 1383 IN SONOMA
COUNTY. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF
ZERO WASTE SONOMA AT JPA. THAT
REPRESENTS ALL TEN OF OUR MEMBER
JURISDICTIONS IN STRONG SUPPORT
OF AB 2346. WE HAVE PUT MANY
HOURS, STAFF HOURS AND A LOT OF
MONEY INTO TRYING TO BUILD A NEW
FACILITY AND COMPOST FACILITY IN
SONOMA COUNTY, AND WE DO A LOT
OF INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION FOR
COMMUNITY COMPOSTING AND A LOT
OF COMPOST OPERATIONS IN SONOMA
COUNTY. AND SO WITH THIS BILL,
AB 2346, WE CAN OBTAIN
PROCUREMENT CREDIT FOR ALL OF
OUR INVESTMENTS WITHOUT
COMPETING WITH OUR LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS, I'M SORRY, LOCAL
FARMERS AND RANCHERS FOR A
LIMITED SUPPLY OF COMPOST AND
WITHOUT HAVING TO IMPORT COMPOST
FROM OTHER COUNTIES. SO WE URGE
YOUR AYE VOTES ON AB 2346. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? IN
SUPPORT, MY NAME IS MICHAEL. I'M
TALKING ON BEHALF OF THE
COMMUNITY ALLIANCE WITH FAMILY
FARMERS. WE'RE A SUPPORTIVE
AMENDED. CAN I JUST GET TWO
SENTENCES? SURE. GREAT. THANK
YOU. SO THE COMMUNITY ALLIANCE
WITH FAMILY FARMERS REPRESENTS
8000 MEMBERS. FARMERS UP AND
DOWN THE STATE, AND WE GENERALLY
LIKE THE MEMBER'S BILL. WE WANT
TO SUPPORT IT, BUT WE NEED THE
DEFINITION OF ON FARM COMPOST TO
BE CHANGED BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT
PRECLUDES ANY MATERIAL THAT'S
NOT PRODUCED ON THE FARM. A LOT
OF OUR FARMERS NEED SUPPLEMENTAL
MATERIAL TO MAKE THEIR ON FARM
COMPOST, IF THIS DEFINITION IS
CHANGED, WE BELIEVE WE CAN
SUPPORT THIS BILL. AND WE ALSO
THINK, FARMERS CAN CONTRIBUTE A
LOT TO THE USE IN THE MAKING OF
COMPOST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
. YEAH ANYBODY IN THE ROOM WHO
WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS THEIR
SUPPORT FOR THIS MEASURE?
AFTERNOON AGAIN. CALIFORNIANS
AGAINST WASTE. WE ACTUALLY HAVE
A SUPPORT AND CONCEPT POSITION,
JUST BECAUSE THE BILL IS STILL A
WORK IN PROGRESS. BUT WE
DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE MONTHS
OF DIALOG WITH THE SPONSORS.
THANK YOU. PERFECT. THANK YOU,
KAYLA ROBINSON, ON BEHALF OF
CALIFORNIA COMPOST COALITION
ALIGNING OUR COMMENTS WITH
CALIFORNIANS AGAINST WASTE AND
ALSO ON BEHALF OF RETHINK WASTE
AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK
MELISSA SPARKS KRANZ WITH THE
LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES IN
SUPPORT. GABRIELLA FAZIO WITH
SIERRA CLUB CALIFORNIA AND
SUPPORT CLIFTON WILSON ON BEHALF
OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN
FRANCISCO IN SUPPORT. JOHN
KENNEDY, RURAL COUNTY
REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. MIKE ZUBIATE
WITH CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
VOTERS IN SUPPORT. KEELEY
MORRIS, ON BEHALF OF LOS ANGELES
COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICTS IN
SUPPORT. MICHAEL CAPRIO FOR
REPUBLIC SERVICES HERE IN
SUPPORT, NATALIA WITH CRUZ
STRATEGIES ON BEHALF OF SAN
MATEO COUNTY IN SUPPORT. JANET
COX FOR CLIMATE ACTION
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYBODY
IN THE HEARING ROOM WHO WOULD
LIKE TO REGISTER THEIR
OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. WE'LL
NOW TURN IT TO COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. MR. WOOD. THANK YOU.
MR. MR. CHAIR, JUST A QUESTION
TO, SONOMA WASTE ZERO WASTE
SONOMA, WHERE ARE YOU? IN, IN IN
THE IN YOUR COMPOST FACILITY. AS
FAR AS, AS FAR AS CONSTRUCTION
AND PRODUCTION. YEAH. SO OUR
PREVIOUS, AS YOU MIGHT KNOW, OUR
PREVIOUS COMPOST FACILITY IN
SONOMA COUNTY, SONOMA COMPOST
WAS SHUT DOWN IN 2015. AND SINCE
THEN WE HAVE BEEN OUT HAULING TO
THE NEIGHBORING COUNTIES. SO WE
HAVE BEEN TRYING SINCE 2015 TO
BUILD A NEW FACILITY, MULTIPLE
PROJECTS THAT HAVE FAILED. THE
CURRENT ONE IS A VERY RECENT
LIKE, STILL VERY NEW. SO WE HAVE
JUST HIRED A CONTRACTOR, SES
ENGINEERS, TO DO ENVIRONMENTAL
PERMITTING AND 30% ENGINEERING.
BUT THAT'S A THREE YEAR CONTRACT
THAT JUST STARTED. THANK YOU.
AND THAT'S THAT'S THE POINT I
WOULD I REALLY WANTED TO
EMPHASIZE GOING BACK TO THE
PREVIOUS THE PREVIOUS BILL, SO
WRITING PERMITTING AND BUILDING
COMPOST FACILITIES IS EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT. THIS IS A ALMOST TEN
YEAR PROJECT WHEN WE'RE STILL
THREE OR 4 OR 5 YEARS
POTENTIALLY AWAY FROM THAT. SO
AS AS WE MOVE TOWARDS OUR THE,
TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF THE GOALS
WHICH ARE, WHICH ARE IMPORTANT,
WE NEED TO FACTOR PIECES OF
INFORMATION LIKE THIS INTO
LEGISLATION. SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU,
MR. WOOD. ANY OTHER COMMENTS,
MR. KELLER, JUST FOLLOWING UP ON
THE COMMENT MADE BY THE
COMMUNITY ALLIANCE OF FAMILY
FARMERS. SO ARE YOU GOING TO BE
ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT DEFINITION
OF THE ON FARM COMPOSTING? SO
WE'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH
DIFFERENT GROUPS ABOUT,
DIFFERENT LANGUAGE GOING
FORWARD. SO BE SOMETHING GOING
FORWARD. YEAH, I MEAN,
DEFINITELY I'M SURE THERE ARE
EXPERTS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH
THAT. SO IT MIGHT BE SOME GOOD
HELPFUL INFORMATION, BUT THANK
YOU. YES PERFECT. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS FROM
COMMITTEE. MISS LEE, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE RESPECTFULLY ASK
YOUR AYE VOTE. ABSOLUTELY. THIS
HAS A DO PASS RECORD FROM THE
CHAIR. MADAM SECRETARY, CAN WE
CALL THE ROLL? THE MOTION IS TO
PASS, AS AMENDED, TO
APPROPRIATIONS. BRIAN. HI,
BRIAN. AYE, FLORA. HI. FLORA. I
CONNOLLY, A CONNOLLY, I
FRIEDMAN. HOOVER CHOLERA.
CHOLERA. I MURATSUCHI MURATSUCHI
I PATTERSON. HI PATTERSON I
PELLERIN I PELLERIN I WICKS
WOOD. WOOD I. EIGHT VOTES. THAT
BILL IS OUT BEFORE WE GO TO YOUR
NEXT BILL, SINCE WE HAVE
EVERYBODY HERE, CAN WE RUN
THROUGH THE CONSENT CALENDAR
REAL FAST? SO THANK YOU. MOTION
BY MR. WOOD, SECOND BY MISS
PELLERIN. CONSENT ITEMS ARE ITEM
FOR AB 2298. HART ITEM NINE, AB
2522. CARRILLO. ITEM TEN AB
2600. CALDERON ITEM 13 AB 2731
CARRILLO. ITEM 16 AB 2958.
CALDERON BRIAN I BRIAN I. FLORA.
FLORA I CONNOLLY. CONNOLLY, I
FRIEDMAN. HOOVER. CHOLERA.
CHOLERA I MURATSUCHI. MURATSUCHI
I. PATTERSON PATTERSON I.
PELLERIN. PELLERIN I WICKS.
WOOD. WOOD I. PERFECT. YOU CAN
BEGIN WITH A 2503. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS,
I'M PRESENTING AB 2503. FIRST I
WANT TO SAY THAT I ACCEPT THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS REFERENCE
ON PAGE THREE OF THE COMMITTEE
ANALYSIS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK
THE COMMITTEE STAFF FOR WORKING
WITH US ON THIS BILL. AB 2020
503 WILL STREAMLINE DELIVERY OF
TRAIN ELECTRIFICATION PROJECTS.
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FACES
SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS IN MEETING
ITS CLIMATE GOALS, ACCORDING TO
THE ARB'S 2022 SCOPING PLAN.
VEHICLES MILES TRAVELED VMT
REDUCTIONS WILL PLAY AN
INDISPENSABLE ROLE IN REDUCING
OVERALL TRANSPORTATION ENERGY
DEMAND AND ACHIEVING THE STATE'S
CLIMATE, AIR QUALITY AND EQUITY
GOALS, THE REPORT ALSO
EMPHASIZES THAT A KEY STRATEGY
TO ACHIEVE VMT REDUCTIONS WILL
REQUIRE THE STATE TO INVEST IN
MAKING PUBLIC TRANSIT A VIABLE
ALTERNATIVE TO DRIVING BY
INCREASING AFFORDABILITY,
RELIABILITY, COVERAGE, SERVICE
FREQUENCY, AND CONSUMER
EXPERIENCE. ELECTRIFICATION OF
LOCOMOTIVES WILL BE AN IMPORTANT
PART OF THE LARGER STRATEGY TO
REDUCE TRANSPORTATION EMISSIONS,
AND EXISTS AT THE NEXUS OF AIR
QUALITY AND CLIMATE GOALS.
ELECTRIFIED TRAINS ARE FASTER
AND WOULD ALLOW TRANSIT AGENCIES
TO RUN TRAINS MORE FREQUENTLY.
IN ADDITION, THE ELECTRIFICATION
OF EXISTING RAIL CORRIDORS WILL
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE SOURCES OF
AIR POLLUTION THAT ACUTELY
AFFECTS FRONT LINE COMMUNITIES
WITH POLLUTANTS SUCH AS NITRIC
OXIDE, OZONE, AND OTHER
PARTICULATE MATTER. AT A TIME
WHEN THE NEEDS TO ELECTRIFY OUR
RAIL LINES HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE
CLEAR, SUBSTANTIAL BARRIERS
REMAIN TO DELIVER PROJECTS AND
TIMELY FASHION. AS AN EXAMPLE,
CALTRANS LONG AWAITED RAIL
ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT WAS
DELAYED FOR YEARS, IN PART DUE
TO LITIGATION. AB 2503 WILL
ALLOW THE STATE TO SCALE UP THE
DECARBONIZATION OF ITS
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND WILL
REDUCE THE COST OF ELECTRIFYING
OUR RAIL SYSTEM. WITH THAT, I
LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY LEAD
WITNESSES AND SUPPORT MARK
VUCEKOVICH FOR STREETS FOR ALL
AND STEVE ROBERTS WITH THE RAIL
PACK. WELCOME STREETS FOR ALL.
GOOD MORNING CHAIR. MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE, MARK VUKOVICH
FROM STREETS FOR ALL. WE'RE
PROUD SPONSORS OF THIS BILL AND
OUR INTENT IS REALLY SIMPLE. YOU
TAKE EXISTING DIESEL RAIL
CORRIDORS AND IF YOU WANT TO
MOVE THEM TO ELECTRIC CLEANER
THAN DIESEL, YOU WANT TO EXEMPT
THAT FROM SEQUA. THIS EXEMPTION
WOULD PROHIBIT LENGTHY AND OFTEN
PROHIBITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR BAD FAITH
LITIGATION. DIESEL TRAINS HAVE
PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN
REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CARS AND
TRUCKS ON THE ROADS, AND WE'RE
VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THEIR
CONTINUED USE. BUT WE ALSO NEED
TO CONFRONT THE REALITIES THAT
THERE ARE EMISSIONS FROM. THESE
TRAINS ARE PRESENT. LOCALIZED
HEALTH CONCERNS COMMUNITIES
LIVING NEAR DIESEL RAIL
CORRIDORS ARE EXPOSED TO HIGHER
LEVELS OF AIR POLLUTANTS, WHICH
ARE LINKED TO RESPIRATORY
ILLNESSES AND OTHER ISSUES,
ELECTRIFYING THESE DIESEL RAIL
CORRIDORS IS A DIRECT ACTION
TOWARDS MITIGATING THESE HEALTH
RISKS. OVERHEAD ELECTRIFICATION
IS BETTER ON ALL FRONTS THAN
DIESEL TRAINS. IT'S BETTER FOR
NOISE, IT'S BETTER THAN FOR
EMISSIONS, IT'S BETTER FOR
FREQUENCY AND SPEED.
ELECTRIFICATION ISN'T NOVEL.
IT'S BEING DONE FOR CALTRAIN,
FOR CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL.
IT'S DONE FOR MOST LIGHT RAIL
AND ANY OF THE MAJOR CITIES IN
OUR IN OUR STATE. AND IT'S BEEN
DONE FOR DECADES. THIS POLICY
SHIFT WILL POTENTIALLY BENEFIT
CALIFORNIA'S AMTRAK LINES.
METROLINK COASTER AND THE WHOLE
LUZON RAIL CORRIDOR IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA. CAPITAL CORRIDOR
THAT THEY GAINED. THEY STAND TO
GAIN SUBSTANTIALLY FROM
RELIABILITY, EFFICIENCY AND
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS. THE SAGA
OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH CALTRAIN
SERVES AS A STARK REMINDER, THE
TOWNS, THE ATHERTONS LEGAL
CHALLENGES AGAINST CALTRAIN
ELECTRIFICATION EXEMPLIFIES HOW
PROJECTED ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS
AND LITIGATION CAN DRAMATICALLY
INFLATE COSTS AND TIMELINES TO.
SO OUR GOAL IS SIMPLE EXEMPT
THESE DIESEL RAIL CORRIDORS FROM
TURNING BECOMING ELECTRIFIED,
THE EXISTING DIESEL RAIL
CORRIDORS, WHILE KEEPING THE
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND BENEFIT
THAT IS, REQUIRED OF SEQUA. AND
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING WITHIN
THE SB 922 FRAMEWORK FROM
SENATOR WIENER A FEW YEARS AGO.
AND THAT'S ALSO WHAT WE WORKED
WITH OUR EJ PARTNERS. I AND I
ENCOURAGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS
BILL. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. TWO MINUTES. THANK
YOU, CHAIR. AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO ADDRESS YOU ON THE IMPORTANCE
OF AB 2503. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF
THE ALL VOLUNTEER PASSENGER RAIL
RAIL PASSENGER ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA. AND RAIL
PAC RECOMMENDS THAT THE
COMMITTEE SUPPORT AB 2503
OVERHEAD CATENARY
ELECTRIFICATION IS THE MOST
EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGY FOR ZERO
EMISSIONS RAIL. IT'S THREE TIMES
MORE EFFICIENT THAN HYDROGEN AND
1.2 TIMES MORE EFFICIENT THAN
BATTERY ONLY. THIS REDUCES GRID
GENERATOR REQUIREMENTS, WHICH IS
A KEY FACTOR THAT NEEDS TO BE
CONSIDERED IN THE OVERALL
ELECTRIFICATION. PACKAGE.
OVERHEAD ELECTRIFICATION NOT
ONLY ELIMINATES LOCAL CRITERIA
POLLUTION, BUT IT SUBSTANTIALLY
REDUCES NOISE. REDUCED POLLUTION
AND NOISE ARE ESPECIALLY
IMPORTANT FOR LINE SIDE
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
COMMUNITIES. AB 2503 HELPS
MITIGATE LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT
HAVE DELAYED AND INCREASE THE
COST FOR THE INSTALLATION OF
OVERHEAD CATENARY,
ELECTRIFICATION, OVERHEAD
CATENARY, ELECTRIC STATION IS A
MATURE OFF THE SHELF TECHNOLOGY
AND THE WORLDWIDE CHOICE FOR
ZERO ELECTRIC EMISSIONS. RAIL IF
CALIFORNIA IS TO MEET ITS
CLEANER AIR GOALS, THE
ELIMINATION OF BARRIERS THAT
SLOW OR INCREASE THE COST OF
ZERO EMISSION INITIATIVES IS
CRITICAL. AB 2503 WOULD
ACCOMPLISH THIS, AND I URGE ITS
PASSAGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. ARE THERE ANY FOLKS HERE
IN THE HEARING ROOM WHO WOULD
LIKE TO REGISTER THEIR SUPPORT
FOR THIS BILL? PAUL DYSON, 56
YEAR VETERAN OF THE RAILROAD
INDUSTRY, MEMBER OF RAIL PACK
AND CALIFORNIANS FOR ELECTRIC
RAIL ELECTRIFICATION, IS THE
WORLD'S STANDARD, STRONGLY
SUPPORT THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. HI, I'M IAN MONROE
HERE WITH EAST BAY FOR EVERYONE
IN SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR.
CHAIR. MATT ROBINSON ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA TRANSIT
ASSOCIATION, I JUST WANT TO
THANK THE AUTHORS OFFICE AND THE
SPONSORS FOR WORKING WITH US. WE
HOPE TO HAVE AN OFFICIAL SUPPORT
POSITION SOON. PERFECT. DO WE
HAVE ANY PRIMARY OPPOSITION IN
THE ROOM? COME ON DOWN. YOU'VE
GOT TWO MINUTES, SIR.
MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS PAT MORAN
WITH AARON REED AND ASSOCIATES,
REPRESENTING THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL
SCIENTISTS. WE REPRESENT THE
6000 SCIENTISTS WHO WORK FOR THE
STATE, WHO DO A LOT OF THE
SEQUEL WORK, LAUDABLE GOAL. WE
LIKE ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES OR
NEAR ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES, WE
JUST THINK THERE ARE EXEMPTING
THESE PROJECTS FROM SEQUA IS THE
WRONG DIRECTION. THERE ARE
CURRENTLY EXISTING EXEMPTIONS
THAT WE FEEL THESE PROJECTS CAN
BENEFIT FROM, WHETHER IT'S THE
WIENER BILL OR WHETHER IT WAS
THE INFRASTRUCTURE STREAMLINING
PACKAGE THAT WAS PASSED LAST
YEAR, WE JUST DON'T THINK
EXEMPTING MORE AND MORE PROJECTS
FROM SEQUEL, WHETHER IT BE, THE
PROJECTS THAT ARE CONTAINED IN
THIS BILL OR IN THE MANY OTHER
BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED
THIS YEAR, IS THE WAY TO GO.
IT'S DYING A DEATH BY A THOUSAND
CUTS. AND ALSO WE HAVE TO POINT
OUT, THERE ARE MANY SPECIES THAT
HAVE ADAPTED TO THE IMPACTED
HABITATS AROUND THESE, AREAS.
AND IF WE'RE TO UNDERSTAND IF
MITIGATION IS NEEDED, THE ONLY
WAY WE'LL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND
THAT IS IF WE DO SEQUA. SO WITH
THAT, WE'RE OPPOSED TO THE BILL.
AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH
. ARE THERE ANY PERSONS HERE IN
THE HEARING ROOM WHO WOULD LIKE
TO REGISTER THEIR OPPOSITION TO
THIS BILL?
GABRIELA WITH SIERRA CLUB
CALIFORNIA IN OPPOSITION. UNLESS
AMENDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MR. CARRA.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT, THE
COMMITTEE PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT
THAT WOULD LIMIT EXEMPTION
EXPANSION TO ZERO EMISSION RAIL
PROJECTS. IS THAT STILL
SOMETHING THAT'S UNDER
CONVERSATION OR SOMETHING THAT
WAS OFFERED AND ACCEPTED AS A
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT? THAT HAS
BEEN OFFERED. OKAY I'VE OFFERED
AND ACCEPTED. OKAY. I JUST WANT
TO KNOW THAT. THANK YOU. JUST
WANT TO CLARIFY. YEAH. THAT WERE
THAT WAS THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS THAT WERE PROPOSED.
AND WE ACCEPTED THAT. THANK YOU.
MR. WOOD, I PROMISE I DON'T HAVE
A QUESTION ON EVERY BILL, BUT
WHAT I'M CURIOUS, ARE THERE FROM
FROM THE RAIL FOLKS HERE, ARE
THERE ARE, LOW EMISSION, LOWER
EMISSION TRAINS. IS THERE
SOMETHING IN BETWEEN ALL
ELECTRIC AND THE FULL DIESEL AT
THIS POINT? YEAH. IS THERE SOME
IS THERE SOMETHING IS THERE
SOME? I MEAN, WE LOOK AT IT AS A
TRANSITION. TECHNOLOGY IN TERMS
OF MAKING A BATTERY POWERED A
LOCOMOTIVE WITH A DIESEL
LOCOMOTIVE, AND THEN HAVING
STRETCHES OF CATENARY WHERE THE
GRADES ARE SO, SO EFFECTIVELY,
THEN YOU CAN KEEP THE BATTERY
CHARGED AS YOU HIT THE STEEPEST
PART OF THE GRADE. AND WE SEE
THAT DEALING WITH ONE OF THE BIG
BARRIERS TO, TO ELECTRIFICATION
HISTORICALLY WAS THAT YOU
COULDN'T USE IT UNTIL YOU
COMPLETED THE WHOLE THING. BUT
WITH DISCONTINUOUS COMBINING,
DISCONTINUOUS ELECTRIFICATION
AND BATTERY, YOU CAN DO SECTIONS
OF THE, THE ELECTRIFICATION AND
GET BENEFITS FROM IT AS YOU GO.
AND YOU SLOWLY TRANSITION YOU
INSTEAD OF TWO DIESEL UNITS AND
ONE BATTERY UNIT, THEN YOU GO
ONE DIESEL AND TWO BATTERY, AND
FINALLY YOUR BATTERY WITH ENOUGH
SECTIONS OF LIKE, CATENARY THAT
IT GETS RECHARGED. SO THERE IS
AN INTERMEDIATE. SO, SO THERE IS
AN INTERMEDIATE. DOES DO ANY OF
THE AMENDMENTS IN THE BILL MAKE
THAT THAT INTERMEDIATE PIECE
HARDER TO UTILIZE? NO BECAUSE
THIS DEALS WITH THE INSTALLATION
OF THE CATENARY. OKAY OKAY. THAT
WAS THAT WAS I JUST YEAH I
RECOGNIZING THAT SOMETIMES LIKE
WE'VE HEARD BEFORE, WE'RE IN
PURSUIT OF PERFECTION WHERE
THERE'S SOMETHING GOOD AND THERE
NEEDS TO BE THERE'S OBVIOUSLY
GOT TO BE A TRANSITION SOMEWHERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT. SO I JUST
DIDN'T WANT TO THROW OUT THE
BABY WITH THE BATHWATER, SO TO
SPEAK, HERE, ON THAT. SO THANK
YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK
YOU, MR. WOOD. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS, MR.
FRIEDMAN? SO I VERY MUCH LIKE
WHAT THE BILL IS TRYING TO DO.
CERTAINLY. AND WE NEED TO SPEED
UP THE DEPLOYMENT OF, PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION AND CERTAINLY OF
SWITCHING TO, ELECTRIFIED PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION. I DO HAVE A
QUESTION, THOUGH, ABOUT ONE
SCENARIO THAT DOES GIVE ME A
LITTLE PAUSE, WHICH WOULD BE
JUST IF YOU HAVE AN EXISTING
RIGHT OF WAY THAT'S NEVER
ACTUALLY BEEN, LET'S SAY, A
TRAIN BEFORE IT EXISTS SOMEWHERE
IN A FOREST, BUT IT'S NEVER IT
HASN'T ACTUALLY BEEN USED AS
RAIL. THAT THEN COULD THEN WITH
THE WHOLE PROJECT BE CEQA EXEMPT
IF OR ONLY OR IS IT MORE LIMITED
BY A CONVERSION OF SOMETHING
THAT'S CURRENTLY BEING USED. SO
THE CURRENT STATUTE WE'RE
BUILDING OFF OF LIMITED TO ONLY
URBANIZED AREAS. SO THE FORESTS
KIND OF SITUATION. SO IT'S ONLY
IN URBANIZED AREAS. OKAY. WELL
THAT THAT I THINK IS REALLY
HELPFUL. THANK YOU. MR.
MURATSUCHI THANK YOU. SO, YEAH,
I ALSO, YOU KNOW, I'VE GONE ON
MY RANT BEFORE ABOUT HOW HOW
SLOW IT IS TO, TO BUILD,
ELECTRIC RAIL SERVICE HERE IN
THE UNITED STATES. YOU AND I
TRAVELED TO JAPAN, WHERE WE SAW
ONE OF THE WORLD'S BEST TRAIN
SYSTEMS. AND, CLEARLY, THEY SEEM
TO BE ABLE TO GET IT DONE A LOT
FASTER THAN WE CAN HERE IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. AND SO I'D
LIKE TO SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT
WOULD, HELP SPEED THINGS UP, I
DO HAVE A SPECIFIC SITUATION IN
MY DISTRICT WHERE, LA METRO IS,
IS, ATTEMPTING ONE OF THE
PROPOSALS IS TO, TO, EXTEND,
ELECTRIC LIGHT RAIL, ALONG A
RIGHT OF WAY THAT WOULD COEXIST
WITH A DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE SERVICE
, WOULD THIS BILL PREVENT A CEQA
LAWSUIT? FOR THE EXTENSION OF
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT RAIL ALONG A
EXISTING RIGHT OF WAY THAT ALSO
IS BEING USED BY DIESEL
LOCOMOTIVE? YES, IT WOULD
PREVENT IT FOR THE SAKE OF THE
LIGHT RAIL ELECTRIFICATION. AND
IT WOULD NOT PREVENT ANYTHING
THAT HAD TO DO WITH LITIGATION
ASSOCIATED WITH THE DIESEL
LOCOMOTIVES. WHAT IF WHAT IF THE
PROJECT INVOLVED SLIGHTLY MOVING
THE DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE RAIL,
WITHIN THE EXISTING RIGHT OF
WAY, BUT STILL INVOLVING A
MOVEMENT OF THE DIESEL SERVICE?
I THINK IT WOULD NEED TO
UNDERSTAND THE SPECIFICS OF THE
PROJECT BETTER. BUT MY ANSWER,
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IS THAT
THAT WOULD NOT BE ASSOCIATED
PART OF OUR BILL, WE WE'D NOT
EXEMPT THAT MOVEMENT FROM, FROM
SEQUA. I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD
BE ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT WE'RE
DOING IN THE TEXT OF THE BILL.
YEAH. I'LL GET BACK TO YOU,
THOUGH. OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU.
SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MR. LEE,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE, JUST
WANTED TO CLARIFY FOR COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, WE
NEED TO BE MEETING OUR GREEN
CLIMATE GOALS. AND TRANSIT IS
ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS
OF DOING SO. YOU HEAR AD NAUSEAM
IN THIS STATE HOUSE, FROM FOLKS
THAT JUST SIMPLY RELYING ON THE
EV TRANSITION MAY NOT, MAY NOT,
MAY LEAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND
AND GETTING THERE. PUBLIC
TRANSPORT IS A PROVEN CENTURY
OLD WAY TO GET PEOPLE RELIABLY
TO POINT A TO POINT B, AND WE
HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO A GREEN
WISE. THIS BILL SPECIFICALLY IS
ABOUT THAT UPGRADE OF A OLDER
TRAIN THAT WAS MUCH MORE LIKELY
TO BE POLLUTING THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY AND GETTING IT TO
ELECTRIFICATION. THIS IS ABOUT
THE CATENARIES. SO THIS BILL IS
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE POWERING
ASPECT OF THE CATENARY, THE
WIRES THAT RIGHT OVER THE HEAD
WHEN IT COMES TO, SAY, CHANGING
THE TRACK OR DOING ANY OF THOSE
THINGS THAT DOES NOT APPLY TO
IT. EXISTING, PUBLIC, EXISTING
STATUTE ALREADY COVERS LIGHT
RAIL. OUR BILL DOES NOT COVER
LIGHT RAIL TO JUST TRAIN IN
GENERAL, HEAVIER PASSENGER
TRAIN. SO THIS BILL IS ABOUT
CAREFULLY MAKING SURE WE CAN
MEET OUR GOALS WHILE ALSO NOT
SLOWING DOWN THE PROCESS FOR
FRIVOLOUS THINGS LIKE SOMETHING
NEAR MY DISTRICT. WHEN THE
CALTRANS ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT
HAPPENED, WHICH IS FROM SAN JOSE
ALL THE WAY TO SAN FRANCISCO, IT
WAS HELD UP FOR THINGS AS SILLY
AS VISUAL IMPACTS OR FAILING TO
STUDY MODERN DIESEL OPTIONS, AND
THAT RESULT AND THAT DELAY
RESULTS IN REAL COST DELAYS THAT
COST US PROBABLY OVER $20
MILLION OF DELAYS TO EFFECTIVELY
GET PEOPLE ON THE SAME TRACK,
BUT JUST IN A CLEANER, SLIGHTLY
FASTER WAY TO. SO I URGE YOUR
AYE VOTE ON THIS VERY, NARROW,
NARROWLY TAILORED PROVISION TO
GET OUR TRAINS MOVING FASTER AND
GET MORE PEOPLE IN GREENER MODES
OF TRANSPORTATION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. LEE. DID WE HAVE
A MOTION? A MOTION BY MISS
FRIEDMAN? SECOND BY MR.
MURATSUCHI, THIS BILL ENJOYS A
DUE PASS FROM THE CHAIR. MADAM
SECRETARY, CAN WE CALL THE ROLL?
THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS AS
AMENDED TO APPROPRIATIONS.
BRIAN, I, BRIAN, I FLORA. HI,
FLORA. I CONNOLLY. HI CONNOLLY I
FRIEDMAN. FRIEDMAN I HOOVER.
CHOLERA MURATSUCHI. MURATSUCHI I
PATTERSON. PATTERSON. I PELLERIN
. PELLERIN I WICKS. WOOD WOOD. I
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS
QUIRK-SILVA. WITH A B 3150.
WE'LL MOVE FROM COMPOST TO THE
FIRE. WILDFIRE MITIGATION. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO
BEGIN BY THANKING YOUR COMMITTEE
STAFF FOR WORKING WITH ME ON
THIS BILL. AND I ACCEPT THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS. ASSEMBLY
BILL 3150 STRAIGHTENS THE
ACCURACY OF CALIFORNIA'S FIRE
HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES MAPS BY
ALLOWING THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL
TO CONSIDER MAP REVISIONS
THROUGH A PETITION PROCESS. S
THESE MAPS EVALUATE HAZARD BASED
ON THE PHYSICAL CONDITIONS THAT
CREATE A LIKELIHOOD AND EXPECTED
FIRE BEHAVIOR OVER A 30 TO 50
YEAR PERIOD WITHOUT CONSIDERING
MITIGATION MEASURES SUCH AS HOME
HARDENING, HARDENING, DEFENSIBLE
SPACE, VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, OR
FUEL REDUCTION EFFORTS. THIS AB
3150 IS A GOOD GOVERNMENT
MEASURE THAT ESTABLISHES A
MECHANISM TO UPDATE THE FIRE
HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAPS FOR 50
ACRES OR MORE, SIMILAR TO THE
PROCESS USED FOR FLOOD MAP
REVISIONS, UPDATING AND
STREAMLINING CRITICAL
INFORMATION AND PROCESSES SUCH
AS MAPS ADDRESSED IN THIS BILL.
SUPPORTS THE STATE'S GOAL OF
INCREASING HOUSING STOCK AND
MEETING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
NEEDS. AB 3150 NOT ONLY PROMOTES
HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY AND
AFFORDABILITY, BUT MOVES
CALIFORNIA TOWARD A SAFER, MORE
RESILIENT FUTURE WHERE EVERYONE
CAN LIVE, WORK AND THRIVE WITH
CONFIDENCE AND SECURITY. WITH ME
TODAY TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY AND
SUPPORT AND TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE IS
MR. SILVIO FERRARI WITH THE
CALIFORNIA BUILDING INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION AND SPONSORS OF AB
3150. THANK YOU SO MUCH. TWO
MINUTES. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR.
CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS, SILVIO
FERRARI, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA BUILDING INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION HERE IN STRONG
SUPPORT AND PROUD TO BE SPONSORS
OF THIS MEASURE, YOU KNOW, WE
ALL KNOW THAT WE NEED MORE AND
MORE TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX WHEN
IT COMES TO PREVENTING,
PREPARING AND ULTIMATELY
RESPONDING TO WILDFIRES. AND WE
THINK AB 3050 HAS A NUMBER OF
KEY FEATURES THAT WILL REALLY
ALLOW US TO DO THAT AS WE MOVE
FORWARD INTO A WORLD THAT LOOKS
TO BE ONLY HAVING MORE AND MORE
CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRES IN THE
FUTURE, BUT ONE OF THE KEY
TENETS AND KEY PROVISIONS OF
THIS BILL THAT WE THINK COULD BE
A REAL GAME CHANGER IN THE
FUTURE WHEN IT COMES TO
PROTECTING COMMUNITIES, IS THIS
PROVISION OF THE BILL THAT SAYS
A PETITIONER COULD COME TO THE
STATE FIRE MARSHAL, COME TO THE
STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND SAY, HEY,
I AM LOOKING AT IMPLEMENTING
THIS SUITE OF MITIGATION
MEASURES, DEFENSIBLE SPACE
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT UPDATES TO
CHAPTER SEVEN. A LOCAL COMMUNITY
PLANS, WHATEVER THEY MIGHT BE.
IF I IMPLEMENT THESE MEASURES,
WHAT IS THAT GOING TO DO FOR MY
FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE
DESIGNATION? DO THAT UP FRONT,
GET SOME FEEDBACK INITIALLY SO
IT COULD BE A HOMEOWNERS
ASSOCIATION. IT COULD BE A
PROJECT DEVELOPER. IT COULD BE A
CITY OR A TOWN. IT COULD BE A
SUITE OF PEOPLE THAT THE STATE
FIRE MARSHAL CAN DETERMINE WHO
THOSE PEOPLE SHOULD BE. BUT THEN
YOU CAN COME AND SAY, PLEASE RUN
THROUGH YOUR MODELING. WHAT WILL
BE THE BENEFICIAL IMPACT OF
DOING THESE THINGS? BECAUSE
RIGHT NOW, THE WAY IT IS TODAY,
YOU'RE KIND OF JUST GUESSING
WITHOUT ANY REAL EXPERTISE
COMING FROM THE LEAD AGENCY TO
TELL YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT, THOSE
ARE WORTHWHILE MITIGATION
MEASURES TO MAKE TO A COMMUNITY.
SO WE THINK FRONT LOADING THOSE
THINGS AND CREATING A PROCESS TO
DO THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY
BENEFICIAL AS WE MOVE FORWARD
INTO WHATEVER THE WILDFIRE WORLD
IS GOING TO BE LIKE. SO AGAIN,
THAT IS ONE OF THE REAL MAJOR
COMPONENTS OF THIS BILL. WE
WOULD URGE YOUR AYE VOTE AND
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANY PERSONS
IN THE HEARING ROOM WHO WOULD
LIKE TO REGISTER THEIR SUPPORT
FOR THIS MEASURE? MR. CHAIR,
MEMBERS MADISON D¯ÚI ON BEHALF
OF THE FAMILY WINEMAKERS OF
CALIFORNIA AND SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE, ADAM WRIGLEY WITH
THE CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
AND GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS, ROB
SPIEGEL, CALIFORNIA
MANUFACTURERS AND TECHNOLOGY
ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
SKYLER WONACOTT, ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA BUSINESS
PROPERTIES ASSOCIATION AND
SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON, NATALIE
BORST ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE
AND SUPPORT. BEAUTIFUL. ANY
PRIMARY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION.
WONDERFUL. ANY PERSONS IN THE
HEARING ROOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO
REGISTER THEIR OPPOSITION? WELL
DONE, MISS QUIRK-SILVA. ANY
COMMENTS BY COMMITTEE MEMBER,
MR. WOOD? SURPRISE, SURPRISE,
FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU, MISS QUIRK-SILVA, FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THIS IS
ACTUALLY CONSISTENT WITH OTHER
EFFORTS IN THE FIRE MITIGATION
SPACE, MOVING MORE
RESPONSIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITIES
TOWARDS THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL.
SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE THIS ONE AS
WELL AND WOULD LOVE TO BE ADDED
AS A COAUTHOR, IF YOU'LL HAVE
ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR.
WOOD. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS? I'VE GOT A
MOTION BY MR. FLORES. DO WE HAVE
A SECOND? SECOND? MISS PELLERIN,
MISS QUICK, SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN
AYE VOTE. WONDERFUL. THIS.
ENJOY. THIS IS SMART. THANK YOU
FOR BRINGING THIS TO US, IT
ENJOYS A DUE PASS RECO FROM THE
CHAIR. MADAM SECRETARY, CAN WE
CALL THE ROLL? THE MOTION IS
DUE. PASS AS AMENDED TO
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
BRIAN I BRIAN I FLORA. HI.
FLORA. I CONNOLLY I CONNOLLY I
FRIEDMAN. FRIEDMAN I HOOVER
COLLURA MURATSUCHI PATTERSON. HI
PATTERSON I PELLERIN PELLERIN I
WICKS WOOD WOOD I. THAT HAS
SEVEN VOTES. THANK YOU THANK YOU
MEMBERS. MY BROTHER FROM COMPTON
. SO MEMBER MIKE GIBSON. WOULD
YOU LIKE TO COME TO COMPTON?
CARSON. WILLOWBROOK, NORTH LONG
BEACH? YOU KNOW, IT. CAN BEGIN
WHEN YOU'RE READY. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR.
CHAIRMAN. AND MEMBERS, FIRST
TIME PRESENTING, BEFORE THIS
COMMITTEE WITH THE NEW CHAIR
BEING HERE. SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE
AND PRESENT ASSEMBLY BILL 2465.
THIS BILL AIMS TO PRIORITIZE AND
PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO
SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED GROUPS BY
INCENTIVIZING EXISTING
ORGANIZATIONS TO DIVERSIFY,
DIVERSIFY THEIR GOVERNING BODY,
MR. CHAIRMAN, AND MEMBERS BY
EMPOWERING, DIVERSE, DIVERSE LED
ORGANIZATIONS. AB 2465 AIM TO
INTEGRATE THEM INTO CALIFORNIA'S
CLIMATE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
WORKFORCE. THERE ARE EVIDENCE
FUNDING DIFFERENT BETWEEN,
DIVERSE LED ORGANIZATIONS AND
THOSE THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY
THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT FUNDING,
DISPARITIES BETWEEN DIVERSE LED
ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHERS. FOR
INSTANCE, BLACK AND BROWN
NONPROFIT LEADERS RECEIVING ONLY
ABOUT 4% OF THE PHILANTHROPIC
FUNDING IN THE UNITED STATES,
DESPITE COMPARED TO
APPROXIMATELY 10% OF NON OF
NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP NATIONWIDE.
ACCORDING TO THE BRIDGE SPAN
ANALYSIS, THE UNDER RESTRICTED
NET ASSETS OF BLACK LED
ORGANIZATIONS ARE 76% SMALLER
THAN THE COUNTERPARTS AT AND,
AND THEIR AVERAGE PERCENTAGE OF
REVENUE, WAS LESS THAN HALF.
THIS INEQUITY IS AND THIS
INEQUITIES IS CONCERNING, AS
WHEN YOU LOOK AT FUNDING AND HOW
IT CORRELATES TO TRUST, DIVERSE
LED ORGANIZATIONS FACE
CHALLENGES SUCH AS FEWER STAFF,
SMALLER BUDGETS AND LESS
FUNDING, LEADING TO THEM BEING
REDLINED, AT TERMS INDICATED
SEVERE UNDERFUNDING AND LACK OF
SUPPORT. ASSEMBLY BILL 2465
PROPOSED THREE POLICY CHANGES TO
ENHANCE EQUITY IN STATE
GOVERNMENTAL, LED, OR
GOVERNMENTAL GRANTS MADE FOR
PERFORMING FOR PERFORMING
ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE.
AGRICULTURAL URBAN FOREST,
FORESTRY, LAND ACQUISITIONS AND
WATERSHEDS IMPROVING WITH SUNSET
DATE OF JANUARY THE 1ST, 2031
FIRST STATE AGENCIES WOULD BE
WILL BE MANDATED TO AWARD
PREFERENCE POINTS TO NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS, WITH A MAJORITY
OF THOSE BOARD MEMBERS COMING
FROM DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.
TWO STATE AGENCIES WOULD, WOULD
BE BARRED FROM, PENALIZING
SOCIAL DISADVANTAGED
ORGANIZATIONS THAT LACK MATCHING
FUNDS FOR GRANT REQUESTS AND
THREE SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED
ORGANIZATIONS. HISTORICALLY
UNDERREPRESENTED IN CERTAIN
INDUSTRIES WOULD NOT BE WOULD
NOT REQUIRE NOW WOULD BE
REQUIRED TO DEMONSTRATE, THIS,
WOULD NOT EXCUSE ME, REQUIRE A
DEMONSTRATION OF COMPLETION
EQUAL PROJECTS BY STATE AGENCY,
AS, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS,
WITH ME TO PROVIDE SUPPORTING
TESTIMONY ON ASSEMBLY BILL 2465
IS APRIL BIRD FROM THE
CONSERVATION STRATEGY GROUP. AND
ALSO DARRYL LUCIAN, WITH
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN
WATER EDUCATION FOUNDATION IN
SUPPORT OF ASSEMBLY BILL 2465.
THANK YOU. CHAIR MEMBERS DARRYL
LUCIAN HERE REPRESENTING THE
CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN
WATER EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AS
WELL AS, 40 ACRE CONSERVATION
LEAGUE AS SPONSORS. ALSO
THANKFUL TO BE HERE ADDRESSING,
WHO I BELIEVE MIGHT BE THE FIRST
AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAIR OF THE
ASSEMBLY NATURAL RESOURCES
COMMITTEE, MEMBERS, THIS BILL IS
REALLY AN IMPLEMENTATION OF A
RESOLUTION THAT YOU ALL
SUPPORTED LAST YEAR, HOUSE
RESOLUTION 32, WHICH PRIOR
CRITIZED IT REQUESTED THAT, A
COUPLE OF STATE AGENCIES CALL
EPA CALIFORNIA NATURAL RESOURCES
AGENCY SUPPORT, INCREASING THE
NUMBER OF GRANTS TO SOCIALLY
DISADVANTAGED ORGANIZATIONS. WE
GOT THE DEFINITION, FROM OF
SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED
ORGANIZATIONS BY REALLY LEANING
INTO, THE FARMER EQUITY ACT OF
2017, WHICH WAS AUTHORED BY THE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER AGUIAR-CURRY.
AND SO EFFECTIVELY, WHAT WE'RE
HOPING TO DO IS TO STANDARDIZE,
TO SOME EXTENT, WHAT THE STATE
IS ALREADY DOING. THE STATE IS
ALREADY AWARDING DIFFERENT TYPES
OF POINTS FOR ENGAGEMENT, IN
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES,
AWARDING CERTAIN TYPES OF POINTS
FOR ENGAGING WITH TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES AND OTHERS, WE'RE
REALLY JUST SORT OF COMPILING
SOME OF THESE EXISTING PRACTICES
THAT ARE PRESENT IN SOME
PROGRAMS, BUT NOT IN ALL, AND
SORT OF STANDARDIZING THAT
ACROSS THE BOARD, THE RESOLUTION
LAST YEAR, H.R. 32 DID RECEIVE
STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. THIS
BILL HAS BEEN CRAFTED, ON A
LIMITED BASIS, SORT OF AS A
PILOT PROGRAM TO APPLY TO A SET
OF URBAN AND RURAL PROGRAMS, AND
I GUESS I WOULD JUST CONCLUDE
WITH THIS THAT, WE'RE HOPING
THAT A BILL LIKE THIS WILL,
INCREASE THE ABILITY OF
STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE WORKING OUT
IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW TO
BRING, MORE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
TO NATURE AS WELL AS MORE OF
NATURE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE,
VOTE. MR. CHAIR MEMBERS, MY NAME
IS APRIL BIRD WITH CONSERVATION
STRATEGY GROUP ON BEHALF OF
OUTWARD BOUND ADVENTURES, OR
OBA, IN SUPPORT OF AB 2465.
ESTABLISHED IN 1962, OBA IS THE
OLDEST NONPROFIT IN THE COUNTRY
DEDICATED TO CONNECTING YOUTH
AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO THE
OUTDOORS. OBA OPERATES VARIOUS
OUTDOOR LEARNING PROGRAMS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE, BUT
PREDOMINANTLY IN LOS ANGELES
REGION AND SOUTH LOS ANGELES.
NORTHWEST PASADENA, AND OUT EAST
TO SAN BERNARDINO. THEIR
PROGRAMS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR ALL AGES TO ENGAGE IN
MEANINGFUL NATURE BASED
EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS TRAINING
AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS
DESIGNED TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF
DIVERSE YOUTH AND PROVIDE
PATHWAYS TO SUCCESSFUL CAREERS
IN THE CONSERVATION FIELD. AB
2465 PROMOTES GREATER INCLUSION,
CONSIDERATION AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, INVESTMENTS IN
COMMUNITIES. OBA SERVES AND WHO
WILL GREATLY BENEFIT FROM THE
COMMITMENTS LAID OUT IN THE
BILL. WE APPRECIATE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER GIBSON'S
LEADERSHIP IN AUTHORING AB 2465
AND RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
AYE VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANY
WITNESSES IN THE HEARING ROOM
WHO WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER? ANY
PERSONS WHO WOULD LIKE TO
REGISTER THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS
BILL? SEEING NONE, ANY PRIMARY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION TO THIS
MEASURE? SEEING NONE, ANY
PERSONS IN THE ROOM WHO WOULD
LIKE TO REGISTER THEIR
OPPOSITION FOR THIS BILL, SEEING
NONE, TURN IT TO COMMITTEE
COMMENTS. MR. WOOD. I'LL SECOND
IT, THOUGH. JUST CLARIFYING. MR.
GIBSON, YOU'RE ACCEPTING THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS? YES. OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, GOT A MOTION
BY MR. FLOOR A SECOND BY MISS
PELLERIN, MR. GIBSON, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE? THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN. AND MEMBERS,
AND THANK YOU FOR MOVING THE
BILL AGAIN. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, AND
WE THINK THAT THIS IS A SMALL
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THAT
I THINK THAT CAN LEAD TO,
GENERATIONAL CHANGES TAKING
PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE
. THANK YOU, MR. GIBSON, I KNOW
YOUR INTENTIONS BEHIND THIS
BILL, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR COMING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
AND THE SOLUTION I'VE CHECKED
WITH LAWRENCE, AND WE DON'T
BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER
BLACK CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE,
SO I APPRECIATE YOU POINTING
THAT OUT, A LOT OF US KNOW WHAT
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES LOOK
LIKE FROM PLACES LIKE MR. WOOD
REPRESENTS TO PLACES THAT YOU
AND I AND OTHERS REPRESENT. AND
SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS
WORK. THIS BILL ENJOYS A DUE
PASS RECO FROM THE CHAIR. MADAM
SECRETARY, CAN WE CALL THE ROLL?
THE MOTION IS DUE PASS AS
AMENDED TO WATER, PARKS AND
WILDLIFE COMMITTEE. BRIAN. AYE.
BRIAN. AYE. FLORA Ã. LARA. AYE.
CONNOLLY. CONNOLLY. AYE
FRIEDMAN. FRIEDMAN. AYE. HOOVER.
KARL LÀ. MURATSUCHI PATTERSON.
PELLERIN PELLERIN. AYE. WICKS.
WOOD WOOD. AYE. THANK YOU. HAS
SIX VOTES. THAT BILL IS OUT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY.
FIRST. YEAH. MISS ADDIS, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO PRESENT.
FIRST, THANK YOU. MR. WELL.
THANK YOU. CHAIR I WANT TO THANK
ALSO MY STAFF, NATURAL RESOURCES
STAFF AND THE ADVOCATES THAT ARE
HERE TODAY. I'M HERE TO PRESENT
AB 3233, THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL
CHOICE AND SAFETY ACT. THIS
BILL, IF ENACTED, WILL FINALLY
ALLOW LOCAL COMMUNITIES THE
DECISION MAKING ABILITY TO
PROTECT THE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS,
THE SAFETY OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT
AND THE VALUE OF THEIR LOCAL
PROPERTY AGAINST THE HARMFUL
EFFECTS OF OIL AND GAS
PRODUCTION. THIS IS ESPECIALLY
IMPORTANT AS CALIFORNIA WORKS TO
MEET OUR CLEAN ENERGY GOALS. WE
ALL KNOW IT'S INDISPUTABLE THAT
OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION HARM
NEARBY COMMUNITIES. THIS
INCLUDES INCREASED RISK OF
ASTHMA OF. PRETUM BIRTHS OF
CANCER AND CARDIAC DISEASE, AND
THIS HAPPENS ESPECIALLY IN LOW
INCOME COMMUNITIES AND
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. IT'S ALSO
INCREASED RISKS OF EARTHQUAKES,
OIL SPILLS, AND AIR POLLUTION,
AS WELL AS DEPRECIATION OF
PROPERTY VALUES AND DECREASED
RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT. BECAUSE
OF THESE HARMS, CITIES AND
COUNTIES ARE TRYING TO PROTECT
THEIR RESIDENTS BY SAYING NO TO
OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION.
COMMUNITIES SUCH AS MONTEREY
COUNTY, SAN BENITO COUNTY, THE
CITY OF LOS ANGELES, THE COUNTY
OF ALAMEDA, AND CULVER CITY HAVE
INTRODUCED ORDINANCES AND PASSED
LOCAL MEASURES TO REDUCE OR
ELIMINATE OIL AND GAS
OPERATIONS, AND DESPITE
UNFORTUNATE DESPITE THESE
POPULAR LOCAL MEASURES, THE
CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT RULED
LAST FALL THAT DUE TO STATE LAW,
COMMUNITIES CANNOT MAKE SUCH
DECISIONS. SO IT'S TIME FOR US
TO ACT. IT'S TIME TO ALLOW LOCAL
COMMUNITIES TO BE ACTIVE
PARTICIPANTS IN PROTECTING THEIR
COMMUNITIES, AND IN MEETING
CALIFORNIA CLIMATE GOALS. SO AB
3233 DOES THREE THINGS. IT WILL
CLARIFY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
AUTHORITY TO LIMIT OR PROHIBIT
OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS METHODS
AND LOCATIONS WITHIN THEIR
JURISDICTION. IT WILL ESTABLISH
THAT IF A LOCAL ENTITY DOES
THIS, THE OWNERS OR OPERATORS
WILL PLUG ABANDONED AND
DECOMMISSIONED WELLS, AND IT
ALSO IMPORTANTLY REQUIRES CAL
JAM TO MINIMIZE HARM FROM OIL
AND GAS OPERATION ACTIVITIES,
AND REVISES THE STATED PURPOSE
OF THE DIVISION OF OIL AND GAS
TO INCLUDE PRESERVING
CALIFORNIA'S AIR, WATER,
ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES,
AND ADVANCING THE STATE'S
CLIMATE GOALS. SO I'VE GOT TWO
WITNESSES HERE TODAY HOLLAND
KURTZMAN, KRETZMANN. EXCUSE ME,
SENIOR ATTORNEY FOR THE CENTER
FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY FROM
THE CLIMATE LAW INSTITUTE, AND
DOCTOR LARA SOLORIO, PRESIDENT
OF PROJECT MONTEREY COUNTY
PROTECT MONTEREY COUNTY. EXCUSE
ME. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLYMEMBER,
TWO MINUTES EACH. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR BRIAN AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS HOLLAND KRETZMANN FOR
THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL
DIVERSITY. I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH
MORE THAN A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE
WITH CALIFORNIA'S OIL AND GAS
LAWS. I'M HERE FOR THE CENTER,
IN SUPPORT AND SPONSOR OF AB
3233, LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHOICE
AND SAFETY ACT, A BILL THAT
WOULD PRESERVE THE ABILITY OF
LOCAL CITIES AND COUNTIES TO USE
THEIR LOCAL AUTHORITY TO PROTECT
THEIR RESIDENTS FROM OIL AND GAS
POLLUTION. IT'S COMMON SENSE
THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OUGHT TO
BE ABLE TO DECIDE WHETHER AND
UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS POLLUTING
ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS, AFTER DUE
CONSIDERATION FROM HEARING FROM
THEIR CONSTITUENTS, CONSIDERING
THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH
RISKS, THAT'S THE WAY IT'S
ALWAYS BEEN IN CALIFORNIA. THESE
LOCAL LAWS, AFFECT ALL VARIETY
OF INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING OIL AND
GAS. THESE HAVE BEEN ON THE
BOOKS FOR DECADES, AND THEY CAN
SPAN FROM STRAIGHT UP BANS TO
MINIMUM SETBACK DISTANCES, TO
ORDINANCES THAT ENCOURAGE
FURTHER PRODUCTION. BUT LAST
YEAR, THE CALIFORNIA SUPREME
COURT INVALIDATED PARTS OF
MONTEREY'S LOCAL OIL AND GAS
ORDINANCE AND EVEN THOUGH IT WAS
A NARROW RULING BASED ON AN
OUTDATED 1961 PROVISION OF STATE
OIL AND GAS CODE, THE OIL
INDUSTRY HAS USED THAT RULING TO
SOW CONFUSION AMONG CITIES AND
COUNTIES LOOKING TO PASS
ORDINANCES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL,
THE INDUSTRY'S THREATS AND
INTIMIDATION HAVE RESULTED IN A
CHILLING EFFECT, SO THAT CITIES
AND COUNTIES ARE LOOKING FOR
MORE CLARITY IN STATE LAW TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SCOPE OF
LOCAL AUTHORITY IS. AB 3233
WOULD PUT AN END TO THIS
CONFUSION BY UPDATING THE PUBLIC
RESOURCES CODE TO MAKE IT
CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS DO HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO PROTECT THEIR
RESIDENTS FROM OIL AND GAS
DEVELOPMENT, AND SPECIFYING THAT
THIS CAN INCLUDE CERTAIN
TECHNIQUES LIKE FRACKING,
WASTEWATER DISPOSAL, ETC. IT
WOULD ALSO CONFIRM THAT THE
STATE'S OIL AND GAS REGULATORS
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PRIORITIZE
OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND NOT
THE PROFITS OF THE OIL INDUSTRY.
SO WITH THAT, WE URGE YOU TO
SUPPORT AB 3233, AND I'LL TURN
IT OVER TO DOCTOR SOLORIO. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR BRIAN AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
DOCTOR LARA SOLORIO. I LIVE IN
SALINAS, CALIFORNIA, WHERE I'VE
WORKED AND RAISED A FAMILY FOR
ALMOST 40 YEARS. I WAS ALSO BORN
AND RAISED IN THE NEARBY SAN
BENITO COUNTY. I AM AN INTERNAL
MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AND PRACTICE
AT THE COUNTY HOSPITAL AND
HEALTH DEPARTMENT. I WAS PART OF
A GROUP OF LOCAL RESIDENTS
CALLED PROTECT MONTEREY COUNTY
THAT PROPOSED MEASURE Z, A 2016
BALLOT INITIATIVE TO RESTRICT
SOME OF THE WORST KINDS OF OIL
ACTIVITY THREATENING OUR
COUNTY'S HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT AND
CLIMATE. I SUPPORTED MEASURE Z
BECAUSE AS A DOCTOR, I
UNDERSTAND THE HEALTH THREATS
POSED BY OIL AND GAS DRILLING IN
OUR COMMUNITIES. PROTECT
MONTEREY COUNTY'S ALL VOLUNTEER
GROUP MANAGED TO COLLECT ENOUGH
SIGNATURES TO PROPOSE THESE
LOCAL ORDINANCES TO END NEW
DRILLING WASTEWATER DISPOSAL AND
FRACKING. WE SPENT MONTHS MAKING
OUR CASE TO VOTERS THAT WE
NEEDED BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTIONS TO PROTECT OUR WATER
SUPPLY AND TO STOP OIL AND GAS
EXPANSION. DESPITE THE OIL
INDUSTRY SPENDING OVER $5
MILLION TO DEFEAT THE
INITIATIVE, MEASURE Z PASSED
OVERWHELMINGLY THE VOTERS THAT
DAY SPOKE LOUD AND CLEAR AT THE
BALLOT BOX, BUT WHAT SHOULD HAVE
BEEN A LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENT FOR
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION WAS UPENDED BY AN
IMMEDIATE BARRAGE OF OIL
INDUSTRY LAWSUITS. OUR LOCAL
COMMUNITY GROUP DEFENDED MEASURE
Z IN COURT AND EVEN AGAINST AN
ARMY OF INDUSTRY LAWYERS. WE WON
ON MANY LEGAL GROUNDS, BUT THE
CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT RULED
AGAINST THE MEASURE ON ONE KEY
ISSUE, SAYING THAT OUR ORDINANCE
PREEMPTED BUT WAS PREEMPTED BY
AN ARCHAIC PROVISION OF THE
PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE ENACTED IN
THE 1960S. THAT'S WHY WE NEED AB
3233. IT WOULD CLARIFY STATE LAW
SO THAT CITIES AND COUNTIES FEEL
EMPOWERED TO MAKE THESE
DECISIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
THIS BILL IS NOT ONLY ABOUT
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, IT'S
ABOUT SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY BY
PUTTING THE POWER IN THE HANDS
OF THE PEOPLE MOST AFFECTED BY
DECISIONS AROUND OIL AND GAS. I
ASK YOU TO SUPPORT AB 3233.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY PERSONS IN THE
HEARING ROOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO
REGISTER THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS
MEASURE? GOOD AFTERNOON
CHRISTINA SCARINGE. I'VE BEEN
ASKED TO REGISTER SUPPORT FOR
THE CLIMATE CENTER NEXT
GENERATION CALIFORNIA SUNFLOWER
ALLIANCE CLIMATE FIRST REPLACING
OIL AND GAS, OIL AND GAS ACTION
NETWORK. ELECTED OFFICIALS TO
PROTECT AMERICA. CODE BLUE.
QUEERS FOR CLIMATE AND CENTRAL
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
NETWORK. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, KIM STONE OF STONE
ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER
WATCHDOG IN SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, EMILY GARCIA WITH
NRDC IN SUPPORT. GABRIELLA FAZIO
WITH SIERRA CLUB CALIFORNIA IN
STRONG SUPPORT. KATIE MCCAMMON
ON BEHALF OF 350 SACRAMENTO
SUPPORT AND ALSO SUPPORT FROM
FOSSIL FREE CALIFORNIA
INDIVISIBLE CALIFORNIA GREEN
TEAM 350. SOUTH LAND ALLIANCE
350. SOUTH BAY LOS ANGELES 350.
BAY AREA ACTION 350 SAN DIEGO
AND HUMBOLDT COALITION FOR CLEAN
ENERGY. MEGAN SHUMWAY IN SUPPORT
OF BY FROM CALIFORNIA CLIMATE
CLIMATE ACTION, CALIFORNIA AND
CLIMATE REALITY PROJECT,
CALIFORNIA COALITION. AND IT
TALKS. MEGAN JUST SPOKE FOR ME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WILLIAM, ON
BEHALF OF CLIMATE HEALTH NOW, A
COALITION OF ABOUT 1000
CALIFORNIA HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
IN SUPPORT. LOU FLORES 350
CONTRA COSTA ACTION ALSO 350 BAY
AREA ACTION IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. MARK FENSTERMAKER FOR
EARTHJUSTICE AND SUPPORT. VIÆT
MICHAEL ZUBIATE WITH CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS IN SUPPORT.
ALFRED Tê AS AN INDIVIDUAL IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. REBECCA
MARCUS, REPRESENTING THE CENTER
FOR FOOD SAFETY AND SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EMMA SILBER WITH
PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY LOS ANGELES AND
THE STAND LÀ COALITION STAND
TOGETHER AGAINST NEIGHBORHOOD
DRILLING, LOS ANGELES AND
SUPPORT, AS WELL AS IN SUPPORT
COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER
ENVIRONMENT, REDEEMER COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIP, CLIMATE HEALTH NOW,
AND SAN FRANCISCO BAY.
PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. I'M AUGUSTIN CABRERA
ON BEHALF OF STRATEGIC CONCEPTS
AND ORGANIZING AND POLICY
EDUCATION OR SCOPE AND SUPPORT.
HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON. ANA
GONZALEZ REPRESENTS THE CENTER
FOR COMMUNITY ACTION AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, ALSO
KNOWN AS CAGE, IN FULL SUPPORT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. DO I SEE A
COUPLE PRIMARY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? THERE A COUPLE
MINUTES APIECE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. CHAIR. AND MEMBERS,
PAUL DE NIRO, REPRESENTING THE
WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM
ASSOCIATION. THÀNH, AS WHAT THE
AUTHOR HAD AND PROPONENTS HAVE
SAID IN IN 2023, THE CALIFORNIA
SUPREME COURT HELD THAT STATE
LAW AND IN PARTICULAR, SECTION
3106 OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCE
CODE, PREEMPTS ANY CONTRADICTORY
BAN OR LIMITATION IMPOSED BY A
LOCAL AUTHORITY ON THE METHODS
OF OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION IN ITS
JURISDICTION. THE BILL WOULD
CIRCUMVENT THE RECENT SUPREME
COURT CASE AND REPLACE THE
COMPREHENSIVE LONG STANDING
STATE LAW WITH A PATCHWORK OF
LOCAL ORDINANCES THAT MAY BAN OR
LIMIT OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION IN
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. WE
BELIEVE THIS BILL HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO EXPOSE THESE LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS TO SIGNIFICANT
LEGAL LIABILITY. A LOCAL
ORDINANCE THAT RESULTS IN FACIAL
OR DE FACTO PROHIBITION MAY
RESULT IN AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL
VIOLATION OF THE TAKINGS CLAUSE
UNDER THE US. THE US
CONSTITUTION IN ADDITION, LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS WOULD THEN BE ON THE
HOOK TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THE
FACILITIES THAT THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT PREDETERMINES TO
CLOSE OR OR LIMIT. WE BELIEVE
IN, IN, IN LEGALLY, PRODUCED OIL
IN CALIFORNIA AND BELIEVE THAT
THIS WILL HAVE A HEAVY IMPACT ON
THE PRODUCTION AND, AND, MORE
RELIANCE ON FOREIGN CRUDE OIL
FOR THOSE REASONS. WE ASK FOR A
NO VOTE. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS
THEO ALEJO'S, REPRESENTING THE
CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM
ASSOCIATION, CALIFORNIA'S
ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING MOSTLY
SMALLER OIL PRODUCERS. I'D JUST
LIKE TO ASSOCIATE MY COMMENTS
WITH THE COMMENTS OF MR. DE
NIRO. NOT MUCH MORE TO ADD HERE.
JUST JUST A COUPLE OF POINTS,
MAYBE TO MAKE. AND THEN ONE IS
WE HAVEN'T HAD FRACKING IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA SINCE 2021.
THEY'RE WORKING ON FINALIZING
RULES TO PROHIBIT FRACKING
FOREVER. SO I DON'T THINK WE'LL
SEE ANY OF THAT CERTAINLY IN OUR
LIFETIMES, SO SECONDLY, I JUST
WONDER IF THE AUTHOR WOULD BE
INTERESTED IN AN AMENDMENT THAT
SUGGESTS THAT IF THERE ARE LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS THAT WANT OIL
PRODUCTION, THAT WE WOULD ALLOW
THOSE JURISDICAO TO EXERCISE
THAT AUTHORITY, ABSENT A DENIAL
FROM FROM BELGIUM, THERE ARE
AREAS THAT ARE SUPPORTIVE OF OIL
PRODUCTION. THEIR COMMUNITIES
DEPEND UPON IT. WE HAVE BEEN
STARVED OF NEW OIL PERMITS.
THERE HAS NOT BEEN A LOT OF
PRODUCTION AROUND THE STATE, AND
I THINK OUR WORKFORCE HAS SEEN
THE EFFECTS OF THAT AND SOME OF
THESE COMMUNITIES ARE REALLY
HURTING, SO FOR THOSE REASONS,
WE ALSO OPPOSE THE BILL. THANK
YOU. ANY PERSONS IN THE HEARING
ROOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER
THEIR OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE,
WE'LL TURN IT BACK TO COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. MR. PATTERSON, SORRY, I
THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO
ASSEMBLY MEMBER WOULD FIRST. SO
SO JUST JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS
WOULD ALLOW, CITIES OR LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS TO SHUT DOWN
EXISTING PRODUCTION THAT'S
ALREADY EXISTING. WELL, UNDER
CURRENT LAW, CITIES AND COUNTIES
ALREADY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO,
MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL, WHETHER IT'S BANS,
WHETHER IT'S PHASE OUTS, WHAT AB
3233 WOULD DO NARROWLY IS TO,
YOU KNOW, AFFIRM THAT THIS LOCAL
DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY
APPLIES TO A BROAD RANGE OF
TOOLS THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
USE, WHETHER THAT'S BANS,
INCLUDING RESTRICTIONS ON
SPECIFIC KINDS OF METHODS OF
EXTRACTION, WHETHER THAT'S
FRACKING OR, HIGH PRESSURE STEAM
INJECTION AND THAT SORT OF
THING. OKAY IF YOU DON'T MIND, I
MEAN, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE WE'RE
TALKING ALL SORTS OF COMMITTEES,
WHETHER IT'S HOUSING OR I MEAN,
IT'S HARD TO GET SOME
JURISDICTIONS TO APPROVE, YOU
KNOW, A HOUSE FOR A PERSON TO
LIVE, IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME AT
ALL IF A GROUP OF ACTIVE
ARTISTS, YOU KNOW, CITY COUNCIL
PEOPLE ARE PRESSURING THEIR CITY
COUNCILS TO DECIDE, YOU KNOW,
ISSUES THAT IMPACT STATE. AND SO
I SUBMIT THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY
THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW THINGS
I'D LIKE TO, NOT GIVE MORE
AUTHORITY TO 500 DIFFERENT LOCAL
AGENCIES TO DO. AND SO I HAVE A
LOT OF CONCERNS WITH, WITH KIND
OF WHAT WOULD TRANSPIRE AS A
RESULT OF GIVING THIS AUTHORITY
TO THAT MANY JURISDICTIONS AND
EXACTLY WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK
LIKE, WELL, IF YOU'LL ALLOW ME
TO RESPOND, YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA
HAS A LONG HISTORY OF HAVING
THESE DECISIONS MADE AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL. AND SO WHETHER
IT'S, KERN COUNTY OR LOS
ANGELES, THESE LOCAL ORDINANCES
HAVE BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR
DECADES, THE ONLY THING THAT'S
CHANGED IS THAT LAST YEAR, THE
CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT,
INVALIDATED PART OF MONTEREY
COUNTY'S OIL AND GAS ORDINANCES.
AND THAT'S LED TO A LOT OF
CONFUSION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
ABOUT WHAT'S ALLOWED AND WHAT'S
NOT. AND SO THIS BILL IS AIMED
AT MAKING, CLARIFICATION IN THE
LAW AND TO RESTORE THE STATUS
QUO FOR ALLOWING LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO, TO MAKE THOSE
DECISIONS. AND IT'S SURPRISING
THAT, WHISPER IS HERE OPPOSING
IT BECAUSE THE OIL INDUSTRY HAS
BEEN, ONE OF THE MAIN PROPONENTS
OF A LOCAL OIL AND GAS ORDINANCE
IN KERN COUNTY. SO WHEN IT SUITS
THEIR NEEDS, THEY'RE NOT OPPOSED
TO HAVING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TAKE
THAT CONTROL. PAUL DORO, AGAIN
REPRESENTING WESTERN STATES
PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, WE IN
FACT BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE
MINERAL RIGHTS THAT ARE OWNED BY
OPERATORS AND SOME INDIVIDUALS,
WHICH THE LEGAL IMPACT OF THIS,
WE BELIEVE WOULD POTENTIALLY
RESULT IN A TAKINGS, AND BECAUSE
YOU'RE LIMITING AND PROHIBITING
THE, THE PRODUCTION OF OIL AND
NATURAL GAS, YOU'RE NOT
PROMOTING OR YOU'RE NOT ALLOWING
THE PRODUCTION OF IT, WHICH IS A
BIG DISTINCTION. I APPRECIATE
THAT. AND THAT WAS A THAT WAS A
COURTESY. THAT WAS LOVE THERE.
WE DON'T OFTEN LET WITNESSES
HOLD THEIR OWN CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU. NOT THROUGH THE
CHAIR, BUT RECOGNIZING MR. FLORA
. MR. CHAIR, I WAS WANTING YOU
TO ADDRESS THAT AND I THINK YOU
DID. SO APPRECIATE THAT. THANK
YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR
COMMITTEE FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS
? COMMENTS, CONCERNS? MISS
ADDIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE?
I JUST AGAIN WANT TO THANK THE
CHAIR, THE COMMITTEE'S STAFF'S
TIME, MY STAFF'S TIME, OUR
ADVOCATES WHO, ESPECIALLY HAVE
PUT A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY
INTO MAKING SURE THAT LOCAL
COMMUNITIES HAVE WHAT THEY NEED
TO BE SAFE, TO BE HEALTHY AND TO
PROTECT LOCAL PROPERTY VALUES.
AND SO RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. I THINK
THIS IS A THOUGHTFUL BILL.
CONFUSION HAS BEEN CREATED AND I
KNOW MY LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, LOS
ANGELES, CULVER CITY, THE COUNTY
OF LOS ANGELES ARE ALL ACTUALLY
VÆ, LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS BILL
MOVING FORWARD, AS AM I. IT HAS
A DUE PASS RECALL FROM THE
CHAIR. MADAM SECRETARY, CAN WE
CALL THE ROLL? OH, DO WE HAVE A
MOTION, MISS FRIEDMAN? SECOND BY
MISS PELLERIN. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASS TO UTILITIES AND ENERGY
COMMITTEE. BRIAN. HI, BRIAN.
AYE, FLORA NØ. FLORA NÓ.
CONNOLLY. CONNOLLY AYE.
FRIEDMAN. FRIEDMAN. AYE. HOOVER
KALRA. MURATSUCHI PATTERSON.
PATTERSON. NØ. PELLERIN
PELLERIN. AYE. WICKS. WOULD
WOULD I. WE'LL LEAVE IT OPEN FOR
ABSENT MEMBERS. GREAT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MISS ADDISON.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. COMMITTEE.
MISS JO PATTERSON, HOW ARE YOU
FEELING? OH I READ MY NOTES.
TRANSPORTATION IS NEEDED HERE.
OKAY. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOOD TO
GO. READ, READ THE NOTES QUICK,
THOUGH, BECAUSE THE RECORD MIGHT
CHANGE. OH, GOOD. GOOD. QUICK.
START WITH 26, 39, WE'RE GOING
TO START WITH THE OTHER ONE.
2787. PERFECT. OKAY GREAT TO SEE
YOU MOVE THE BILL. ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, I CAN. I'M GOOD TO GO.
YES. PERFECT I'LL CUT BACK MY 20
MINUTES OF REMARKS. I'M HERE TO
PRESENT, AB 2787, WHICH WOULD
PERMIT. PERMIT FOR A TEMPORARY
TIME. THE SUSPENSION OF SOLAR
REQUIREMENTS WHEN REBUILDING
HOMES THAT WERE DESTROYED OR
DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF A NATURAL
DISASTER, SUCH AS A FIRE. THE
EXEMPTION IS VERY LIMITED. I
BELIEVE THIS COMMITTEE, HEARD A
SIMILAR BILL BEFORE, AND IT'S
ONLY DONE WHEN THE GOVERNOR
PROCLAIMS A STATE OF EMERGENCY.
AND AS YOU KNOW, IN 2021, THE
GOVERNOR PROCLAIMED A STATE OF
EMERGENCY AFTER THE CALDOR FIRE,
WHICH DESTROYED 221,000 ACRES
AND 782 HOMES, RIGHT AFTER I WAS
ELECTED, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO TOUR, GRIZZLY FLATS, WHICH
WAS DEVASTATED BY THE FIRE. AND,
SUPERVISOR TURNBOW TOOK ME THERE
. I SAW PEOPLE, LIVING IN
TRAILERS, SHOVELING SNOW, OFF
THE BURN SCAR. AND THEY'RE
TRYING TO MAKE A DECISION ON
WHETHER OR NOT THEY SHOULD
REBUILD OR WHAT EXACTLY THEY
SHOULD DO, TRUST ME, WHEN I SAY
THIS. $25,000 TO BUILD SOLAR
ONTO A HOUSE WHERE PEOPLE DO NOT
HAVE SOLAR IS 100% IMPEDIMENT TO
REBUILDING. I'M A HUGE FAN OF
SOLAR, BY THE WAY. I HAVE IT ON
MY HOUSE. AND, NOW I REALIZE THE
VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN
CALIFORNIA HAVE INSURANCE THAT
ALSO INCLUDES CODE UPGRADE
COVERAGE. AND SO THIS BILL
DOESN'T HELP PEOPLE THAT HAVE
THOSE CODE COVERAGE ALREADY
UPGRADE COVERAGE ON THEIR
POLICY. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION
SOMETHING ABOUT THE FAIR PLAN
REAL QUICK, IN 2019, WE HAD
ROUGHLY 8100 HOUSEHOLDS COVERED
BY THE FAIR PLAN IN MY DISTRICT,
NOW IN 2023, WE HAVE 41,000
PEOPLE COVERED BY THE FAIR PLAN.
AND THE FAIR PLAN HAS 10,
UPGRADE COVERAGE, FOR CODE
COMPLIANCE UPGRADE. AND WHEN
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ENTIRE
HOUSE DESTROYED, THAT MIGHT BE
MANY YEARS OVER, YOU HAVE TO
UPGRADE YOUR ELECTRICAL. YOU
HAVE TO UPGRADE ALL SORTS OF
THINGS. AND THAT 10% COVERAGE
REALLY WON'T GO VERY FAR,
ESPECIALLY TO COVER, YOU KNOW,
SOLAR SYSTEM THAT COSTS ABOUT
$25,000. SO TODAY I HAVE WITH ME
MY GOOD FRIEND IN EL DORADO
COUNTY, SUPERVISOR GEORGE
TURNBULL, WHO REPRESENTS GRIZZLY
FLATS. AND HE'S REALLY LED THE
CHARGE, IN EL DORADO COUNTY,
ASSISTING NOT ONLY GRIZZLY FLATS
RESIDENTS, BUT THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY WHO HAS SUFFERED
LOSSES AS A RESULT OF CALDOR
FIRE AND OTHER FIRES AS WELL.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU,
SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU. CHAIR
THANK YOU, THE COMMITTEE, FOR
LISTENING TO ME TODAY. MY NAME
IS GEORGE TURNBULL. I'M A
GENERATION OF EL DORADO COUNTY,
AND I'M CURRENTLY THE DISTRICT
TWO SUPERVISOR REPRESENTING EL
DORADO COUNTY AND THE TOWN OF
GRIZZLY FLATS, WHICH WAS LOST
DURING THE CALDOR FIRE. SPEAKING
IN SUPPORT OF AB 2787, MANY
HOMES LOST IN GRIZZLY FAT WERE
OLDER HOMES BUILT BEFORE SOLAR
WAS EVER REQUIRED. THE CALDOR
FIRE SURVIVORS WERE NOT PROVIDED
ANY INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE AND
DID NOT QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL
FUNDING THROUGH THE RECOVER
CALIFORNIA PROGRAM, SUCH AS
OTHER COUNTIES AS BUTTE, SHASTA,
SISKIYOU, AND THE PLUMAS COUNTY.
EL DORADO COUNTY RECEIVED NONE
AND WERE DENIED. RESIDENTS THAT
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REBUILD HAVE
TO REBUILD SMALLER HOMES DUE TO
BEING UNDERINSURED AND THE
RISING COST OF MATERIALS,
INCLUDING SOLAR, THAT CALIFORNIA
REQUIRES ON NEW HOMES. SOME
RESIDENTS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
REBUILD, ALL BECAUSE OF THE
INCREASED COSTS OF MATERIALS,
INCLUDING NEW SOLAR COSTS THAT
WERE NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE
SUPPORT. AB 2787 WILL PROVIDE
RELIEF TO THE SURVIVORS OF THE
CALDOR FIRE. THE COSTLY BURDEN
ON THE CALDOR FIRE SURVIVORS
TRYING TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES IS
NOT WORTH THE MINIMAL BENEFIT OF
SOLAR TECHNOLOGY. TÊ PROVIDES
THEM IN A VERY HIGH SNOW AND
FOREST REGION. PLEASE SUPPORT
CALDOR FIRE SURVIVORS BY
SUPPORTING AB 2787, AND I
ENCOURAGE EVERYONE FROM THIS
COMMITTEE TO VISIT GRIZZLY FLATS
AND ASK THE QUESTIONS TO THE
RESIDENTS AND LISTEN TO THEIR
CONCERNS AS THEY START WITH THE
REBUILD PROCESS. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR CONCERNS, AND THANK YOU
TODAY FOR LISTENING TO ME. THANK
YOU SO MUCH, SIR. ARE THERE ANY
PEOPLE HERE IN THE HEARING ROOM
WHO WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER THEIR
SUPPORT FOR THIS MEASURE? SEEING
NONE, SEEING. SEEING NONE. ANY
PRIMARY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION
TO THIS MEASURE? GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. KIM STONE OF
STONE ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA SOLAR AND STORAGE
ASSOCIATION, IN VERY RESPECTFUL.
WE HAVE AN OPPOSING, LESS
AMENDED POSITION, UNDER STAND
THE VERY SYMPATHETIC PLIGHT THAT
SOME OF THESE FOLKS ARE IN, BUT
WE DON'T EXEMPT THEM FROM OTHER
BUILDING CODE UPGRADE
REQUIREMENTS, AND OUR SUGGESTED
AMENDMENT TO THE BILL WOULD BE
THAT IF THEY WERE ABLE TO
ACCESS, FUNDING THAT COVERED THE
COSTS OF THEIR, SOLAR PANELS,
THEN THAT REQUIREMENT WOULD
STILL APPLY. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU, MISS STONE. ANY
PERSONS IN THE ROOM WHO WOULD
LIKE TO REGISTER THEIR
OPPOSITION TO THIS MEASURE?
SEEING NONE, WE'LL TURN IT TO
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MR.
PATTERSON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE, THANK YOU FOR THE
CONSIDERATION. AND I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE
. THANK YOU. SIR. STRANGELY,
THIS MEASURE HAS A DUE PASS
RECOMMENDATION, I WAS CONFUSED
TO KNOW. GREAT WORK. THANK YOU
FOR WORKING WITH THE COMMITTEE
TEAM AND STAFF. WE HAVE A MOTION
. MR. FLORA, DO WE HAVE A
SECOND? MR. WOOD? THIRD. MISS
PELLERIN, MADAM SECRETARY, CAN
WE CALL THE ROLL? THE MOTION IS
DUE. PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS.
BRIAN I BRIAN, I FLORA. FLORA I
CONNOLLY. CONNOLLY. I FRIEDMAN,
I FRIEDMAN, I HOOVER. CHOLERA
MURATSUCHI. PATTERSON I
PATTERSON I PELLERIN I PELLERIN
I WICKS. WOOD WOOD I THE BILL IS
OUT. OKAY. THANK YOU. YES SIR.
THANKS, GEORGE. AND NOW 2639.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES. ALL
RIGHT, HELLO AGAIN. THANK YOU.
LONG TIME NO SEE, FIRST OF ALL,
I WANT TO THANK, THE COMMITTEE
AND STAFF AND ESPECIALLY PAIGE,
FOR WORKING WITH ME ON THIS
LEGISLATION, AS YOU KNOW, WE
HEARD THIS BILL HERE, OR NOT
THIS BILL, BUT WE HEARD A MORE,
YOU KNOW, VERSION. I'D LIKE TO
SEE, INITIALLY PASS OUT. BUT THE
WORK WE PUT INTO THIS COMMITTEE
TO HELP WITH, TIMBER OPERATIONS,
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE CAME UP
WITH A GOOD SOLUTION HERE. SO,
AS YOU KNOW, I REPRESENT BOTH,
PLACER AND EL DORADO COUNTIES,
THEY'VE BEEN HOME TO SOME OF THE
LARGEST WILDFIRES, IN THE
STATE'S HISTORY, INCLUDING ONE
WE JUST HEARD ABOUT,
CALIFORNIA'S AGREED WITH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
COLLECTIVELY, COLLECTIVELY TREAT
1 MILLION ACRES PER YEAR BY 2025
OF FOREST LAND. BUT
UNFORTUNATELY, AS YOU KNOW,
WE'VE WE'VE FALLEN SHORT OF
THAT, THE REVIEWS ROUTINELY TAKE
1 TO 2 YEARS, AS I HAD IN
COMMITTEE FOR JUST, VERY SMALL,
BRUSH CLEARING, OPERATIONS. GOOD
NEWS. THERE IS ALREADY AN
EXISTING PROCESS IN STATE LAW TO
HELP, AGENCIES OR COMMERCIAL
PROJECTS CLEAR. SOME DO SOME
FOREST MANAGEMENT AND SO AB 2639
WILL EXPEDITE SOME OF THIS
DESPERATELY NEEDED WORK. AND
IT'LL INCLUDE, WHAT'S CALLED
TIMBER OPERATIONS. PUBLIC
AGENCIES DOING TIMBER
OPERATIONS. THE LEGISLATION WILL
MAINTAIN IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL
AND TRIBAL REVIEWS, BUT ALSO
ALLOW THE CHOICE BETWEEN SEQUA
AND FOREST PRACTICE RULES TODAY
TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT AND THE
SPONSOR. I HAVE WITH ME IS ANDY
FICO WITH WHO'S A GENERAL
MANAGER OF THE PLACER COUNTY
WATER AGENCY. THEY'VE DONE A LOT
OF WORK WITH, HELPING TO MANAGE
THE FOREST AROUND THEIR WATER
RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT WHEN
AND IF UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS A
FIRE THAT A LOT OF THE ASHES AND
THE THINGS LIKE THAT DON'T
ACTUALLY CLOG OUR CRITICAL WATER
SUPPLY. AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL
TURN IT OVER TO HIM. THANK YOU,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER PATTERSON. AND
THANK YOU, CHAIR BRIAN AND THE
COMMITTEE FOR HAVING ME TODAY,
YEAH. PCBWAY IS A PROUD SPONSOR,
A PROUD SPONSOR, AB 2639, WE
BELIEVE IT WILL HELP TO ADDRESS
THE STATE'S WILDFIRE CRISIS,
PROMOTE ECOLOGICALLY SOUND
FOREST MANAGEMENT AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, MAYBE IN OUR AREAS,
COMMUNITY PROTECTION, IN OUR
WORK ON THINGS LIKE THE FRENCH
MEADOWS FOREST MANAGEMENT
PROJECT, ONE OF OUR KEY
OBJECTIVES IN THAT PROJECT WAS
TO EXPLORE WAYS THAT WE CAN
EXPEDITE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
WHILE STILL PROTECTING THE
ECOSYSTEMS THAT WE ALL CHERISH,
AND WHILE THERE ARE SEQUA AND
NEPA EXEMPTIONS, IN PLACE, IN
MANY INSTANCES, THEY DO NOT
COVER THE WORK THAT THAT WE
DESIRE TO DO AS COMMUNITIES, IN
ADDITION TO DOING WORK ON,
OURSELVES ON THESE FOREST
PROJECTS, WE ALSO FUND WORK
THROUGH A GRANT PROGRAM THAT WE
ADMINISTER FOR COMMUNITIES THAT
SURROUND OUR WATERSHEDS. AND
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THOSE GRANTS
ARE OFTEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY
FOLKS LIKE, RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
DISTRICTS, RESOURCE CONSERVATION
DISTRICTS, CITY FIRE DEPARTMENTS
, COMMUNITY FIRE ASSOCIATIONS.
THESE ARE VERY SMALL OPERATORS.
AND FOR THEM TO START WITH A
CLEAN SHEET OF PAPER TO DO A
SEQUEL REVIEW, I GUARANTEE YOU
WOULD EAT UP ALL OF THE FUNDING
THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM
AND WOULDN'T GET THOSE PROJECTS
DONE ON THE GROUND. SO THIS BILL
SIMPLY SUGGESTS THAT USING
EXISTING PRACTICES, FOREST
PRACTICE RULES THAT ARE
AVAILABLE TO COMMERCIAL TIMBER
OPERATORS, AND EXTENDING THAT
COOKBOOK, IF YOU WILL, AS AN
ALTERNATIVE TO THOSE
COMMUNITIES. WE THINK WE CAN GET
LAND PROJECTS, FASTER AND
CHEAPER AND GET THOSE
COMMUNITIES IN A PLACE WHERE
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET OUR WAY OUT
OF THIS INSURANCE CRISIS THAT'S
PLAGUING ALL OF RURAL CALIFORNIA
IN PARTICULAR, BUT ALSO IN
PLACES LIKE SURROUNDING LOS
ANGELES BASIN. SO WE THINK THAT
THIS BILL DOES THREE THINGS,
REDUCES WILDFIRE RISK AND
WILDFIRE INTENSITY AND HELPS
PROTECT COMMUNITIES. WE THINK IT
HELPS RESTORE FORESTED
WATERSHEDS, AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, MAYBE IS WE
MAINTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL
STANDARDS, WHILE ENSURING MORE
PROJECTS CAN MOVE FORWARD. HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
RESPECTFULLY ASKED FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
SIR. ANY PERSONS HERE IN THE
HEARING ROOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO
REGISTER THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS
MEASURE? SEEING NONE. ANY
PRIMARY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION?
SEEING NONE. ANY PERSONS WHO
WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER THEIR
OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. WE'LL
NOW TURN IT BACK TO COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. MOTION BY MR. WOOD,
SECOND BY MR. FLORA. QUICK
QUESTION. WHAT AMENDMENTS WERE
TAKEN ON THIS? AND I'M TAKING
THOSE. YES YES. THE AMENDMENTS.
OKAY. HERE WE GO. THEY WERE,
RELATIVELY MINOR, BUT IT HAD TO
DO WITH, TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S
NONCOMMERCIAL AND COMMERCIAL
MAINTENANCE OF TIMBERLANDS AND
THEN ALSO, THE, THE PUBLIC
FUNDS, THE PUBLIC FUNDS PIECES.
IT WAS PRETTY IMPORTANT BECAUSE
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW,
THESE ARE MOSTLY PUBLIC PROJECTS
AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO OF
COURSE WE ARE HAPPY TO SHARE
THEM WITH YOU. BUT WE ACCEPTED
THE COMMITTEE'S AMENDMENTS.
YEAH. IF MY IF MY RECOLLECTION
SERVES ME RIGHT, IT ALSO KIND OF
CLARIFIED WHEN YOU COULD CHOOSE
WHICH ROUTE, THERE WERE SOME
REDUNDANCIES. SOME OVERLAPS WERE
ONE INCLUDED THE OTHER. AND SO
THIS TYPE OF EXEMPTION STILL
CREATES THE NECESSARY
PROTECTIONS THAT ARE THAT I
THINK A LOT OF US ARE IMPORTANT
TO A LOT OF US. MR. PATTERSON,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? YES.
THANK YOU. I THINK WHAT'S REALLY
WELL, AGAIN, APPRECIATE THE
WORK, MR. CHAIR. AND THE
COMMITTEE. I THINK WHAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS BILL, WHILE
, AS YOU KNOW, I'D BE OPEN TO
TAKING CEQA EXEMPTIONS FOR THESE
SORTS OF THINGS, WHAT WE WERE
ABLE TO DO IS FIND AN AVENUE OF
AN EXISTING PRACTICE WITHOUT,
YOU KNOW, DOING ANOTHER CEQA
EXEMPTION. AND I THINK THAT
THAT'S REALLY GREAT WORK AND HOW
WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND FIND A
WAY TO KEEP OUR FORESTS WELL
MANAGED WITHIN EXISTING PROCESS
THAT'S ALREADY OUT THERE. AND SO
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME AND
EFFORT THAT EVERYBODY HAS PUT
INTO THIS. AND I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT. I THINK YOU
WORKED, INCREDIBLY HARD. YOUR
TEAM AS WELL. OUR TEAM IS WELL
DEFINED. THE SWEET SPOT WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT SOME SOME MONTHS
AGO. AND SO I'M HAPPY TO PUT A
Dð PASS RECO ON THIS BILL. MADAM
SECRETARY, CAN WE CALL THE ROLL?
THE MOTION IS DUE PASS, AS
AMENDED TO APPROPRIATIONS.
BRIAN. HI, BRIAN. I FLORA I
FLORA I CONNOLLY. CONNOLLY I
FRIEDMAN. FRIEDMAN I HOOVER.
CHOLERA. MURATSUCHI PATTERSON I
PATTERSON I PELLERIN I PELLERIN
I. WICKS. WOOD. WOOD. I BELIEVE
THEY'RE ALL OPEN. BUT THAT BILL
IS OUT. GREAT. THANKS MR.
SPEAKER. PRO TEM THANK. THAT'S
GOOD TRANSPORTATION ABOUT 40
MINUTES AGO. SO WE'LL BE HERE.
I'LL BE HERE WHEN HE'S HERE.
YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
MEMBERS, I DO HAVE COMMENTS ON
THIS PARTICULAR BILL. JUST FOR
THE RECORD, WE WELCOME THEM.
GOOD. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR.
AND MEMBERS. I'D LIKE TO THANK
THE COMMITTEE STAFF FOR THEIR
EFFORTS ON THIS BILL, AND I'LL
BE ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS. SB 1383 1383
ESTABLISHED A STATEWIDE
FRAMEWORK FOCUSED ON REDIRECTING
ORGANIC WASTE SENT TO LANDFILLS,
WHICH REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF
METHANE RELEASED INTO THE
ATMOSPHERE. WHILE THIS FRAMEWORK
CAN READILY BE ADAPTED TO DENSE
URBAN COMMUNITIES, IT'S BECOME
INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT MORE
FLEXIBILITY IS NEEDED FOR RURAL
COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS
IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES,
INCLUDING INCREASED LOCAL
BENEFITS, AND AVOID COSTLY RATE
INCREASES FOR RURAL RESIDENTS.
AB 2902 EXTENDS THE RURAL
EXEMPTION FOR ORGANIC WASTE
COLLECTION AND PROCUREMENT BY
COUNTIES WITH A POPULATION UNDER
70,000 PEOPLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL
TEN YEARS, BUT MAINTAINS THE
REQUIREMENT FOR THOSE COUNTIES
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EDIBLE
FOOD RECOVERY PROGRAM. THE BILL
ALSO PROVIDES AN ORGANIC WASTE
COMPLIANCE PATHWAY FOR 12
SMALLER COUNTIES THAT CONTAIN
MORE THAN 70,000 RESIDENTS AND
GENERATE LESS THAN 200,000 TONS
OF SOLID WASTE ANNUALLY BY
ALLOWING THOSE COUNTIES TO
SUBMIT ALTERNATIVE ORGANIC WASTE
MANAGEMENT PLANS TO CALRECYCLE
FOR APPROVAL, ADDITIONAL
PROVISIONS IN AB 2902 CONTINUE
THE USE OF ORGANICS FOR LOCAL
ANIMAL FEED PRACTICES, PROMOTE
CARBON FARMING AND ADJUST
PROCUREMENT TARGETS TO EXCLUDE
POPULATIONS COVERED BY
EXEMPTIONS, AND FACILITATE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SMALLER SCALE
COMMUNITY COMPOSTING PROGRAMS.
CALIFORNIA IS NOT A ONE SIZE
FITS ALL STATE, WITH MANY
REGIONAL DIFFERENCES TO CONSIDER
. SPILLS ABOUT STRIKING A
BALANCE, PROVIDING OUR RURAL
COMMUNITIES WITH THE FLEXIBILITY
NEEDED TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR
CLIMATE GOALS AND ACHIEVE SB
1383 ORGANIC WASTE DIVERSION
OBJECTIVES I'M HERE TO TESTIFY
IN SUPPORT IS JOHN KENNEDY WITH
RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF
CALIFORNIA, THE SPONSOR OF THE
BILL. GOOD AFTERNOON, JOHN
KENNEDY WITH CRC. WE'RE PLEASED
TO BE HERE TODAY TO SPONSOR AB
2902, ASSEMBLY MEMBER WOOD
PROVIDED A REALLY WONDERFUL
SUMMARY OF THE MAIN POINTS OF
THE BILL, YOU KNOW, IN PRACTICE,
OUR JURISDICTIONS HAVE FOUND
THAT COWS CYCLES REGS REALLY
DON'T AFFORD LOCALS OR
CALRECYCLE THE FLEXIBILITY TO
ADAPT TO SOME OF THOSE HARD TO
MANAGE SITUATIONS THAT WE FIND
OURSELVES IN. SO THE HEART OF AB
2902 IS TO PROVIDE INCREASED
FLEXIBILITY FOR BOTH THE STATE
AND FOR LOCALS TO ADAPT TO THOSE
SITUATIONS, THE RURAL EXEMPTION
IS 600,000 PEOPLE STATEWIDE,
1.5% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION,
IN ADDITION, THE BILL PROVIDES A
GLIDE PATH FOR LAKE SAN BENITO
AND TEHAMA COUNTIES TO COME INTO
COMPLIANCE WITH 1383 ONCE THEY
EXCEED THE 70,000 POPULATION
LIMIT. TRIES TO KEEP THE
BENEFITS OF EDIBLE FOOD RECOVERY
PROGRAMS, LOCAL, AND PROVIDE
CALRECYCLE WITH A LITTLE BIT OF
FLEXIBILITY IN AVOIDING ADVERSE
BEAR HUMAN INTERACTIONS IN THE
FUTURE. SO WE'VE BEEN HAVING
REALLY GOOD, PRODUCTIVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS WITH CALRECYCLE,
AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
THOSE CONVERSATIONS, FINDING
WAYS TO MAKE 1383 WORK, AND MAKE
SURE THAT ALL LOCALS ARE ABLE TO
DIVERT ORGANIC WASTE AND
CONTRIBUTE TO THE STATE'S
OVERARCHING GOALS. SO STRONGLY
URGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR AB 2902
TODAY. THANK YOU. PERFECT. ANY
PERSONS IN THE HEARING ROOM WHO
WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER THEIR
SUPPORT FOR THIS MEASURE. GOOD
AFTERNOON AGAIN, NICK. AGAINST
WASTE. WE ALSO HAVE A SUPPORT
AND CONCEPT ON THIS BILL. WE
HAVE A COUPLE OUTSTANDING
CONCERNS WITH TWO OF THE
PROVISIONS, BUT THE SPONSOR HAS
BEEN TALKING TO US FOR MONTHS
AND WE'RE SURE WE'LL GET THERE.
THANK YOU. BEAUTIFUL. KAYLA
ROBINSON, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA COMPOST COALITION.
ALSO SUPPORTING CONCEPT AND LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUED
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE AUTHOR
AND SPONSOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. PRISCILLA, KUDOS HERE
ON BEHALF OF STOP WASTE AND
SOLID WASTE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH
AMERICA LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE
AND STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. MELISSA SPARKS KRANZ
WITH THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA
CITIES IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CLIFTON
WILSON, ON BEHALF OF THE
COUNTIES OF DEL NORTE, NEVADA
AND HUMBOLDT IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, CLIFTON. JANET
COX FOR CLIMATE ACTION.
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MICHAEL
CAPRIO WITH REPUBLIC SERVICES
HERE IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. DO WE HAVE ANY PRIMARY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION?
MICHAEL. JARED, I'M A SUPPORTIVE
AMENDED. IF I COULD JUST GIVE
TWO SENTENCES WITH THE
COMMUNITY, AN ACTUAL TWO
SENTENCES ON THIS ONE. ALL
RIGHT. I'M WITH THE COMMUNITY
ALLIANCE WITH FAMILY FARMERS,
AND WE LIKE THE INTENT OF THIS
BILL, BUT WE WOULD LIKE ON FARM
COMPOST OR ON FARM COMPOSTING TO
BE A PATHWAY FOR RURAL
COMMUNITIES. WE THINK IT CAN
REALLY CONTRIBUTE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY PERSONS
IN THE HEARING ROOM WHO WOULD
LIKE TO REGISTER THEIR
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL? SEEING
NONE, WE'LL NOW TURN IT BACK TO
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS, CONCERNS. DO WE HAVE A
MOTION MOVE BY MR. FLORES,
SECOND BY MISS PELLERIN, JUST
CONFIRMING, MR. WOOD, YOU DID
ACCEPT THE AMENDMENTS I DID IN
THE SECOND SENTENCE. ABSOLUTELY.
WOULD YOU LIKE MY STATEMENT?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE,
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I
VOTE. THANK YOU. SIR MADAM
SECRETARY, CAN WE CALL THE ROLL?
THIS BILL HAS A DO PASS RECORD
FROM THE CHAIR. THE MOTION IS DO
PASS, AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS. BRIAN I BRIAN I
FLORA I FLORA I CONNOLLY.
CONNOLLY I FRIEDMAN. FRIEDMAN I
HOOVER. CHOLERA. MURATSUCHI
PATTERSON. PATTERSON. I PELLERIN
I PELLERIN I WICKS. WOULD, I
WOULD I THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. THANK YOU SIR.
MAKE SURE. TWO MINUTES GETS IT
POSSIBLE. OH, YEAH. SO MANY
HOSTILE AMENDMENTS. NO. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. ASSUMING YOU
START WITH AB 2716. SOUNDS
WONDERFUL. PERFECT. READY WHEN
YOU ARE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND COLLEAGUES, IT'S GOOD TO BE
WITH YOU THIS AFTERNOON. THE AB
2716 IS A COMMUNITY MINDED
MEASURE IN CALIFORNIA. WE HAVE
2.7 MILLION PEOPLE WHO LIVE
WITHIN THE PROXIMITY OF AN OIL
WELL, MANY WHO LIVE LESS THAN A
MILE AWAY. WE'VE TRIED TO
ADDRESS THIS MANY TIMES HERE IN
THE STATE LEGISLATURE, INCLUDING
ESTABLISHING THE HEALTH SETBACK
ZONES A FEW YEARS AGO WITH SB
1137, BECAUSE STUDIES SHOWED US
THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVED WITHIN
3200FT OF THESE OIL WELLS, THEY
THEY DIE SOONER, AND CHILDREN
HAVE HIGHER RATES OF BIRTH
DEFECTS. AND THERE ARE HIGH
RATES OF HEART CONDITION, HIGHER
RATES OF ASTHMA. AND I SAY IT
AGAIN, THEY DIE SOONER. BUT
WE'VE COME TO KNOW IN RECENT
YEARS IS THAT MANY OF THOSE
WELLS THAT ARE OPERATING WITHIN
THAT PROXIMITY ARE ALSO NOT
PRODUCING ANY MEANINGFUL OIL.
THE INDUSTRY HAS A STANDARD THAT
THEY REFER TO AS STRIPPER WELLS.
THAT'S ANY WELL, THAT'S
PRODUCING LESS THAN 15 BARRELS
OF OIL A DAY. I THINK A STRIPPER
WELL IS AN APPROPRIATE NAME
BECAUSE IT'S STRIPPING THE
COMMUNITY OF THEIR LIFE
EXPECTANCY. IT'S STRIPPING
CHILDREN OF THEIR ABILITY TO
BREATHE. IT'S STRIPPING THE LAND
OF THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND
RESOURCES THAT MAKE UP VIBRANT
COMMUNITIES. EVEN MORE
FRUSTRATING IS THE AVERAGE IN
CALIFORNIA FOR WELLS IN THIS
ZONE IS NOT EVEN 15 BARRELS.
IT'S LESS THAN FIVE BARRELS PER
DAY. ESSENTIALLY, WHAT WE ARE
DOING IS WE ARE KILLING
COMMUNITIES, AND WE'RE NOT EVEN
EXTRACTING A MEANINGFUL AMOUNT
OF OIL TO IMPACT THE CONDITIONS
OF THEIR LIVES. THE INDUSTRY
ITSELF WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
WHETHER A OIL WELL IS DOING 3000
BARRELS A DAY, WHICH WHICH WOULD
BE CONSIDERED AN AVERAGE IN GOOD
OIL WELL, OR DOING THREE BARRELS
A DAY, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IS THE SAME ON THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITIES. THAT IS THE ESSENCE
OF THIS BILL. IF YOU ARE GOING
TO DRILL RIGHT NEXT TO MY
GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE, IF YOU'RE
GOING TO DRILL RIGHT NEXT TO
WHERE MY KIDS PLAY, IF YOU ARE
GOING TO DRILL RIGHT NEXT TO
WHERE WE EAT AND SLEEP, THEN AT
LEAST EXTRACT ENOUGH OIL TO HAVE
A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON MY GAS
PRICES. THAT'S NOT WHAT'S
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. SO WE'VE
INTRODUCED A MEASURE TO FINALLY
SHIFT THE COST FROM THE
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN
PAYING FOR IT WITH THEIR LIVES
FOR DECADES. IF YOU HAVE BEEN
DOING LESS THAN 15 BARRELS FOR
MORE THAN TWO YEARS IN THE
HEALTH SETBACK ZONE, AND INSTEAD
OF CLEANING IT UP, YOU WOULD
RATHER CONTINUE TO OPERATE THAT
WELL. WE WOULD LIKE TO ESTABLISH
A $10,000 PER DAY PENALTY. SO
THAT THOSE RESOURCES CAN GO TO
THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN
SUBSIDIZING THIS EXTRACTION WITH
THEIR LIVES, WITH ME TO TESTIFY.
VÌ, I HAVE JAMIE COURT FROM
CONSUMER WATCHDOG IN AUGUSTINE
FROM SCOPE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
FIRST WITNESS TWO MINUTES
APIECE, PLEASE, GOOD AFTERNOON.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS AUGUSTINE CABRERA. I'M
HERE ON BEHALF OF STRATEGIC
CONCEPTS AND ORGANIZING AND
POLICY EDUCATION. WE DO
GRASSROOTS BASE BUILDING IN
SOUTH CENTRAL LA, THANK YOU TO,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER BRIAN FOR
INVITING US AND FOR INTRODUCING
THIS VERY IMPORTANT BILL. FIRST,
WANT TO START OFF WITH, SOUTH LA
, A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE
COMMUNITY I'M HERE TO REPRESENT
IT, WE ARE A CULTURAL HUB, A
PLACE OF RESILIENCY, STRENGTH
AND HOPE. HOME FOR MANY BLACK,
BLACK, BROWN AND INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, SOUTH
LA IS HOME TO THE LARGEST URBAN
OIL DRILLING SITE IN THE
COUNTRY, AND OUR COMMUNITIES ARE
CONSTANTLY REMINDED THAT BIG OIL
COMPANIES CONSIDER COMMUNITIES
ON THE FRONT LINES OF OIL
DRILLING SITES TO BE SACRIFICED
ZONES. OIL OPERATORS SEE OUR
COMMUNITIES AS ACCEPTABLE
CASUALTIES IN THE PURSUIT OF
PROFIT, WITH NO REGARD FOR OUR
COMMUNITY SURVIVAL. OIL DRILLING
IS HARMING THE HEALTH OF SOUTH
LA RESIDENTS. WE EXPERIENCE THE
CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF MULTIPLE
POLLUTING SITES. SOURCES IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, INCLUDING THESE
VERY OIL SITES THAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT HERE TODAY. HEALTH
IMPACTS FROM OIL DRILLING ARE
MOST ACUTELY FELT BY LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. 74% OF
RESIDENTS LIVING WITHIN 1500FT
OF ACTIVE LA CITY OIL WELLS ARE
PEOPLE OF COLOR, 42% LIVE, 200%
BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE,
AND 56% ARE RENTERS. SCOPE
MEMBERS AND SOUTH L.A. RESIDENTS
LIVING NEAR THESE SITES HAVE
BEEN BURDENED WITH THROAT AND
NASAL IRRITATION, EYE BURNING,
RESPIRATORY HARM, PSYCHOLOGICAL
STRESS, AND HIGH CANCER
MORTALITY. K¾T HEALTH IMPACTS
ARE NOT ONLY FROM ACTIVE OIL
WELLS, BUT ALSO IDLE WELLS WHICH
LEAK BENZENE, METHANE, AND OTHER
TOXIC CHEMICALS INTO THE AIR AND
SOIL. FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES HAVE
BEEN CALLING FOR THE CLOSURE OF
OIL DRILLING SITES AND PUBLIC
HEALTH REGULATIONS TO PROTECT
THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. OIL
OPERATORS SHOULD BE FINED FOR
THEIR LOW PRODUCING WELLS, WHICH
DO NOT PROVIDE ANY ECONOMIC
BENEFIT AND ONLY NEGATIVELY
IMPACT THE HARM AND THE LIVES OF
FRONT LINE COMMUNITIES. WE ARE
IN FULL SUPPORT OF 2716, WHICH
IS IMPORTANT TO PROTECT FRONT
LINE COMMUNITIES FROM LIFE
THREATENING AIR QUALITY. THANK
YOU SO, SO MUCH. NEXT WITNESS
PLEASE, JAMIE. COURT, CONSUMER
WATCHDOG. I JUST WANT TO GIVE
YOU AN IDEA OF THE PROPORTIONAL,
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WHAT'S
BEING PRODUCED IN THE SETBACK
ZONE. WE FIGURED OUT THAT THE
AVERAGE OIL WELL IN THE SETBACK
ZONE PRODUCES 2.1 BARRELS OF OIL
A DAY. 2.1 BARRELS OF OIL A DAY.
THERE ARE 42 GALLONS IN A BARREL
OF OIL. THAT'S LIKE 100 LESS
THAN $150 A DAY IN ECONOMIC
BENEFIT. THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TO
FILL UP FOR FORD F-150S, AND
THAT'S WHAT'S BEING PRODUCED. ON
AVERAGE, WE KNOW THAT 83% OF THE
WELLS IN THE SETBACK ZONE ARE
PRODUCING LESS THAN 15 BARRELS A
DAY, 83, AND THE AVERAGE,
PRODUCTION FOR A PRODUCTIVE OIL
AND GAS. WELL, IN THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA, BETWEEN 100
BARRELS AND 3200 BARRELS A DAY.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE ENERGY
INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION.
THAT'S WHAT A PRODUCTIVE WELL
DOES. AND A WELL THAT'S
CONSIDERED A GOOD PRODUCTION
RANGE, PRODUCES BETWEEN 1000 AND
3000 BARRELS. AND IN THE SETBACK
ZONE, THE MOST SENSITIVE AREAS,
WE'RE SEEING WELLS PRODUCING TWO
BARRELS A DAY. SO WE ARE. AND
THAT'S 36% LESS, BY THE WAY,
THAN THE WELLS STATEWIDE, WHICH
PRODUCE ON AVERAGE 3.1 BARRELS A
DAY. CALIFORNIA HAS RUN OUT OF
OIL AND THE OIL DRILLERS DO NOT
WANT TO PLUG THESE WELLS BECAUSE
IT CAN COST UP TO $100,000 OR
MORE TO PLUG THE WELLS. SO THEY
KEEP THEM RUNNING ON EMPTY, AND
MEANWHILE THEY'RE POISONING THE
COMMUNITIES. WE ARE IN TOTAL
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL TO
INCENTIVIZE THE DRILLERS TO
EITHER CLEAN UP OR GET OUT,
BECAUSE WHEN THEY'RE RUNNING
THESE OIL WELLS ON SO LITTLE
PRODUCTION, THERE IS NO ECONOMIC
BENEFIT TO THE SOCIETY, TO THE
CONSUMER. AND THERE IS GREAT
HEALTH RISK TO THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANY OTHER WITNESS IN SUPPORT OF
AB 2716 NAME AND ORGANIZATION,
PLEASE. HI. CHRISTINA SKARINGER,
THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL
DIVERSITY AND SUPPORT. I'VE ALSO
BEEN ASKED TO NOTE SUPPORT FOR
THE CLIMATE CENTER. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GABRIELA FAZIO WITH
SIERRA CLUB CALIFORNIA IN STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
JANET COX FOR CLIMATE ACTION
CALIFORNIA SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. MEGAN SHUMWAY FROM
CLIMATE REALITY PROJECT
CALIFORNIA COALITION IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. KATIE MCCAMMON 350
SACRAMENTO SUPPORT. THANKS
WILLIAM PIVIK, CLIMATE HEALTH
NOW IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU. MIKE
WELLS CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
VOTERS IN STRONG SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. LOU FLORES, 350 CONTRA
COSTA ACTION. 350 BAY AREA
ACTION, IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL
AND CAN I SAY TWO SENTENCES? NO,
SIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE
APPRECIATE YOU, ALFRED. TWO AS
AN INDIVIDUAL, STRONG SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. SOPHIA PEKOA WITH THE
COALITION FOR CLEAN AIR AND
SUPPORT. ANNA GONZALEZ, CENTER
FOR COMMUNITY ACTION AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND
SUPPORT. HI, NICHOLAS GARDNER
WITH THE SUNRISE MOVEMENT, LOS
ANGELES AND STRONG SUPPORT. EMMA
SILBER WITH PHYSICIANS FOR
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND
SUPPORT, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FROM
REDEEMER COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HI. I'VE
BEEN ASKED TO READ SUPPORT FROM
A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT
AREN'T HERE. A THOUSAND
GRANDMOTHERS FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS 350 BAY AREA ACTION
350 CORNEJO SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
350 SOUTH BAY LOS ANGELES 350
VENTURA COUNTY CLIMATE HUB
BREAST CANCER ACTION CALIFORNIA
NURSES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
AND JUSTICE, CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE NETWORK,
CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY, SANTA
CRUZ CHAPTER. CLIMATE FIRST
REPLACING OIL AND GAS CLIMATE
HAWKS, VOTE CLIMATE HEALTH NOW,
CLIMATE REALITY PROJECT SAN
FRANCISCO POLICY ACTION, CLIMATE
REALITY PROJECT LOS ANGELES
CHAPTER, CLIMATE REALITY
PROJECT, SAN FERNANDO VALLEY CON
CONSUMERS FOR AUTO RELIABILITY
AND SAFETY. ELDERS CLIMATE
ACTION, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
CHAPTER, ELDERS CLIMATE ACTION,
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER.
ELECTED OFFICIALS TO PROTECT
AMERICA. CODE BLUE,
ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP,
EXTINCTION REBELLION, SAN
FRANCISCO BAY AREA FOOD AND
WATER WATCH, FOSSIL FREE
CALIFORNIA FRACTRACKER ALLIANCE,
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, GLENDALE
ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION,
GREENPEACE USA, INDIVISIBLE,
CALIFORNIA, GREEN TEAM,
INDIVISIBLE, MARIN, MANHATTAN
BEACH, HUDDLE, OIL AND GAS
ACTION NETWORK, PHYSICIANS FOR
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, LOS
ANGELES, PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY, SACRAMENTO,
PRESENTE.ORG, RESOURCE RENEWAL
INSTITUTE, ROOTS ACTION, ORG,
SAN FRANCISCO BAY, PHYSICIANS
FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, SAN
FRANCISCO BAYKEEPER, SAN
FRANCISCO CLIMATE EMERGENCY
COALITION, SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
DEMOCRATIC CLUB, SAN DIEGO, 350
SANTA BARBARA STANDING ROCK
COALITION, SANTA CRUZ CLIMATE
ACTION NETWORK, SIERRA CLUB,
CALIFORNIA SOCAL 350 CLIMATE
ACTION STAND, EARTH, SUNFLOWER
ALLIANCE, SUSTAINABLE MILL
VALLEY, THE CLIMATE CENTER,
TRANSFORMATIVE WEALTH MANAGEMENT
, AND THE WEST L.A. DEMOCRATIC
CLUB. WAS THAT IT? YEAH OKAY,
COOL. LOVE IT. ANYONE ELSE?
CAN'T IMAGINE IN OPPOSITION OR
IN SUPPORT? SORRY. OPPOSITION
COME ON UP, PLEASE.
MR. CHAIR AND MR. CHAIR, PAUL DE
NIRO, REPRESENTING THE WESTERN
STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION
HERE IN OPPOSITION TO THE BILL.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I THINK THE
PREMISE IS THAT ANY OIL AND GAS
WELL INCREASES ASTHMA RATES,
BIRTH RATES, LIFE EXPECTANCIES
FOR PEOPLE LIVING NEAR AN OIL
WELL, IT IS UNTRUE. WHETHER IT'S
ALLOWING OR WHETHER IT IS
ALLOWING LOW PRODUCING WELLS OR
HIGH PRODUCING WELLS. THERE IS
NO RECOGNIZED STUDY THAT HAS
CONCLUDED THAT OIL AND GAS
FACILITIES IMPACT ANY OF THE
PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED HEALTH
ISSUES IN FACT, A 2015
CALIFORNIA COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY STUDY CONCLUDED
THAT THERE IS NO DATA TO SUPPORT
SHOWING THE ADVERSE IMPACTS FROM
OIL AND GAS FACILITIES. ALL ARE
REGULATED BY CAL JAM, AND IF ANY
OF THOSE OIL WELLS AS AS
MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION,
WERE CAUSING THAT LEVEL OF HARM,
THOSE WOULD BE SHUT DOWN. WE ARE
REGULATED, EVERY DAY AND THE
WELLS ARE TESTED, AND THOSE
WELLS WOULD BE SHUT DOWN. LOW
PRODUCING WELLS ARE A VALUABLE
ASSET OF THE MINERAL, RIGHT
HOLDERS AND OPERATORS. AGAIN,
SIMILAR TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER ADAMS
BILL, THIS POTENTIALLY COULD
RESULT IN A TAKINGS, LEGAL
ISSUE, ACCORDING TO THE US
CONSTITUTION, RESTRICTING IN
STATE PRODUCTION WILL CONTINUE
TO INCREASE CALIFORNIA'S
DEPENDANCE ON FOREIGN CRUDE. 75%
OF THE STATE'S DEMAND FOR CRUDE
IS IMPORTED VIA TANKER OFF THE
CALIFORNIA SHORES. THERE IS A
THERE IS A COST TO TRANSPORT
THAT CRUDE TO CALIFORNIA OF 5 TO
$6 A BARREL. IF YOU'RE IMPORTING
CRUDE, IF YOU ARE GETTING CRUDE
IN-STATE, WHICH IS ONLY 25% OF
THE CRUDE, THE COST IS A DOLLAR
A BARREL AND IT'S TRANSPORTED BY
PIPELINE. WELL, I ASK YOU TO
WRAP UP YOUR THOUGHT, SIR, I, I
APPRECIATE THE PASSION OF THE
CHAIRMAN, BUT I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR AN OPPOSED POSITION. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. NEXT WITNESS TWO
MINUTES, PLEASE. YEAH. MR.
CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS. THEO ALEJO'S
REPRESENT THE CALIFORNIA
INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM
ASSOCIATION AS IT RELATES TO THE
STUDIES. THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER
OF STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE,
AND WE HAVE A IN DEPTH CRITERIA
OF ALL OF THOSE STUDIES. AND WE
CAN WE CAN POINT OUT THAT NOT
ONLY ACCEPT A COUPLE OF THESE
STUDIES ACTUALLY TOOK A MISSION
READINGS FROM OIL PRODUCING
FACILITIES IN THESE AREAS. IF
THIS WAS THE HEALTH HAZARD THAT
IT IS STATED TO BE, WE'D HAVE
PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE DROPPING
LEFT AND RIGHT. AND THAT'S JUST
NOT THE CASE, SECONDLY, SINCE
OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS OR SO,
THERE'S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF
POLICY DEVELOPMENT, MUCH OF IT
COMING AFTER THIS OUT OF THIS
COMMITTEE ABOUT IDLE AND
ABANDONED WELLS. ABANDONED WELLS
ARE REALLY THE PROBLEM. IDLE
WELLS. WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST
IDLE WELL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
THIS INDUSTRY IN THE PAST TWO
YEARS HAS PLUGGED ALMOST 12,000
WELLS. THOSE WELLS ARE NOW OUT
OF THE INVENTORY. WE'RE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO, PLUG IN AN
ABANDONED WELLS, BUT WE HAVE TO
BE ABLE TO PRODUCE IN ORDER TO
HAVE THE REVENUE TO PLUG IN AND
BUILD IN THESE WELLS. THEY DON'T
BECOME THE LIABILITY OF THE
STATE. SO IF WE ACT TOO QUICKLY
OF TAKING ASSETS OUT OF
PRODUCTION, YOU ACTUALLY FULFILL
WHAT WOULD BE A SELF-FULFILLING
PROPHECY, WHERE YOU ERADICATE
THE INDUSTRY AND THERE'S NO ONE
THERE LEFT TO ABANDON THE WELLS
THAT REMAIN. SO WE WOULD WE
WOULD ADVISE THAT A MORE
CAUTIOUS TRANSITION. AND WE
DON'T BELIEVE THIS BILL FULFILLS
THAT GOAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE IN
OPPOSITION SEEING NONE. BRING IT
BACK TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS. ANY
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE?
SEEING NONE. MR. CHAIR, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? SURE. I LOVE
MY BROTHER, THEO. I'M JUST
TRYING TO. I DON'T BELIEVE HE
INTENTIONALLY MEANT TO SAY THAT
IF WE PHASE OUT THE INDUSTRY,
THERE WILL BE NO ONE LEFT TO
ABANDON THE WELLS. THAT'S PART
OF THE OTHER PROBLEM, THERE WERE
TWO STUDIES THAT WERE LINKED TO
SB 1137 THAT DIRECTLY TALKED
ABOUT THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF OIL
DRILLING NEAR HOMES. IF IT'S NOT
ALREADY INTUITIVE FOR YOU, BUT
ALSO IN 2021, A SCIENTIFIC PANEL
WAS CONVENED BY CAL JIM. THEY
CONCLUDED, AND I QUOTE, THE
TOTALITY OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL
EVIDENCE PROVIDES A HIGH LEVEL
OF CERTAINTY THAT EXPOSURE TO
OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT CAUSES A
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE RISK OF
POOR BIRTH OUTCOMES. THE PANEL
ALSO FOUND A HIGH LEVEL OF
CERTAINTY THAT LIVING NEAR OIL
AND GAS DEVELOPMENT IS
ASSOCIATED WITH POOR RESPIRATORY
OUTCOMES. THIS IS VERY WELL
DOCUMENTED AND IT IS
UNDERSTANDABLE WHY WHY
COMMUNITIES WHO LIVE IN
PROXIMITY TO OIL FIELDS?
ADMITTEDLY, I AM ONE OF THOSE
THE LARGEST URBAN OIL FIELD IN
THE COUNTRY IN OUR STATE IS IN
MY DISTRICT. THE INGLEWOOD
BALDWIN HILLS OIL FIELD, AND
IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO PEOPLE'S
HOMES. AND THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF
BARRELS OF OIL THAT THEY'RE
EXTRACTING WITHIN THE HEALTH
SETBACK ZONE IS LESS THAN THREE
BARRELS A DAY. BUT THE HEALTH
EXPOSURE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT IS THE SAME AS IF THEY
HAD BEEN, ACQUIRING 3000 BARRELS
A DAY. THE PROBLEM IS, THE COST
OF CLEANING IT UP IS NOT A COST
THAT THEY WANT TO PAY. THEY
WOULD RATHER ABANDON THOSE WELLS
OR THEY WOULD RATHER LET THEM
KEEP PUMPING, PRODUCING VERY
LITTLE OIL AND KNOWING THE
IMPACT OF THOSE WHO ARE LIVING
AROUND IT. WE HAVE TO CHANGE
THIS PARADIGM. WE HAVE TO CHANGE
THIS COST CALCULATION. WE HAVE
TO SHIFT THE COST AWAY FROM
BLACK, BROWN, POOR COMMUNITIES
WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO BREATHE
AND PUT THE COST BACK ON THE
POLLUTERS WHO HAVE BEEN DOING
THIS DAMAGE WITH DISREGARD FOR
THOSE WHO ARE LIVING NEARBY. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. IT'S GOING
TO GET REMARKABLY UNCOMFORTABLE
IF YOU DON'T ACCEPT YOUR
COMMITTEE'S AMENDMENTS, THOUGH.
I ACCEPT THE AMENDMENTS. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. SECRETARY. PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION IS
DUE. PASS AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS. BRIAN, I, BRIAN,
I FLORA. NO. FLORA. NO. CONNOLLY
CONNOLLY I FRIEDMAN. FRIEDMAN I
HOOVER. HOOVER. NO. CHOLERA
MURATSUCHI. PATTERSON. NO
PATTERSON. NO. PELLERIN.
PELLERIN I WICKS. WICKS I WOULD
WOOD I. BILL HAS SIX VOTES. WILL
LEAVE IT ON CALL. THE SUPPORT
LIST FOR MY NEXT MEASURE IS AS
LONG AS THE LAST ONE. SO WE'RE
GOING TO JUMP BACK TO MR. BERMAN
AB 2083. THANK YOU. CHAIR BRIAN,
FOR LETTING LETTING ME SNEAK IN
HERE IN BETWEEN YOUR VERY GOOD
MEASURES. APPRECIATE THE MOTION
IN THE SECOND, INDUSTRIAL
EMISSIONS ARE THE SECOND LARGEST
SOURCE OF GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS IN CALIFORNIA. WHILE
THE STATE CONTINUES TO BE A
LEADER IN TRANSITIONING FROM
COMBUSTION TO ZERO EMISSION
TECHNOLOGIES IN THE ELECTRICITY
AND TRANSPORTATION SECTORS,
INDUSTRIAL EMISSIONS HAVE
LARGELY REMAINED UNADDRESSED. AB
28, AB 2083 IS A KEY FIRST STEP
FOR CALIFORNIANS TO MODERNIZE
INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING AND
PLAN FOR HOW THE INDUSTRIAL
SECTOR WILL REDUCE ITS
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. THIS
BILL WOULD TASK THE CALIFORNIA
ENERGY COMMISSION WITH
DEVELOPING A REPORT ON THE KEY
STRATEGIES THE INDUSTRIAL
MANUFACTURING SECTOR CAN
UNDERTAKE TO CUT ITS EMISSIONS
IN LINE WITH CALIFORNIA'S
EXISTING CARBON NEUTRALITY
REQUIREMENTS. IF WE DO NOT START
PLANNING NOW, WE RISK A
DISORDERLY, EXPENSIVE AND LAST
MINUTE EFFORT TO REDUCE
INDUSTRIAL EMISSIONS. THIS
REPORT WILL PROVIDE CRITICAL
INFORMATION FOR THE STATE TO
CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS TO MEET OUR
CLIMATE GOALS. I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR AYE VOTE AND WITH
ME TODAY ARE THE BILL'S
SPONSORS. MARK FENSTERMAKER ON
BEHALF OF EARTHJUSTICE AND CALEB
ROBINSON ON BEHALF OF
INDUSTRIOUS LABS. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M MARK
FENSTERMAKER HERE ON BEHALF OF
EARTHJUSTICE, A PROUD CO-SPONSOR
OF AB 2083. CALIFORNIA'S
INDUSTRIAL SECTOR IS A CRITICAL
COMPONENT OF THE STATE'S
ECONOMY, BUT MANY INDUSTRIAL
PROCESSES RELY ON THE COMBUSTION
OF FOSSIL FUELS, EMITTING
CRITERIA, POLLUTANTS AND
REDUCING AIR QUALITY. THE
INDUSTRIAL SECTOR ALSO
REPRESENTS 23% OF OUR GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSIONS. THANKS TO MR.
MURATSUCHI AB 1279, THE STATE
HAS SET A GOAL TO REACH CARBON
NEUTRALITY BY 2045 WITH AN 85%
EMISSION REDUCTION TARGET.
REDUCING EMISSIONS FROM THE
MANUFACTURING SECTOR IS GOING TO
BE A KEY COMPONENT IN ACHIEVING
THESE GOALS, AND AB 2083 IS
GOING TO ASSESS INDUSTRIES
POTENTIAL TO DO SO. AB 2083 IS
NOT SETTING A NEW EMISSIONS
REDUCTION TARGET FOR THE
INDUSTRIAL SECTOR. AGAIN, IT IS
SIMPLY ASSESSING HOW INDUSTRY
CAN REDUCE EMISSIONS IN LINE
WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF AB
1279. WE NEED TO ASSESS THE
ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S
GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO TACKLING
THE EMISSIONS FROM INDUSTRIAL
SOURCES AND FACILITATING THIS
TRANSITION, TRANSITION, AND
WE'VE SEEN A MODEL IN HOW WE'VE
APPROACHED DECARBONIZING OUR
BUILDINGS. WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER
FRIEDMAN'S AB 3232, WHICH TASKED
THE CEC TO ANALYZE HOW BUILDINGS
COULD DECARBONIZE ACCORDING TO
THE 2030 GOALS, AB 2083 IS
FOLLOWING THAT MODEL FOR
INDUSTRY. BY USING THE 2045
GOALS 2045 MODELS AS THE GUIDE,
WE WANT MANUFACTURING TO SUSTAIN
AND THRIVE IN OUR CARBON NEUTRAL
FUTURE, AND THAT IS WHY WE'RE
WORKING WITH MR. BERMAN ON THIS
BILL. WE THANK HIM. THANK HIM
FOR AUTHORING AB 2083 AND
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE TODAY. GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR AND MEMBERS, KAYLA
ROBINSON, ON BEHALF OF
INDUSTRIOUS LABS, AN
ORGANIZATION LEADING EFFORTS TO
DECARBONIZE THE GLOBAL
INDUSTRIAL SECTOR BY 2045.
CURRENTLY CALIFORNIA IS A LEADER
IN INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING.
CRITICALLY, WE HAVE A HOST OF
INDUSTRIES LIKE FOOD
MANUFACTURING, APPAREL
PRODUCTION, PAPER, GLASS AND
MORE. DESPITE THE IMPORTANT ROLE
THAT THIS SECTOR PLAYS FOR
CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY, THE STATE
DOES NOT HAVE A PLAN ON HOW TO
STRATEGICALLY DEPLOY ZERO
EMISSION TECHNOLOGIES IN LINE
WITH OUR CLIMATE GOALS. HAVING A
PLAN DEVELOPED BY THE CALIFORNIA
ENERGY COMMISSION TO SUPPLEMENT
SOME OF THE EARLY ANALYSIS DONE
BY THE STATE SCOPING PLAN WILL
BE CRITICAL TO OFFER AN ENERGY
AND TECHNOLOGY FORWARD REPORT ON
HOW TO DECARBONIZE THIS SECTOR
FROM INDUSTRIAL HEAT PUMPS TO
ELECTRIC OVENS AND THERMAL
STORAGE. THIS REPORT CAN HELP
LAY OUT THE MANY ZERO EMISSION
TECHNOLOGIES THAT EXIST TODAY TO
ELIMINATE LOW HANGING FRUIT
EMISSIONS IN INDUSTRIAL
MANUFACTURING. FURTHERMORE FOR
INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES THAT WERE
PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT TO BE HARD TO
DECARBONIZE, THIS REPORT CAN
HELP IDENTIFY CURRENTLY
AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES AND
STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME BARRIERS
ACROSS THIS MULTIFACETED SECTOR,
CREATING AN ASSESSMENT FOR HOW
THE STATE CAN MODERNIZE. AND
IT'S INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING
PROCESSES WILL ULTIMATELY
STRENGTHEN CALIFORNIA'S
INDUSTRIES GLOBALLY, CREATE NEW
OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR WORKFORCE,
AND BETTER POSITIONED THE STATE
FOR SUSTAINED ECONOMIC GROWTH IN
THIS SECTOR. WITHOUT A STRATEGIC
APPROACH APPROACH TO
DECARBONIZING THE STATE'S
INDUSTRIAL SECTOR, CREATED
THROUGH AB 2083, WILL MISS THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO THOUGHTFULLY
TRANSITION TO A MORE EFFICIENT
AND RESILIENT CARBON NEUTRAL
ECONOMY BY 2045. FOR THOSE
REASONS, RESPECTFULLY URGE YOUR
AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. ARE THERE ANY PERSONS
HERE IN THE HEARING ROOM WHO
WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER THEIR
SUPPORT FOR THIS MEASURE?
GABRIELLA FAZIO, SIERRA CLUB,
CALIFORNIA IN STRONG SUPPORT.
JANET COX FOR CLIMATE ACTION
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU
. SOPHIA KHÎI WITH THE COALITION
FOR CLEAN AIR AND SUPPORT.
EMILY, WITH NRDC IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE ANY
PRIMARY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION
TO THIS MEASURE? AFTERNOON.
AFTERNOON. YES, SIR. GOOD
AFTERNOON. GOOD EVENING.
MEMBERS. ROB SPIEGEL, CALIFORNIA
MANUFACTURERS AND TECHNOLOGY
ASSOCIATION IN OPPOSITION TO
THIS PARTICULAR BILL, WE ALSO
OPPOSED LAST YEAR ASSEMBLY BILL
841, THE REASONS FOR OUR
OPPOSITION TO 2083 ARE ARE
PRETTY SIMPLE, THERE'S CLEARLY A
DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN OUR
MEMBERSHIP AND WHAT THE BILL IS
PROPOSING TO DO UPON ADOPTION
AND COMPLETION OF THE VARIOUS
ASSESSMENT. IT WOULD ACTUALLY
CREATE AN 85% REDUCTION LEVEL BY
THE YEAR 2045. FOR CALIFORNIA'S
INDUSTRIAL SECTOR, THAT IS
SETTING A NEW EMISSION REDUCTION
TARGET FOR THE STATE. WE BELIEVE
AS WELL THAT 2083 IS DUPLICATIVE
OF THE OTHER, CLIMATE EMISSION
REPORTING DOCUMENTATION THAT'S
OUT THERE, SPECIFICALLY, THE
2022 SCOPING PLAN UPDATE, WHICH
PROVIDES KIND OF A HOLISTIC
ASSESSMENT OF THE ENTIRE SECTOR
IN LINE WITH CALIFORNIA'S CARBON
NEUTRALITY GOAL, ENCAPSULATED IN
AB 1279 FOR MR. MURATSUCHI LAST
YEAR OR A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE REPORT IS
THAT IT PROVIDES TWO, STRINGENT
OF A REQUIREMENT AND A NARROW
TECHNOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF WHAT
CURRENTLY EXISTS ON THE MARKET
TODAY. IT DOESN'T PROVIDE THE
NECESSARY FLEXIBILITIES THAT
INDUSTRY IS GOING TO REQUIRE.
AND THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
OR THE INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIES IN
CALIFORNIA ARE SOME OF THE MOST
DIVERSE ON THE PLANET. EVEN
THOUGH WE MAY MAKE A SIMILAR
PRODUCT LIKE A, A BEVERAGE OR A
FOOD PRODUCT, THE VARIOUS
CONSIDERATIONS TO HOW THAT
PRODUCT IS ULTIMATELY DESIGNED,
ULTIMATELY CONSTRUCTED WILL VARY
ACROSS THE MANUFACTURERS OF EVEN
THOSE SIMILAR TYPE OF PRODUCTS.
THERE'S VARIATION ACCORDING TO
THE PROCEDURES AND PROCESSES.
AND WITH THAT, WE DON'T BELIEVE
THAT 2083 PROVIDES THE NECESSARY
FLEXIBILITIES THERE TO ENCOURAGE
THE INNOVATIONS THAT ARE STILL
REQUIRED FOR MANUFACTURERS AND
THE INDUSTRY TO BE ABLE TO ADAPT
TO THE CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO
BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO REACH
THE GOAL OF CARBON NEUTRALITY BY
2045. WE APPRECIATE THE
CONSIDERATION THAT THE BILL
PROVIDES. WE APPRECIATE THE
ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT OUR SECTOR
IS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE. WE
PROVIDE ABOUT $340 BILLION TO
THE STATE'S ECONOMY AND EMPLOY
ABOUT 1.3 MILLION CALIFORNIANS.
BUT AS DESIGN AID, THIS BILL
DOES NOT PROVIDE THE NEEDED
FLEXIBILITY THAT IS REQUIRED FOR
MANUFACTURERS OR INDUSTRY TO BE
ABLE TO COMPLY. VÌ WE DO
UNDERSTAND THOSE CONSIDERATIONS,
BUT WE MUST RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE
THIS BILL. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY PERSONS
HERE IN THE HEARING ROOM WHO'D
LIKE TO REGISTER THEIR
OPPOSITION? MR. CHAIR MEMBERS
BETH ALSO, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA POULTRY FEDERATION
AND THE AGRICULTURAL ENERGY
CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION, FOR THE
SAME REASONS, AS CMTA, WE ARE IN
OPPOSITION. I THINK WE HAD A
LETTER TURNED IN. WE'RE NOT IN
THE ANALYSIS. I WE WEREN'T JUST
COMING IN HERE HOT. SO, JUST
WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT IT WAS
NOTED WE WERE IN THERE. SO THANK
YOU. IS THAT THE LATE MARGIE LEE
SAMSON? ADVISORS ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA LEAGUE OF FOOD
PRODUCERS, ALIGN OUR COMMENTS
WITH CMTA. ABSOLUTELY. AND THE
LETTER WAS LATE, BUT WE
DEFINITELY SHARED IT AROUND
NONETHELESS, TURNED BACK TO
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. ANY
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS?
SEEING NONE. MR. BERMAN, MR.
FULLER YEAH, THIS IS HARD
BECAUSE, AT FIRST GLANCE, I DO
SUPPORT THIS BILL, BUT THEN THE
OPPOSITION THAT CAME IN IS, IS
OPPOSITION THAT I HAVE A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESPECT
FOR. AND SO IT HONESTLY KIND OF
THREW A LOT OF US ON OUR SIDE
AND A LITTLE BIT OF TURMOIL, NOT
EXACTLY SURE, BUT I AM GONNA
SUPPORT THE BILL TODAY, AND I
THINK THAT THERE IS
CONVERSATIONS THAT CONTINUE TO
BE HAD. AND I THINK THERE'S SOME
OF THE OPPOSITION'S CONCERNS.
CAN AND PROBABLY SHOULD BE
ADDRESSED. AND I JUST WANT TO
ENCOURAGE THE AUTHOR TO DO THAT,
BECAUSE, YEAH, IT DOES SEEM
RELATIVELY LIKE A GOOD BILL, BUT
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
DO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS.
THE OPPOSITION. THANK YOU.
ABSOLUTELY. MISS FRIEDMAN. WELL,
I WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD, HAVING A
CLEAR ROADMAP DEVELOPED AS TO
HOW TO REDUCE EMISSIONS AND SOME
OF OUR MOST EMISSIONS HEAVY
SECTORS, IS CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT. AND THAT'S REALLY
WHAT THIS BILL DOES. AT THE END
OF THE DAY, I'D BE VERY PROUD OF
YOU WOULD CONSIDER ADDING ME AS
A COAUTHOR TO THE MEASURE. I'M
HAPPY TO SUPPORT TODAY. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. ABBY. MR.
MURATSUCHI, THANK YOU. I ALSO
WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD
ADD ME AS A COAUTHOR, WONDERFUL,
BILL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
MOTION BY MURATSUCHI. SECOND BY
MISS FRIEDMAN. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? MR. BERMAN, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR THE CONVERSATION.
APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS THAT
WERE RAISED, YOU KNOW, WE'LL
DEFINITELY HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE
TO HAVE A CONVERSATIONS YET WITH
THE OPPOSITION, SO WANT TO LOOK
FORWARD TO DOING THAT. I THINK
WE HAVE A DISAGREEMENT ON WHAT
WE THINK THE BILL AS DRAFTED
DOES, BUT OBVIOUSLY WANT TO
ADDRESS ANY, ANY SORT OF
UNINTENDED, YOU KNOW, DRAFTING
ISSUES THAT MIGHT EXIST. MY
GUESS IS THAT AT THE END OF THE
DAY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO END UP
TOTALLY IN THE SAME PLACE, BUT
BUT I DEFINITELY, BUT BUT I
THINK THAT SOME OF THE CONCERNS
THAT YOU RAISE ARE VALID, AND WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BILL
DOESN'T DO MORE THAN WHAT I'M
INTENDING FOR. IT TO DO, SO WITH
THAT, RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN
AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. SIR. MADAM
SECRETARY, CAN WE CALL THE ROLL
HAS A Dð PASS FROM THE CHAIR.
THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO
UTILITIES AND ENERGY. BRIAN. HI,
BRIAN. AYE, FLORA. HI, FLORA.
AYE. CONNELLY. CONNELLY. AYE.
FRIEDMAN FRIEDMAN. AYE. HOOVER
NOT VOTING. HOOVER. NOT VOTING.
CHOLERA MURATSUCHI. MURATSUCHI.
AYE PATTERSON. PATTERSON. NOT
VOTING. PELLERIN PELLERIN. AYE.
WICKS. WICKS. AYE WOOD. WOOD.
AYE THANKS, EVERYONE. GRAY SOCKS
. MR. MURATSUCHI, WOULD YOU LIKE
TO GO? 31, 92. REACH OUT TO ME
TOGETHER. YES.
THANK YOU. YES. HE'S READY.
OKAY. I'M SORRY. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR.
IF I MAY PROCEED, I'M HERE TO
PRESENT ASSEMBLY BILL 3192, AND,
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK
YOUR WONDERFUL, STAFF FOR
WORKING OUR MAGIC ON, ON ON THIS
BILL, I, I WILL BE ACCEPTING,
THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS, TO
MOVE THIS BILL FORWARD. AS SOME
OF YOU MAY RECALL, THIS WAS A
BILL THAT WAS PRESENTED, LAST
YEAR BY, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
FRIEDMAN AND, THE, THE, THE, THE
PURPOSE OF THIS BILL REMAINS THE
SAME. THAT IS TO PROTECT
SENSITIVE COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS, BY
REQUIRING MAJOR COASTAL RESORTS
TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF THEIR
ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES, MAJOR
COASTAL RESORTS CAN HAVE AN
OUTSIZE IMPACT ON THE
ENVIRONMENT. YOU KNOW, I
ACTUALLY GREW UP ON AN ISLAND
WHERE I'VE SEEN, BEACHES AND THE
OCEAN, THE, THE ECOSYSTEM, THE
FISH. JUST DISAPPEARING FROM, A
LOT OF THE, THE EXCESSIVE USE OF
FERTILIZERS AND PESTICIDES AND
SO FORTH ON THE, THE MARINE LIFE
, SURROUNDING THESE MAJOR
RESORTS AND SO, THIS, THIS BILL,
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ADDRESSED SOME OF THE CONCERNS
THAT WERE RAISED IN MISS
FRASER'S BILL LAST YEAR, WHILE
AT THE SAME TIME MAKING SURE
THAT WE WERE NOT COMPROMISING ON
THE MISSION, NOT ONLY OF
PROTECTING SENSITIVE COASTAL
ECOSYSTEMS, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE
THAT, THAT RESORT EMPLOYEES HAVE
WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION, SO
THAT IF, IF AND WHEN THEY DO SEE
ANY VIOLATIONS OF THE PROVISIONS
ON THIS BILL, THAT THEY WOULD
HAVE THE WORKPLACE PROTECTIONS
TO BE ABLE TO, RAISE COMPLAINTS,
AS, AS APPROPRIATE, I WOULD,
LIKE TO, TURN IT OVER TO AMY
HINES SHAIKH, REPRESENTING UNITE
HERE, LOCAL 11, REPRESENTING,
HOTEL RESORT WORKERS, AS WELL AS
NICHOLAS GARDNER SERNA, WITH THE
SUNRISE MOVEMENT OF LOS ANGELES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON. HONORABLE CHAIR BRIAN
AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME
IS AMY HINES-IKE, CO-FOUNDER AND
PARTNER AT WILDCAT CONSULTING
REPRESENTING UNITE HERE. LOCAL
11. UNITE HERE LOCAL 11
REPRESENTS OVER 32,000 HOTEL AND
FOOD SERVICE WORKERS IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA AND IS THE SPONSOR OF
AB 3192. WE WOULD LIKE TO
RECOGNIZE COMMITTEE STAFF FOR
THEIR HARD WORK PREPARING THE
COMMITTEE ANALYSIS FOR AB 3192
AND WORKING WITH US ON
AMENDMENTS. THE BILL IMPROVES
THE ENFORCEMENT RULES THAT MAJOR
COASTAL RESORTS ARE ALREADY
SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW BY MOVING
ENFORCEMENT FROM A COMPLAINT
BASED SYSTEM TO AN AUDIT BASED
SYSTEM, THE BILL ALSO REDUCES
THE USE OF SYNTHETIC PESTICIDES
AND SINGLE USE PLASTICS IN SUCH
CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SENSITIVE
COASTAL HABITATS. ONE OF THE SIX
MAJOR COASTAL RESORTS THAT WOULD
BE COVERED BY THIS BILL IS THE
TERRANEA IN RANCHO PALOS VERDES,
TERRANEA WORKERS WERE VERY
CONCERNED TO OBSERVE PLUMBING
PROBLEMS AND FOUL ODORS COMING
FROM THE PLUMBING AND WHAT
APPEARED TO BE INAPPROPRIATE
WASHING OF GRILLS USED TO COOK
OUTSIDE, AMONG OTHER DISTURBING
PRACTICES. WE HAVE PROVIDED YOU
WITH A REPORT ISSUED BY UNITE
HERE, LOCAL 11, SUNRISE
MOVEMENT, LOS ANGELES AND
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS
TITLED HOW GREEN IS THE
TERRANEA? THE REPORT FINDS THAT
THE TEN YEAR AVERAGE OF FECAL
COLIFORM LEVELS FOUND IN SAMPLES
AT THE MONITORING SITE CLOSEST
TO THE TERRANEA WAS ON 174% AND
270% HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE IS
FOUND AT THE TWO NEXT CLOSEST
SAMPLING SITES, ABALONE COVE AND
PORTUGUESE BEND, RESPECTIVELY.
IN 2016, THREE EMPLOYEES AT THE
SHORE HOTEL IN SANTA MONICA
ALLEGED THAT MANAGEMENT OF THE
SHORE HOTEL ILLEGALLY TERMINATED
THEM. ALL THREE OF THESE
EMPLOYEES HAD TESTIFIED AT THE
CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION
ABOUT ISSUES AT THE HOTEL IN THE
MONTHS PRECEDING THEIR
TERMINATION, BECAUSE HOSPITALITY
WORKERS ARE ONE OF ONE GROUP
THAT IS MOST LIKELY TO WITNESS
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AT A
MAJOR COASTAL RESORT, AB 3192
INCLUDES IMPORTANT PROTECTIONS
FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS. WE ARE PROUD
TO STAND WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER
MURATSUCHI AS THE AUTHOR OF THE
BILL, AND WE RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, HONORABLE CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS NICO
GARDENER SERNA AND I AM THE
CHAPTER COORDINATOR OF THE
SUNRISE MOVEMENT LOS ANGELES. IN
APRIL OF LAST YEAR, I COAUTHORED
A REPORT TITLED HOW GREEN IS THE
TYRANNY WITH UNITE HERE LOCAL 11
AND CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
VOTERS. THE FINDINGS IN THIS
REPORT SHOW THE DEEP NEED FOR AB
3192 BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
MURATSUCHI. CALIFORNIA'S COAST
IS THE SITE OF SOME OF THE
WORLD'S MOST TREASURED AND
SENSITIVE HABITATS. YET PORTIONS
OF THE COAST ARE OCCUPIED BY
LARGE GOLF RESORTS, A SPRAWLING
HOTEL AND GOLF COURSE COMPLEX,
THE TERRANEA RESORT, IS LOCATED
ALONG AN ENVIRONMENTALLY
SENSITIVE STRETCH OF THE PACIFIC
OCEAN AND PROMINENTLY MARKETS
ITSELF AS ECO FRIENDLY. IT
CLAIMS THAT, QUOTE, SINCE ITS
INCEPTION, THE TERRANEA HAS
REMAINED COMMITTED TO MINIMIZING
ITS ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT BY
INTEGRATING TRANSPARENT, ECO
FRIENDLY PRACTICES THROUGHOUT
THE RESORT, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO THOSE THAT PROTECT
OPEN SPACE, IMPROVE WILDLIFE
HABITATS, AND ENHANCE LOCAL
WATER QUALITY, AND CALLS ITSELF
A MODEL FOR GREEN AND ECO
FRIENDLY RESORT DEVELOPMENT. OUR
REPORT SHOWS A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT SIDE OF THE TERRANEA,
SUGGESTING ITS PUBLIC CLAIMS OF
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS AND
PRIORITIES MAY BE OVERSTATED. IT
APPEARS THAT THE TYRANNIUS
CLAIMS REGARDING ITS EFFORTS TO
IMPROVE WILDLIFE HABITATS MAY BE
UNDERMINED BY A DISTURBING
RECORD OF RACCOONS AND OTHER
MAMMALS BEING TRAPPED AT THE
RESORT BY COMMERCIAL TRAPPERS.
THE RESORT AND GOLF COURSES
OPERATION HAVE ALSO COINCIDED
WITH A DROP IN THE ESTIMATED
POPULATION OF A SENSITIVE BIRD
SPECIES, THE COASTAL CACTUS
WREN. DATA, OBTAINED THROUGH A
PUBLIC THROUGH PUBLIC RECORDS
REQUESTS, INDICATES THAT BETWEEN
2017 AND 2021, THE TERRANEA USED
43 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PESTICIDES
HERBICIDES AND PLANT GROWTH
REGULATORS, INCLUDING ONE WHOSE
SAFETY DATA SHEET STATES THAT
THE CHEMICAL IS VERY TOXIC TO
AQUATIC LIFE, WITH LONG LASTING
EFFECTS TO WORKERS. HAVE
PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THAT PLASTIC
BOTTLES USED BY GUESTS IN
BANQUET EVENTS AND OTHER
RECYCLABLE ITEMS, AS WELL AS
FOOD WASTE, HAVE BEEN DISCARDED
WITH THE RESORT'S ORDINARY
GARBAGE. IT IS FOR THESE
REASONS, AND MANY MORE, THAT WE
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR AYE
VOTE ON AB 3192. ANY WITNESSES
PRIMARY WITNESSES IN OR. I'M
SORRY, ANYBODY IN THE HEARING
ROOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER
THEIR SUPPORT? I SEE Y'ALL
MOVING. THIS IMPORTANT BILL. I'M
TALKING TO MY FOLKS THERE. MY
ENVIRONMENTAL REGENSTAUF SUPPORT
. HELLO, I'M ALFRED TWO. AS AN
INDIVIDUAL IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. ALFRED, ANY
PRIMARY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION?
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. SKYLER WONACOTT, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
BUSINESS PROPERTIES ASSOCIATION.
I GOT YOU, SCOTT. GOOD
AFTERNOON. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, ADAM WRIGLEY WITH THE
CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
IN RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION. AB
3192 IS ACTUALLY A CARBON COPY
VERBATIM OF LEGISLATION LAST
YEAR, WHICH WE OPPOSED AND THIS
COMMITTEE VOTED DOWN, IT
ADVANCES NUMEROUS POLICIES,
APPLICABLE ONLY TO CALIFORNIA'S
COASTAL RESORTS UNDER THE GUISE
OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. AND
I SAY, GUYS, BECAUSE THESE
POLICIES ARE DUPLICATIVE OR IN
CONFLICT WITH EXISTING
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND
REGULATIONS. IN OTHER WORDS,
IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT AB 3192
ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS THAT THESE
EXISTING LAWS AND REGULATIONS
FAIL TO ADDRESS AND I THINK IT'S
NOTEWORTHY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL, THERE'S
NOT REALLY ANY MAJOR
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS THAT YOU
WOULD EXPECT TO BE ON A BILL IF
IT WAS ADVANCING SUCH, REQUIRED
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND
REGULATIONS THAT ARE, APPARENTLY
INADEQUATE UNDER WATER QUALITY
CONTROL PLANS UNDER THE
PORTER-COLOGNE ACT. WHAT IS 3192
ADDRESSING THAT THOSE FAIL TO
ADDRESS THE WASTE DISCHARGE
PERMITS UNDER CALIFORNIA
STATUTORY WATER RIGHTS LAWS AND
SEMINAL SAFE DRINKING WATER
LAWS, WHAT DOES THIS BILL
ADVANCE THAT THE NATIONAL
POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION
SYSTEM, OR NPDES, PERMITS, FAIL
TO ADDRESS UNDER THE FEDERAL
CLEAN WATER ACT? WHY ARE WE
BANNING ONE OF THE MOST
RECYCLABLE SINGLE USE BEVERAGE
CONTAINERS UNDER THE BOTTLE BILL
, WHEN THAT HAS LITERALLY UNDER
SB 343 MOST RECENT RECYCLABILITY
LIST, CALRECYCLE DETERMINES THAT
TO BE ONE OF THE MOST RECYCLABLE
PRODUCTS IN CALIFORNIA. WHY ARE
WE CIRCUMVENTING SB 54, AS THE
AGENCY IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING
RULEMAKING TO ADVANCE ONE OF THE
MOST FLAGSHIP EPR PROGRAMS ON
SINGLE USE PACKAGING? WHY ARE WE
WHY ARE WE GOING AFTER,
PESTICIDE REGULATION WHEN IT IS
ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY
REGULATED, CHEMICALS IN
CALIFORNIA BY BOTH THE US EPA
AND CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
PESTICIDE REGISTRATION, WHO THIS
BILL IS IN DIRECT CONTRADICTION
WITH THEIR INTEGRATED PEST
MANAGEMENT PLANS. ALL OF THIS IS
TO SAY, IS WE DON'T FIND ANY
NEED FOR THIS BILL, AND WE ARE
STILL STRUGGLING TO FIND WHAT
THE AUTHOR'S JUSTIFICATION FOR
ADVANCING IT IS. AND IN SOME
LEVEL, BASED ON JUST WHO
SUPPORTS THIS BILL, IN OUR VIEW,
IT'S PERFECTLY RIPE TO TALK
ABOUT THE LABOR PROVISIONS IN
THIS BILL, IN A COMMITTEE IN
WHICH IT'S NOT GOING TO LABOR,
BECAUSE IT WAS BROUGHT UP BY THE
SUPPORT WHICH WE DON'T THINK
EXPANDING WHISTLEBLOWER
PROTECTION TO JOB APPLICANTS
MAKES ANY SENSE. AND WE DON'T
THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO EXPAND
WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION, WHICH
IS VERY ROBUST AND ALREADY
PROTECTS AN EMPLOYEE WHO GOES IN
FRONT OF THE COMMISSION AND
TALKS ABOUT VIOLATIONS OF LAW.
YOU DON'T NEED TO EXPAND IT TO
TALKING TO THE MEDIA, WHICH THIS
BILL DOES. AND SO THERE'S A
WHOLE PLETHORA OF REASONS THAT
IN TWO MINUTES WE CANNOT FULLY
ENCOMPASS THIS BILL SHOULD
REALLY BE BROKEN UP INTO
MULTIPLE BILLS. IT'S THAT
ONEROUS. AND THAT EXTENSIVE AND
IN FACT, THAT, UNNECESSARY VÆ
GIVEN ALL OF THE OTHER
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND
REGULATIONS THAT THIS STATE IS
ALREADY REGULATING ON TOP OF
COASTAL RESORTS, FOR ALL THOSE
REASONS AND MORE, WE
RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE. THANK YOU.
YEAH. JULIE MALINOWSKI, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA HOTEL
AND LODGING ASSOCIATION. SO
CHIRLA REPRESENTS FROM THE BIG
BRANDS DOWN TO THE SMALL BED AND
BREAKFASTS, WE REPRESENT, MOST
OF THE IMPACTED RESORTS WHICH
ARE ON THE LIST, BUT THAT LIST
IS NOT COMPLETE LIST. THERE'S
ACTUALLY SEVERAL OTHER RESORTS
OUT THERE THAT AREN'T ON THAT
LIST THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THIS
BILL. WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE
MEASURE. THE WHOLE THE HOTEL
INDUSTRY IS A REPUTATIONAL A
REPUTATIONAL INDUSTRY. AND AND,
AND CALIFORNIA'S COASTAL RESORTS
HAVE WORLD CLASS REPRESENTATIVE
REPUTATIONS FOR BEING THE BEST
AT. SO WE'RE QUESTIONING ALSO
WHY THIS BILL IS TARGETING
FACILITIES THAT ACTUALLY HAVE
EXEMPLARY REPUTATIONS, THE WORLD
CLASS FOR A REASON. SO JUST SOME
EXAMPLES. SOME USE ONLY 100%
RECYCLED WATER FOR THE GOLF
COURSES. ANOTHER IS CERTIFIED
AUDUBON COOPERATIVE SANCTUARIES.
SO TO REACH THAT CERTIFICATION
YOU HAVE TO YOU MUST YOUR GOLF
COURSE MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT
THEY ARE MAINTAINING A HIGH
DEGREE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
AND A NUMBER OF AREAS, INCLUDING
CHEMICAL USE, REDUCTION AND
SAFETY. SOME MAINTAIN NATIVE
PLANT NURSERIES, WHICH GROW
FOLIAGE TO REPAIR WILDERNESS AND
WILDFIRES. SOME EMPLOY FULL TIME
SUSTAINABILITY TEAMS AND
VOLUNTEER GREEN TEAMS WITH
STRONG NUMBER OF ASSOCIATES.
RESORTS ALSO DONATE PARTIALLY
CONSUMED, UNUSABLE TOILETRIES
LEFT IN GUESTROOMS TO HOMELESS
SHELTERS. OTHERS COLLABORATE
WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO
REDISTRIBUTE PREPARED FOOD THAT
WOULD NORMALLY GO TO WASTE, AND
HOTELS TO FOOD BANKS. SO IN
OTHER WORDS, THE BILL IS
TARGETING THE BEST REPUTATION OF
RESORTS IN THE NATION AND THE
MOST ECO CONSCIOUS. ALSO YOU
SHOULD KNOW THAT CALIFORNIA IS
HOST TO NUMEROUS GOLF
CHAMPIONSHIP CHIPS PLAYED AT
THESE RESORTS. SO AT&T PRO-AM,
THE FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN AND C
DIVISION ONE DAY GOLF
CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE NEXT FIVE
IN THE NEXT 16 YEARS. FIVE US
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS, THREE MEN,
TWO WOMEN WILL BE SCHEDULED AT
ONE OF THE IMPACTED RESORTS. IF
THE COURSES ARE FORCED TO USE
ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND
FERTILIZERS ONLY, IT IS VERY
LIKELY THAT THESE TOURNAMENTS
WILL HAVE TO BE MOVED ELSEWHERE
BECAUSE THE PLAYING CONDITIONS
SIMPLY WILL NOT BE WORTHY OF
THAT TOURNAMENT. THERE WILL BE
NO TOUR WORTHY GOLF COURSES ON
CALIFORNIA'S COAST AND THE
IMPACT WOULD BE IMMENSE. SO JUST
FOR EXAMPLE, THE MEN'S US OPEN
IN 19 2019 GENERATED 175 MILLION
TO THE MONTEREY PENINSULA. AND
THIS, OF COURSE, IS NOT TO, YOU
KNOW, AFFECT THE EVERYDAY GOLF
USER. SO IN CONCLUSION, WE
BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE THE LEAST
LIKELY RESORTS NEEDING
DUPLICATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL
OVERSIGHT. AND IF THE ECONOMIC
CONSEQUENCES ARE SO DAMAGING TO
LOCAL ECONOMIES, THEN WHY IS
THIS BILL BEFORE YOU? OBVIOUSLY,
IT'S NO SECRET THAT THIS BILL IS
BEING USED AS A TOOL TO PRESSURE
ONE RESORT INTO UNIONIZING HIS
WORKFORCE AND DRAGGING ALL OTHER
COASTAL RESORTS INTO THIS FIGHT.
WE THINK THAT THE CONSEQUENCES
OF THIS BILL ARE UNACCEPTABLE,
AND WHY WE ARE ASKING FOR A NO
VOTE. ARE THERE ANY PERSONS IN
THE HEARING ROOM WHO WOULD LIKE
TO REGISTER THEIR OPPOSITION TO
THIS MEASURE? WHO HAVEN'T
ALREADY DONE SO? TAYLOR ROCHE OF
ASSOCIATION AMERICAN WRITES IN.
AMELIA ZAMANI WITH THE
CALIFORNIA TRAVEL ASSOCIATION
AND RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION.
SKYLER WONACOTT, ON BEHALF OF
CALIFORNIA BUSINESS PROPERTIES
ASSOCIATION, IN OPPOSITION. MAX
PERRY ON BEHALF OF THE PEST
CONTROL OPERATORS OF CALIFORNIA,
ALSO IN OPPOSITION. GOOD
EVENING, NICOLE QUINONEZ, ON
BEHALF OF THE HOUSEHOLD AND
COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION,
IN OPPOSITION. CHRIS QUIGLEY,
PLASTICS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION,
IN OPPOSITION ON. GOOD EVENING,
ELOY GARCIA FOR THE
INTERNATIONAL BOTTLED WATER
ASSOCIATION, IN OPPOSITION. MR.
CHAIR CHRIS MICHELI, ON BEHALF
OF NIAGARA BOTTLING IN
RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION. GOOD
EVENING, MEMBERS ROB SPIEGEL,
CALIFORNIA MANUFACTURERS AND
TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION IN
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. ROB MR.
CHAIR AND MEMBERS, ANNALEE
AUGUSTINE, ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER
BRANDS ASSOCIATION AND THE
AMERICAN BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION.
THÀNH RESPECTFULLY OPPOSED,
UNLESS AMENDED. HI, NATALIE, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE, IN
OPPOSITION. WE'LL NOW TURN IT TO
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS? CONCERNS THANKS, MR.
VICE CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. THANK YOU. WITH ALL DUE
RESPECT TO MY COLLEAGUE, I WANT
TO APPRECIATE THE OPPOSITION'S,
HONESTY BECAUSE THIS IS NOT MY
FIRST YEAR ON THIS COMMITTEE.
AND WHEN YOU HEAR LEGISLATION
THAT IS VERY, VERY POINTED AT A
PARTICULAR RESORT, AND THEN WE
TRY TO FLUFF IT UP WITH OTHER
THINGS. BUT THE REAL INTENT, IN
MY OPINION, IS REALLY TO GO
AFTER TYRANNY. AND I DON'T KNOW
HOW MANY TIMES THE SUPPORTERS
SAID TYRANNY, BUT IT'S SAD TO
ME. AND IF YOU TALK TO THE
SUPERINTENDENTS THAT WORK ON OUR
GOLF COURSES EVERY SINGLE DAY,
THEY ARE HANDS DOWN SOME OF THE
BEST ENVIRONMENTAL CGRTS OUT
THERE, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT IF
THEY DO SOMETHING THAT HURTS
THAT PROPERTY, THEY'RE GOING TO
LOSE WHAT THEY HAVE CREATED. IT
IS THEIR BABIES. THEY CARE AND
SPEND SO MUCH TIME AND TALK
ABOUT TRAPPING. WE TRAP ALL THE
TIME AND RELOCATE ANIMALS EVERY
WHERE. IT'S NOT A TERRIBLE THING
WHEN, A RACCOON OR WHATEVER IT
MAY BE IS DIGGING UP YOUR GREENS
OR YOUR FAIRWAYS. THIS IS A
COMMON PRACTICE. SO I WOULD JUST
ENCOURAGE THIS BILL. AND WE DID
HEAR THIS EXACT SAME BILL LAST
YEAR, AND IT DIDN'T GO FORWARD.
BUT IT IS SAD TO ME THAT WE DO
CONTINUE TO GO AFTER, ONE RESORT
AND TO GO AFTER THAT ONE RESORT,
WE BRING IN A LOT OF OTHER
THINGS. SO I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR A NO VOTE ON THIS BILL. MR.
PATTERSON. YEAH, THANKS, YOU
KNOW, I LIKE TO CONCUR WITH, THE
VICE CHAIRS POSITION ON THIS. I
THINK, YOU KNOW, THE AUTHOR, YOU
KNOW, IT WROTE A BILL THAT'S
MUCH MORE BROAD THAN TYRANNY.
AND I RESPECT, YOU KNOW,
OBVIOUSLY HIS POSITION ON THAT,
BUT, NOT REALLY KNOWING MUCH
ABOUT THE SITUATION. I JUST
HAPPENED TO GOOGLE, YOU KNOW,
THE PROPONENTS AND TYRANNY,
THERE ARE A LOT OF ARTICLES COME
UP, AND I DO FIND IT UNFORTUNATE
THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE
STATEWIDE POLICY CHANGE,
POTENTIALLY OVER WHAT SEEMS LIKE
AN ONGOING FEUD, WHICH REALLY
SHOULD BE PLAYED OUT, YOU KNOW,
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. AND SO, YOU
KNOW, I JUST BELIEVE WE SHOULD,
YOU KNOW, ALLOW THAT PROCESS TO
HAPPEN. SOUNDS LIKE IT'S BEEN
TRYING TO HAPPEN FOR MANY, MANY
YEARS. BUT BUT WE HAVE THIS
MIGHT HAVE THE IMPACT OF
AFFECTING ALL OF THESE OTHER
RESORTS. THROUGHOUT THE STATE
WHEN REALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE
AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER IN THIS
DISPUTE. AND SO WITH THAT, I
CAN'T SUPPORT THIS BILL. MR.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, IF I MAY
ASK THE OPPOSITION, OAN, WHAT
ARE THE, ECONOMIC KIND OF
CONSEQUENCES, I GUESS, OF
LEGISLATION LIKE THIS? WHEN YOU
LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE DOLLARS
OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT COME
FROM GOLF COURSES THAT COULD BE
HARMED BY THIS LEGISLATION, IS
THERE A WAY TO QUANTIFY THAT OR
A BALLPARK FIGURE THAT WE, THAT
WE CAN IDENTIFY? YEAH. I MEAN,
ANECDOTALLY, WE KNOW THAT THE US
OPEN, IN 2019 BROUGHT $175
MILLION TO THE MONTEREY
PENINSULA. SO OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A
BIG ONE. AND THAT DOESN'T REALLY
TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE EVERYDAY
GOLF USAGE WHEN YOU HAVE A, YOU
KNOW, A WORLD CLASS GOLF COURSE,
YOU KNOW, THAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO COME
PLAY. SO IT'S MONUMENTAL AND
FRANKLY, CATASTROPHIC FOR SOME
REGIONS. THANK YOU. SO I GUESS
JUST MY ONLY QUESTION FOR THE
AUTHOR, YOU KNOW, RESPECTFULLY
WOULD BE, I GUESS HOW ARE WE HOW
WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THE
CONCERNS ABOUT THE ACTUAL
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT COULD GO
AWAY AS A RESULT OF THIS BILL?
AND ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, EVEN
GIVEN THE SUPPORT AND SPONSOR OF
THIS BILL, HOW IS THIS HELPFUL
FOR THE WORKERS? IF WE LOSE
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY? TÊ, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES
THAT ACTUALLY HELP THE WORKERS
IN THESE COMMUNITIES? YEAH.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION
, SO, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST FIRST
OF ALL, I WAS JUST DOUBLE
CHECKING THE, THE BILL LANGUAGE.
YOU KNOW, NOWHERE IN THE BILL
DOES IT MENTION TYRANNY, THE
BILL DEFINES MAJOR, MAJOR
COASTAL RESORTS AS A RESORT OR
HOTEL THAT HAS 300 OR MORE
ROOMS, INCLUDES OR OPERATES A
GOLF COURSE ON THE PREMISES, AND
IS LOCATED IN WHOLE OR IN PART
ON THE COASTAL ZONE. SO THIS IS
NOT TARGETING, YOU KNOW, ONE
HOTEL. LET ME MAKE THAT CLEAR.
BUT IF IT DID, YOU KNOW, THE
TYRANNY HAPPENS TO BE IN MY
DISTRICT AND I, I THE LAST THING
THAT I WOULD WANT WOULD BE TO
CLOSE DOWN A MAJOR EMPLOYER
THAT, I KNOW I IN FACT, I JUST
CAME OFF OF A ZOOM MEETING WITH
THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES.
I KNOW THAT THE CITY OF RANCHO
PALOS VERDES GETS A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF THEIR, THEIR THEIR
REVENUES FROM THE CITY, FROM THE
HOTEL OPERATIONS. AND SO, YOU
KNOW, I'M NOT TRYING TO SHUT
DOWN THE TYRANNY. I JUST WANT
THE TYRANNY TO RESPECT ITS
WORKERS AND TO PROTECT THE
BEAUTIFUL COASTLINE ENVIRONMENT
THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I GO SWIMMING
AND SURFING JUST A FEW MILES
FROM THE TYRANNY. AND SO, YOU
KNOW, I, I AT THE SAME TIME, I
LIKE I STARTED OFF SAYING, I'VE
SEEN HOW MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS THAT
USE A, YOU KNOW, ENORMOUS AMOUNT
OF PESTICIDE AND CHEMICALS TO
KEEP, TO MAINTAIN THOSE, THOSE
GOLF GREENS, YOU KNOW, CAN AND
DOES HAVE ON, SENSITIVE, MARINE
ECOSYSTEMS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I
WANT HOTELS LIKE THE TERRANEA TO
CONTINUE. I WANTED TO CONTINUE
WITH, NOT ONLY, RESPECTING ITS
WORKERS, BUT RESPECTING THE, THE
MARINE ECOSYSTEM. I I WOULD ADD
THAT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH
THE AMENDMENTS THAT THIS
COMMITTEE, HAS PROPOSED AND THAT
I'VE ACCEPTED, THIS IS NOT A
CARBON COPY OF LAST YEAR'S BILL.
IN FACT, I WOULD I WOULD SAY
THAT THE OPPOSITION'S COMMENTS
ARE APPEAR TO BE A CARBON COPY
OF, OF THEIR, THEIR OPPOSITION.
LAST YEAR I OPPOSED I DID NOT
SUPPORT LAST YEAR'S BILL. I DID
NOT SUPPORT LAST YEAR'S BILL
BECAUSE I SHARED SOME OF THE
CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED. IN
THIS HEARING. BUT NOW I DO
BELIEVE, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, I
DID MEET WITH THE, THE, THE, THE
GOLF SUPERINTENDENTS
ASSOCIATION, I BELIEVE THAT WAS
THEIR NAME. AND, THEY TALKED TO
ME ABOUT THE, THE, THE, THE
NEMATODES THAT APPARENTLY EAT
THE, THE PUTTING GREENS AND YOU
KNOW, THEY HE SHARED WITH ME ONE
THING THAT STUCK IN MY MIND, HE
SAID THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE, SOME
OF THESE PESTICIDES, THAT, THAT
WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING ON
DIRT. WELL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T DO
MUCH GOLFING, BUT I KNOW THAT
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE
PUTTING ON DIRT. AND SO WE TOOK
THAT AMENDMENT THAT ALLOWS FOR
NON-ORGANIC FERTILIZERS TO BE
USED ON PUTTING GREENS. AND SO
THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF, OF
HOW, HOW, YOU KNOW, WE I, I'M
PROUD TO PUT MY NAME ON THIS
BILL, YOU KNOW, I THINK TO SAY
THAT THERE'S NO MAJOR
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS IN SUPPORT
OF THIS BILL IS AN INSULT TO THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRO
VOTERS AND TO THE SUNRISE
MOVEMENT. I WOULD RESPECTFULLY
DISAGREE WITH THE OPPOSITION'S
COMMENTS. THIS IS, IN FACT, A
SIGNIFICANT, MEASURE TO ATTEMPT
TO PROTECT SENSITIVE MARINE
ECOSYSTEMS SURROUNDING THESE
MAJOR COASTAL RESORTS, THAT
MAINTAIN I MEAN, JUST IMAGINE
THE AMOUNT OF CHEMICALS AND
FERTILIZERS THAT YOU HAVE TO USE
IN ORDER TO, TO OPERATE A, A, A
GOLF COURSE RIGHT NEXT TO, OUR
BEAUTIFUL COASTLINE, WE THAT IS
WHY THESE RESORTS SHOULD BE HELD
TO A HIGHER STANDARD, HIGHER
STANDARD THAN WHAT PROVIDES AN
EXISTING LAW, TO, YOU KNOW,
SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THIS, THIS
INTENSIVE LAND USE PRACTICES,
INVOLVED WITH MAJOR COASTAL
RESORTS OPERATING GOLF COURSES
ON OUR BEAUTIFUL COAST, MR.
MURATSUCHI, CAN WE USE THAT AS
YOUR CLOSE QUESTION BY MISS
PELLERIN, I JUST HAVE A LITTLE
BIT OF CONCERN OVER THE, THE
WORKLOAD FOR THE COASTAL
COMMISSION. WHAT? THIS BILL IS
MANDATING. SO CAN YOU TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? AND HAVE
YOU HEARD FROM THE COASTAL
COMMISSION ON WHETHER THEY CAN
MANAGE THESE NEW REQUIREMENTS
THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE? YES.
THANK YOU. FOR THE QUESTION.
THAT WAS ONE OF MY CONCERNS LAST
YEAR. WHERE WE HEARD FROM THE
COASTAL COMMISSION ABOUT, HOW
THEY DON'T HAVE THE STAFFING AND
THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO
CONDUCT THESE AUDITS. AND SO ONE
OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT WAS
TAKEN, WAS WAS TO TAKE THE
AUDITING RESPONSIBILITIES AWAY
FROM THE COASTAL COMMISSION
STAFF AND TO REQUIRE THE, THE,
THE RESORTS TO HIRE, HIRE A Ã
AUDITOR, APPROVE MOVED FROM A
LIST OF APPROVED AUDITORS, PUT
OUT BY THE COASTAL COMMISSION,
AND THAT WAS, THAT AMENDMENT WAS
TAKEN TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS
THE CONCERNS RAISED BY THE
COASTAL COMMISSION LAST YEAR.
OKAY. AND I HAVE ONE MORE
QUESTION. THIS APPLIES BASED ON
THE ANALYSIS. THIS APPLIES TO
SIX RESORTS IN CALIFORNIA, I
BELIEVE. SO, YES. AND NOT
INCLUDED IN THAT IS PEBBLE
BEACH. AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S
NOT A 300 BED RESORT THAT ALSO
OPERATES A PEBBLE BEACH, DOES
QUALIFY AS AN IMPACTED. IT DOES
IT DOES QUALIFY AS AN IMPACTED
RESORT. THE CHAIR. THERE ARE A
HANDFUL THAT ARE IMPACTED THAT
AREN'T LISTED ON THE ON THE
ANALYSIS. BUT OKAY. THANK YOU. I
WOULD DEFER TO THE COMMITTEE'S
ANALYSIS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
MR. MURATSUCHI, WOULD YOU LIKE
TO CLOSE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I, APPRECIATE AGAIN, I JUST WANT
TO EMPHASIZE THAT, THAT THIS
BILL IS SIGNIFICANTLY, DIFFERENT
AND SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED FROM
THE BILL THAT CAME BEFORE THIS
COMMITTEE LAST YEAR, I WAS ONE
OF THE MEMBERS THAT HAD
RESERVATIONS ABOUT LAST YEAR'S
BILL, I, PROUDLY AUTHORED THIS
BILL, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT
IT'S NECESSARY TO PROTECT, OUR
BEAUTIFUL COASTLINE FROM THESE
MAJOR COASTAL RESORTS.
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR A AYE VOTE.
THANK YOU, MR. MURATSUCHI. DO WE
HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE, WE HAVE A
SECOND. BEFORE ANY MEMBER OF.
I'LL SECOND. MADAM SECRETARY,
CAN WE CALL THE ROLL? THE MOTION
IS TO PASS, AS AMENDED, TO
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. BRIAN. HI,
BRIAN. AYE. FLORA. NÓ. FLORA AND
NØ. CONNOLLY. CONNOLLY. AYE.
FRIEDMAN HOOVER. NO. HOOVER NO.
CHOLERA. MURATSUCHI. Ã.
MURATSUCHI AYE. PATTERSON.
PATTERSON. NO. PELLERIN
PELLERIN. NOT VOTING. WIX NOT
VOTING. WIX. NOT VOTING WOULD.
WOULD NOT. VOTING.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. FINAL ACA
OF THE DAY ACA 16 BY MR. BRYANT.
CAN I MOVE THE BILL? THAT'S UP
TO THE CHAIR. YES, YOU CAN. IT'S
BEEN A LONG DAY. READY WHEN YOU
ARE, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND COLLEAGUES. CALIFORNIA. WE
ARE THE NATIONAL LEADER ON
ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE AND
INJUSTICE. WE ARE A GLOBAL
LEADER IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE
CHANGE AND INJUSTICE. AND YET WE
ARE BEHIND SEVERAL OTHER STATES
AND ENSHRINING ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE OF
CALIFORNIA IN OUR STATE
CONSTITUTION. IN FACT, WE'RE
FOUR DECADES BEHIND MONTANA.
WE'RE MANY DECADES BEHIND
PENNSYLVANIA. WE'RE ONLY A FEW
YEARS BEHIND NEW YORK, WHO DID
THIS JUST A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHILE WE
MAKE THE PROGRESS STATUTORILY IN
CALIFORNIA THAT WE HAVE BEEN
MAKING FOR MANY YEARS, WE HAVE
PUSHED FOR AN AIR RESOURCE
BOARD. WE HAVE PUSHED FOR,
QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS. WE
HAVE PUSHED FOR A SEVEN YEAR
FIGHT THAT CULMINATED IN SAFE
AND AFFORDABLE DRINKING WATER,
RIGHT TO DRINKING WATER.
STATUTORILY WE HAVE NOT CODIFIED
THOSE PROTECTIONS IN OUR STATE
CONSTITUTION, WHICH MAKES THEM
VULNERABLE, AFTER PENNSYLVANIA
DID THIS EFFORT DURING THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION, THEY FILED SUIT
AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
FOR VIOLATING STATES RIGHTS, THE
STATES RIGHTS, AS THEY ROLLED
BACK THE DUTIES AND THE
RESOURCES OF THE EPA. MOREOVER,
BY ESTABLISHING A CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHT TO CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER
AND A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, WE
SET A GUIDEPOST FOR CALIFORNIA
AND MAKE VERY CLEAR TO THE
PEOPLE OF OUR STATE THAT THESE
AREN'T JUST VALUES THAT WE
EXPOUND TO HAVE, THAT WE
PROCLAIM TO HAVE, BUT THAT WE
ARE WILLING TO ACTUALLY DO ALL
OF THE NECESSARY WORK TO MAKE
SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THESE
BASIC FOUNDATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTIONS WITH ME TO TESTIFY
IN SUPPORT. SOLANGE GOLD, THE
CO-DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN IMPACT
PARTNERS FOR HEALTH EQUITY
POLICY, AND, REVEREND CHASE FROM
HOLMAN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
RIGHT OFF OF ARLINGTON. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FIRST
WITNESS, TWO MINUTES, PLEASE.
OKAY, GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. I AM HERE IN
SUPPORT OF ACA 16. I AM THE
REVEREND LEWIS CHASE, MINISTER
OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH AT THE
HOLMAN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH,
LOCATED ON THE HISTORIC WEST
ADAMS BOULEVARD, WITHIN CLOSE
PROXIMITY TO THE MURPHY DRILL
SITE. HOLMAN IS THE LARGEST
AFRICAN AMERICAN UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH WEST OF THE
MISSISSIPPI, FOUNDED WITH A VIEW
TO PROVIDE A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF JUSTICE,
EQUITY, AND THE BUILDING OF THE
BELOVED COMMUNITY. HOLMAN IS
ALSO ON THE FRONT LINE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL AND RACIAL JUSTICE
WORK, GIVING VOICE TO FRONT LINE
COMMUNITIES ON THE STAND. LÀ
STEERING COMMITTEE. FOR DECADES,
SOUTH LÀ AND OTHER COMMUNITIES
LIKE IT HAVE BEEN TREATED AS
SACRIFICE ZONES SUBJECTED TO THE
IMPACTS OF BEING IN THE MIDDLE
OF FOUR FREEWAYS, A
CONCENTRATION OF LAND USE FOR
INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES, INCLUDING
OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION, THAT
CAUSED POLLUTION AND LEGACY
CONTAMINATION. THE CENSUS TRACK
WHERE HOLMAN IS LOCATED IS IN
THE 89TH PERCENTILE FOR
POLLUTION BURDEN, 90% 90TH
PERCENTILE FOR ASTHMA, AND 9390
THIRD PERCENTILE FOR DRINKING
WATER. FOR THE LAST DECADE, OUR
WORK WITHSTAND LÀ COALITION HAS
FOCUSED ON ENDING NEIGHBORHOOD
OIL DRILLING AND ENSURING THAT
PEOPLE AND THEIR HEALTH ARE
PRIORITIZED OVER BIG OIL'S
PROFITS. WE'VE DONE THIS WORK
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE NO COMMUNITY
SHOULD BE A SACRIFICE ZONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'LL HAVE
YOU WRAP UP YOUR THOUGHTS, SIR.
FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES,
ESPECIALLY BLACK AND BROWN
COMMUNITIES IN LOS ANGELES, HAVE
BEEN FORCED TO EXPERIENCE
POLLUTED AIR AND CONTAMINATED
DRINKING WATER FOR MANY YEARS.
ACA 16 BEGINS TO WORK TOWARDS A
DIFFERENT FUTURE, WHERE EVERYONE
IN CALIFORNIA HAS AN ENSHRINED
RIGHT TO CLEAN AIR, WATER AND A
HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. I THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT
WITNESS TWO MINUTES, PLEASE.
HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE NATURAL
RESOURCES COMMITTEE, THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON
THE IMPORTANCE OF ACA 16, THE
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT TO CREATE A RIGHT TO A
HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. MY NAME IS
SOLANGE GOULD, AND I'M A
CO-DIRECTOR AT HUMAN IMPACT
PARTNERS, A PUBLIC HEALTH
ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO HEALTH
EQUITY, RACIAL JUSTICE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. BEFORE
THAT, I SERVED AT THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S
OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY. I'VE
BEEN IN PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE
FOR 30 YEARS BY RECOGNIZING THE
RIGHTS TO CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER
AND A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. THIS
AMENDMENT ALIGNS WITH THE
INSTINCTIVE UNDERSTANDING WE ALL
SHARE, THAT EVERYONE DESERVES
THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN A HEALTHY
AND UNPOLLUTED ENVIRONMENT,
REGARDLESS OF THEIR RACE, INCOME
OR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND AS WE'VE
HEARD, CALIFORNIA IS A LEADER IN
BOTH HEALTH AND CLIMATE POLICY,
AND WE SHOULD BE PROUD. BUT WE
HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO ADDRESS
OUR DEEP CLIMATE AND HEALTH
INEQUITIES. THE SAME RACIST
HISTORIES, POLICIES AND SYSTEMS
THAT ARE AT THE ROOT OF HEALTH
INEQUITIES ARE ALSO DRIVING
ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE
INJUSTICE. ACA IS A CRITICAL
LEVERAGE POINT FOR REDRESSING
THESE HARMS AND PROTECTING THE
HEALTH OF OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE
AND OUR BELOVED COMMUNITIES.
SEVEN US STATES HAVE ALREADY
EMBEDDED ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS
INTO THEIR CONSTITUTIONS. THESE
AMENDMENTS HAVE SERVED AS
POWERFUL TOOLS FOR ADVANCING
CLIMATE SOLUTIONS AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. THEY HAVE
ENABLED COMMUNITIES TO BLOCK
CARBON EMITTING FACILITIES,
CHALLENGE HARMFUL LANDFILLS,
PROTECT HOMES AND SCHOOLS FROM
FRACKING. ACA 16 PROVIDES THE
LEGAL FRAMEWORK NEEDED TO COMBAT
ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS AND COMBAT
CORPORATE POWER THAT CURRENT
LAWS INADEQUATELY ADDRESS. IT
PLACES A CRUCIAL EMPHASIS ON
PREVENTION, SAFE GUARDING OUR
COMMUNITIES BEFORE HARM OCCURS
IN IMPORTANTLY, EFFECTIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS AMENDMENTS
HAVE NOT ONLY WITHSTOOD LEGAL
CHALLENGES, BUT THEY HAVE GROWN
STRONGER AS A RESULT. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR THAT. I'M ALMOST
DONE. THE QUALITY OF OUR AIR,
WATER, CLIMATE AND NATURAL
RESOURCES DIRECTLY AFFECTS OUR
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND
OUR ABILITY TO SURVIVE AS A
SPECIES ON THIS PLANET. AND
GIVEN THE SCALE OF THE RISKS WE
ARE FACING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL,
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT ACA 16.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT OF ACA 16
NAME AND ORGANIZATION, PLEASE?
THANK YOU. REBECCA MARCUS,
REPRESENTING THE UNION OF
CONCERNED SCIENTISTS AND SUPPORT
. ERIKA ROMERO, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL
CONSERVATION CORPS AND
CALIFORNIANS AGAINST WASTE, AND
STRONG SUPPORT. CHRISTINA
SCARINGE, THE CENTER FOR
BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY PROUD
SPONSOR AND STRONG SUPPORT JANET
COX FOR CLIMATE ACTION
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU
. GABRIELA FAZIO WITH SIERRA
CLUB CALIFORNIA IN STRONG
SUPPORT. MEGAN SHUMWAY, ON
BEHALF OF SACRAMENTO AREA
CONGREGATIONS TOGETHER AND
CLIMATE REALITY PROJECT
CALIFORNIA COALITION IN STRONG
SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON, RACHEL
MASON, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
ALLIANCE. ALSO REGISTERING
SUPPORT FOR LEADERSHIP. COUNCIL
FOR JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
THANK YOU. 357 KATIE MCCAMMON
350 SACRAMENTO. STRONG SUPPORT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, JONATHAN
PRUITT, ON BEHALF OF THE ASIAN
PACIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK,
IN SUPPORT. WILLIAM PECK,
CLIMATE HEALTH NOW IN SUPPORT.
LUPE FLORES 350 CONTRA COSTA
ACTION STRONGLY SUPPORT. 350 BAY
AREA ACTION ALSO SUPPORT AS A
REPRESENTATIVE OF THOSE TWO AND
AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN, PITTSBURG,
CALIFORNIA. AND ALSO PRETTY MUCH
EVERY FRIEND, NEIGHBOR,
STRANGER, ELDER CHILD ALL
SUPPORT. LÀ GONZALEZ WITH THE
NATURE CONSERVANCY AND SUPPORT
SOPHIA. THE COALITION FOR CLEAN
AIR IN SUPPORT HØI NICHOLAS
GARDENER WITH SUNRISE MOVEMENT
LOS ANGELES, ALSO REPRESENTING
SUNRISE SAN DIEGO, LONG BEACH,
SACRAMENTO AND OCCIDENTAL, ALL
IN STRONG SUPPORT. ANA GONZALEZ,
ON BEHALF OF THE CENTER FOR
COMMUNITY ACTION AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN SUPPORT
ALSO AS A MOTHER OF A CHILD WITH
ASTHMA LIVING IN DIESEL DEATH
ZONES IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU. LAUREN
GALLAGHER, ON BEHALF OF
COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER
ENVIRONMENT IN STRONG SUPPORT.
MICHAEL ZUBIATE WITH CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS IN STRONG
SUPPORT. ALSO, SUPPORT FOR CVAC
AND THE CLIMATE CENTER. THANK
YOU. EMMA SILBER WITH PHYSICIANS
FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LOS
ANGELES AND THE STAND LA
COALITION STAND TOGETHER AGAINST
NEIGHBORHOOD DRILLING, LOS
ANGELES IN STRONG SUPPORT AS
WELL AS SUPPORT FROM REDEEMER
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. HI. AGUSTIN
CABRERA, ON BEHALF OF STRATEGIC
CONCEPTS AND ORGANIZING AND
POLICY EDUCATION AND STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. HELLO, EMILY
GARCIA WITH NRDC IN STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU, AMY
HINES-IKE WITH UNITE HERE LOCAL
11 IN STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, ABRAHAM MENDOZA, ON
BEHALF OF COMMUNITY WATER CENTER
, CAL TROUT, THE CLIMATE CENTER
AZUL NEXT GEN CALIFORNIA SF
BAYKEEPER LUTHERAN OFFICE OF
PUBLIC POLICY, CALIFORNIA SF BAY
PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY AND CLEAN WATER
ACTION AND STRONG SUPPORT. AND
AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN WITH ASTHMA
FROM THE CENTRAL VALLEY. ALSO IN
STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE IN SUPPORT OF ACA
16? SEEING NONE. ANYONE IN
OPPOSITION TO ACA 16. COME ON UP
. NEXT TWO MINUTES, SIR. GREAT.
THANKS MISTER CHAIR. MISTER
CHAIR. BRADY VAN ENGLAND.
CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AND WHILE WE'RE ALIGNED WITH THE
CONCEPT OF THE RIGHT TO CLEAN
AIR AND CLEAN WATER, WE ARE
RESPECTFULLY OPPOSED TO THIS
BILL TO THE FAR REACHING AND
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT
WOULD STEM FROM ENSHRINING A
GENERAL RIGHT TO CLEAN AIR AND
CLEAN WATER WITHIN THE STATE'S
CONSTITUTION. IN FACT, GIVEN THE
PERVASIVE NATURE AND EXTENT OF
HOW PROHIBITIVE TO DEVELOPMENT
THIS AMENDMENT COULD BE, WE'VE
LABELED IT AS A JOB KILLER. WE
BELIEVE THIS BILL IS WELL
INTENTIONED. HOWEVER, IT MISSES
THE MARK IN SEVERAL KEY AREAS.
CALIFORNIA IS AGGRESSIVELY
LEADING IN CLIMATE, EXTENDED
PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY, WATER
QUALITY, AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
DEVELOPMENT. IT IS SIMPLY
UNCLEAR WHAT ADDED PROTECTIONS
WOULD BE AFFORDED THAT ARE
ALREADY NOT CONTEMPLATED AS
EITHER THE FEDERAL, STATE OR
LOCAL LEVEL. IN MANY WAYS, THIS
LANGUAGE IS REDUNDANT, BUT IS
ALSO OF DEEP CONCERN DUE TO THE
FACT THAT LAYS THE GROUNDWORK
FOR LEGAL CHALLENGE TO ANY AND
ALL PROJECTS UNDER CONSIDERATION
FOR DEVELOPMENT. NEW HOUSING,
CLEAN ENERGY OR INFRASTRUCTURE
SIMPLY ON THE BASIS THAT IT
THREATENS A GENERAL RIGHT. AND
TO BE CLEAR, THERE IS NOTHING
THEORETICAL ABOUT OUR CONCERNS.
WE HAVE SEEN THIS SAME LANGUAGE
USED AS A MECHANISM TO DELAY AND
ULTIMATELY HALT THE DEVELOPMENT
OF A WIND FARM. I THINK MISTER
CHAIR NOTED IN MONTANA THEY HAVE
ENSHRINED THIS EXACT SAME
LANGUAGE. SORRY, SIR. GIVEN
LANGUAGE. THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
OKAY. WELL VERY SIMILAR, VERY
SIMILAR LANGUAGE. THEY HAVE THEY
HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT
CONCEPTUALLY FOLLOWS THE SAME
THING. AND IN THAT CASE, IT WAS
A WEALTHY LANDOWNER, AS A
PLAINTIFF ALLEGED THAT THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A WIND FARM
CONSTITUTED A PRIVATE PUBLIC AND
ANTICIPATORY NUISANCE. THE
PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION THAT WAS
GRANTED BY THE COURT DISRUPTED
FINANCING AND LEFT THE DEVELOPER
IN A POSITION WHERE THEY WERE
ULTIMATELY HAD TO ABANDON THE
PROJECT ALTOGETHER. THE SAME
COULD BE SAID FOR HOUSING.
CALCHAMBER IS A PRO HOUSING
ORGANIZATION, AND WE FEAR THAT
THIS AMENDMENT WILL SIMPLY
FURTHER ARM NIMBYS AND THEIR
EFFORTS TO PROHIBIT HOUSING
DEVELOPMENTS. ONE OF THE REASONS
THAT WE SUGGEST THIS MEASURE
MISSES THE MARK IS IT WILL
SIMPLY WEAPONIZE WHAT IS
OTHERWISE A WELL-INTENTIONED
PROVISION. THIS WOULD MAKE CLEAR
BY PROFESSOR OF URBAN PLANNING
FROM MIT, WHO NOTED THAT
ENVIRONMENTAL OPPOSITION TO HOME
BUILDING IS ALMOST NO CONNECTION
TO MAINSTREAM CONSERVATION
ISSUES, SUCH AS REDUCING
POLLUTION AND LIMITING
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARDS. IT
PROTECTS CERTAIN TIGHTLY
REGULATED COMMUNITIES AGAINST
CHANGE, BUT SHIFTS DEVELOPMENT
TO OTHER PLACES WHERE THERE IS
LESS RESISTANCE. AND THIS GETS
TO A POINT THAT'S BEEN RAISED AS
WELL, TOO. AND WHO STANDS TO
BENEFIT THE MOST FROM THIS
PROVISION? WELL, I MEAN, I'LL
TELL YOU, IT'S GOING TO BE THE
WEALTHY WHITE NIMBYS THAT ARE
GOING TO STAND TO GAIN THE MOST
FROM THIS PROVISION BECAUSE THEY
CAN WEAPONIZE THIS AMENDMENT IN
A WAY THAT BENEFITS THEIR NEEDS.
THANK YOU. HAVE THE PROVISIONS.
THANK YOU. NEXT WITNESS, PLEASE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS RAQUEL
AYALA. I AM WITH REEB GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS. OUR FIRM REPRESENTS
DESERT WATER AGENCY, EL DORADO
IRRIGATION DISTRICT AND PALMDALE
WATER DISTRICT, ACA SEEKS TO
AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO
INCLUDE PROVISIONS THAT ENSHRINE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS AS A
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT. THOUGH THE
MEASURE PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE
PERMANENT GUIDEPOSTS FOR
LONGEVITY IN SUSTAINABILITY, THE
MEASURE COULD POTENTIALLY
DUPLICATE AND CONFLICT WITH
EXISTING LAW. THE CALIFORNIA
LEGISLATURE ADOPTED THE HUMAN
RIGHT TO WATER IN 2012. GIVEN
THAT THE HUMAN RIGHT TO WATER
ALREADY EXISTS IN CURRENT LAW,
IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER ACA 16
WILL EXTEND TO WATER QUALITY IN
WATERS OF THE STATE OR JUST TO
DRINKING WATER. ADDITIONALLY
THIS MEASURE RAISES CONCERNS
ABOUT PROPOSITION 218 AND
PROPOSITION 26 REGARDING
PROPERTY RELATED FEES AND
CHARGES. IF THERE IS A
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO CLEAN
WATER, IT CREATES POTENTIAL
CONFLICT WITH PAYING FOR A
COMMODITY, WHICH WOULD BE A
PROPERTY RELATED SERVICE.
CALIFORNIA WATER AGENCIES
PROVIDE ESSENTIAL GOVERNMENT
SERVICES FOR THE BENEFIT OF
COMMUNITIES, AGRICULTURE,
INDUSTRIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT,
THE REVENUE NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC
AGENCIES TO FULFILL THEIR
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
PREDOMINANTLY COMES FROM SERVICE
RATES AND ASSESSMENTS. IT IS OUR
CLIENT'S CONCERN THAT THIS
UNCERTAINTY AND UNANSWERED
QUESTIONS WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD
TO COSTLY AND UNNECESSARY
LITIGATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. ANYONE ELSE IN
OPPOSITION TO ACA 16 NAME AND
ORGANIZATION? PLEASE GOOD
EVENING. MEMBERS. ROB SPIEGEL,
CALIFORNIA MANUFACTURERS AND
TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION IN
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. SKYLAR WONACOTT, ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA BUSINESS
PROPERTIES ASSOCIATION, IN
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION SEEING
NONE. BRING IT BACK TO
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS? MR. PATTERSON
? YEAH. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE IN MY PARTY DON'T BRING
VERY MANY ACRES FORWARD, BECAUSE
THEY DON'T PASS THE LEGISLATURE.
BUT I HAVE CONSIDERED, A FEW OF
THESE TYPES OF, FOR EXAMPLE, I
THINK THERE WAS ONE LAST YEAR ON
THE RIGHT TO HOUSING. I'M NOT
SURE WHERE THAT'S AT, BUT THAT
WENT THROUGH HOUSING, AND I
THINK WHAT'S ALWAYS HARD FOR TO
WRAP MY HEAD AROUND IS, FIRST OF
ALL, I THINK, I LOVE THAT YOU
BRING BIG IDEAS. YOU KNOW? YOU
KNOW, YOU DON'T NIBBLE AROUND
THE EDGES. YOU JUST GO ALL OUT
AND, AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT
BECAUSE WE GOT TO KEEP THE
CONVERSATION GOING. I THINK SORT
OF ON ITS FACE, OBVIOUSLY, THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD
HAVE. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF
PLACES IN CALIFORNIA WHERE THEY
DON'T GET CLEAN AIR AND THEY
DON'T GET CLEAN WATER, BUT I
THINK WHAT CONCERNS, YOU KNOW,
JUST A SIMPLIFY IT IS I CAN'T
WRAP MY HEAD AROUND WHAT, YOU
KNOW, WITHOUT LIKE, INTENT
LANGUAGE. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF
YOU CAN PUT THAT IN AN ACA, BUT
WITHOUT SOME KIND OF, LIKE,
RELATIVE RECORD OF WHAT EXACTLY
OUR INTENT IS OR WHAT THAT
MEANS. BECAUSE I DO GET AFRAID
THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
WHETHER IT'S A HOUSING PROJECT
OR A RAIL PROJECT OR A CLEAN AIR
PROJECT OR SOMETHING, SOMEBODY'S
GOING TO SAY, HEY, LOOK, THIS
MESSES UP. YOU KNOW, THE WATER
OR THIS MESSES AND IT GETS HELD
UP BY SOME JUDGE SOMEWHERE IN
THIS GREAT STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
SO I, I ASSUME THIS IS GOING TO
MOVE FORWARD. YOU'RE THE CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE. AND, BUT,
ASSUMING THAT'S THE CASE, I
JUST, YOU KNOW, WOULD HOPE YOU'D
GIVE SOME CONSIDERATION TO THAT,
IF THERE'S SOME WAY TO JUST KIND
OF. I DON'T WANT TO SAY NARROW
IT, BUT JUST DESCRIBE A LITTLE
BIT MORE OF WHAT, WHAT THAT
MEANS. AND I'D BE INTERESTED
WHEN YOU CLOSE OR YOU LET ME
KNOW NOW WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT.
THAT'D BE GREAT. BUT THANKS
AGAIN FOR BRINGING THIS. AND YOU
DIDN'T BRING VERY MANY SUPPORT
WITNESSES EITHER. YOU KNOW, JUST
HALF THE ROOM STOOD UP. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PATTERSON.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE
COMMITTEE? WE'LL GO FOR THE
CHAIR FIRST. CLOSE SEEING NONE.
MR. CHAIR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? YOU JUST, HAPPY TO BE
ADDED AS A COAUTHOR? THANK YOU.
NOW, MR. CHAIR, WOULD YOU LIKE
TO CLOSE? YES, MR. CHAIR AND MR.
PATTERSON, EASILY THREE QUARTERS
OF THE ROOM. FIRST, I'D JUST
LIKE TO REJECT THE IDEA THAT
ENDOWING, ENSHRINE THE RIGHT TO
CLEAN AIR AND WATER AND A
HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT IS ANTI
HOUSING AND THE BIDDING OF THE
WHITE ELITE NIMBYS AS THE POOR
BLACK RENTER FROM SOUTH CENTRAL
WITH A COALITION OF BLACK,
BROWN, POOR AND INDIGENOUS,
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
WHO HAVE LIVED IN SACRIFICED
ZONES FOR DECADES, THAT'S JUST
WILDLY OFFENSIVE. I THINK
THERE'S UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. I
THINK ENSHRINING THE RIGHT TO
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM IN
CALIFORNIA WAS BOLD AND BRAVE
AND COULD HAVE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES, ESPECIALLY IF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TO CHANGE
HANDS AGAIN. I THINK THAT'S PART
OF WHY WE LEAD IN CALIFORNIA,
BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT THE
COUNTERFACTUAL IS OF NOT DOING
IT. WE KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO NOT
PUSH FORWARD. WE KNOW WHAT IT
MEANS TO NIBBLE AROUND THE EDGES
AND NEVER ACTUALLY MAKE A
MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE
LIVES OF ANYBODY. THAT'S NOT
WHAT FOLKS SENT US HERE TO DO.
FOLKS SENT US HERE TO FIGHT FOR
THE VALUES THAT SO MANY OF US
HOLD ACROSS CALIFORNIA, ACROSS
ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS, AND, WHEN
NECESSARY, CODIFY THOSE VALUES
IN STATUTE, LIKE THE RIGHT TO
DRINKING WATER AND EVEN GOING
FURTHER AND ENSHRINING THOSE AS
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF
CITIZENSHIP IN CALIFORNIA, WHICH
WE HAVE DONE TIME AND AGAIN, THE
RIGHT TO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM,
THE RIGHT TO SANCTUARY, THE
RIGHT TO SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE
UNIQUE TO CALIFORNIA BECAUSE IN
CALIFORNIA WE LEAD AND BECAUSE
WE KNOW THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO
BLAZE FORWARD, THERE ARE OTHERS
WHO MIGHT TRY TO UNDO OUR STATE
SOVEREIGNTY AT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. WE'VE SEEN THAT. AND
THAT'S WHERE THIS RIGHT IN
PENNSYLVANIA WAS MOST EFFECTIVE.
WE LEARNED FROM MONTANA, WE
LEARNED FROM PENNSYLVANIA. WE
LEARNED FROM THE MANY OTHERS
WITH GREEN AMENDMENTS IN THEIR
STATE CONSTITUTION, AS DID NEW
YORK, WHO PASSED THIS EXACT SAME
LANGUAGE. THE ONLY STATE WITH
THIS EXACT SAME LANGUAGE AND DID
IT THREE YEARS AGO WITH OVER 70%
OF THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK IN
VERY STRONG SUPPORT. AND EVEN IF
IT DOES LEAD TO THE POTENTIAL
LITIGATION FOR THE STATE
INFRINGING ON YOUR RIGHT TO
CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER OR A
HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT THAT'S THE
KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY THE
PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA SHOULD HAVE
OVER THEIR GOVERNMENT. IF YOUR
GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO INFRINGE
ON YOUR ABILITY TO BREATHE AND
HAVE CLEAN WATER AND A HEALTHY
ENVIRONMENT, YOU SHOULD HAVE A
VOICE IN THAT PROCESS. BUT
THAT'S NOT THE GOAL OF THIS
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. TO
YOUR POINT, THAT'S OUR JOB TO
PUT IN THOSE REGULATIONS. THAT'S
OUR JOB TO CREATE THOSE
FRAMEWORKS. THAT'S OUR JOB TO
DECIDE WHEN THEY APPLY AND WHEN
THEY DON'T. WHAT THIS MEASURE
DOES IS REMIND US THAT THE
PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA, THE 40
MILLION PEOPLE IN OUR STATE,
SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO CLEAN
AIR, WATER AND THE HEALTHY
ENVIRONMENT. AND THAT SHOULD BE
THE FRAMEWORK BY WHICH WE CREATE
THOSE REGULATIONS BY WHICH WE
THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE
POLICY DECISIONS WE MAKE IN THIS
BUILDING. AND WITH THAT, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I
VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
CHAIR. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION IS
THAT THE MEASURE BE ADOPTED AND
RE REFERRED TO APPROPRIATIONS.
BRIAN. HI, BRIAN. AYE FLORA. NO.
FLORA. NO. CONNOLLY. CONNOLLY
AYE. FRIEDMAN. FRIEDMAN. AYE.
HOOVER NO. HOOVER. NO. CHOLERA
MURATSUCHI. MURATSUCHI. AYE.
PATTERSON OAN. PATTERSON. NO.
PELLERIN PELLERIN. AYE. WICKS.
WICKS I WOULD WOOD. I. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR. CALL THE
ROLL. WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE
ROLL FOR ABSENT MEMBERS ON
MEASURES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN
HEARD BEFORE. THE COMMITTEE.
NOT VOTING. YOU TELL THE GUY I'M
JUST GETTING AHEAD OF. FIRST
ITEM, AB 2083. BERMAN CHAIR
VOTING AYE. MOTION IS DUE. PASS
TO UTILITIES AND ENERGY. ABSENT
MEMBER KALRA. KALRA. AYE. THAT
HAS NINE VOTES. PERFECT. THAT
BILL IS OUT NEXT. I, BILL AB
2346 LI. MOTION IS DUE. PASS AS
AMENDED TO APPROPRIATIONS.
CHAIR. VOTING AYE. ABSENT.
MEMBERS FRIEDMAN I'M SORRY. AB
2346. LI FRIEDMAN. AYE HOOVER.
HOOVER. AYE. WICKS WICKS. AYE.
THAT HAS 11 VOTES. AB 2465.
GIBSON. MOTION IS DUE. PASS AS
AMENDED TO WATER, PARKS AND
WILDLIFE. CHAIR VOTING. AYE.
ABSENT. MEMBERS HOOVER.
NON-VOTING. HOOVER. NOT VOTING.
CHOLERA CHOLERA. AYE. MURATSUCHI
MURATSUCHI. AYE. PATTERSON
PATTERSON. NOT VOTING. THAT BILL
HAS EIGHT VOTES. Þ. WICKS I
APOLOGIZE. WICKS I NINE VOTES.
REALLY? GOT TO MAKE SURE WE GO
THROUGH THOSE. AB 25 003 LI.
MOTION IS DUE. PASS AS AMENDED
TO APPROPRIATIONS. ABSENT
MEMBERS. HOOVER I HOOVER I
CHOLERA. CHOLERA. I WICKS. WICKS
I THAT HAS 11 VOTES. AB 2514
AGUIAR-CURRY. MOTION IS DUE.
PASS AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS. ABSENT. MEMBERS.
CONNOLLY Ã CONNOLLY I FRIEDMAN.
FRIEDMAN NOT VOTING. HOOVER I.
HOOVER I WICKS. WICKS I THAT HAS
NINE VOTES. AB 2639 BY MR.
PATTERSON. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASS AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS. ABSENT MEMBERS.
HOOVER I HOOVER I CHOLERA.
CHOLERA I MURATSUCHI MURATSUCHI
I WICKS. WICKS I THAT HAS 11
VOTES. AB 2716 BRIAN MOTION IS
DUE PASS AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS. CHAIR. VOTING
AYE. ABSENT. MEMBERS. CHOLERA.
CHOLERA I MURATSUCHI MURATSUCHI
I. IT HAS EIGHT VOTES. WICKS
WICKS VOTED ON THIS ONE. YEA. AB
2787. PATTERSON. THE MOTION IS
DUE PASSED TWO APPROPRIATIONS.
CHAIR VOTING AYE. ABSENT
MEMBERS. HOOVER. HOOVER I
CHOLERA. CHOLERA I MURATSUCHI
MURATSUCHI I WICKS. WICKS I THAT
HAS 11 VOTES. AB 2902 WOULD
MOTION IS DUE PASS AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR VOTING AYE
HOOVER I HOOVER I CHOLERA.
CHOLERA I MURATSUCHI MURATSUCHI
I WICKS. WICKS I THAT HAS 11
VOTES. AB 3150 QUIRK-SILVA
MOTION IS DUE PASS AS AMENDED TO
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
CHAIR VOTING AYE. ABSENT
MEMBERS. HOOVER I HOOVER, I
CHOLERA. CHOLERA I MURATSUCHI
MURATSUCHI I WICKS. WICKS I THAT
HAS 11 VOTES. AB 3192. MOTION IS
DUE. PASS AS AMENDED TO
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CHAIR VOTING
AYE. ABSENT. MEMBERS. FRIEDMAN,
FRED AN I CHOLERA. CHOLERA I
THAT MEASURE ONLY HAS FIVE
VOTES. THAT MEASURE FAILS. WOULD
YOU LIKE RECONSIDERATION? YEAH,
IT HAS FIVE FIVE VOTES. THREE
NO'S. THREE NOT VOTING. YEAH
THREE. WITHOUT OBJECTION. AB
3233. ADDIS MOTION IS DUE. PASS
TO UTILITIES. CHAIR VOTING AYE.
ABSENT MEMBERS. HOOVER. NO.
HOOVER NO. CHOLERA CHOLERA. AYE.
MURATSUCHI. MERRITT SUSHI. AYE.
WICKS. WICKS AYE. THAT HAS EIGHT
VOTES. RCA 16. BRIAN. MOTION IS
TO BE ADOPTED AND REREFERRED TO
APPROPRIATIONS. ABSENT MEMBER.
CHOLERA. CHOLERA I THAT HAS
EIGHT VOTES. YEA CONSENT.
CALENDAR. ABSENT. MEMBERS
FRIEDMAN. HOOVER. A HOOVER. AYE.
WICKS. WICKS. AYE.
NAY 30S.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE
SOMETHING. BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR
THAT THEY'RE EITHER GOING TO GO
TO DISASTER AND THIS IS. OR THIS
IS NOTHING. WE'RE GOING TO DO.
SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF MY.
MECHANICS FOR WHERE WE'RE
CONNECTED TO. WE WERE ON THE
SAME KICKBALL TEAM. BLAKE. SO
WELL, I MEAN, NOT A CERTAIN
SEAT, BUT JUST IN THE SENSE THAT
IT'S LIKE YOU CAN TRUST ME TO,
LIKE, KICK THE BALL WHEN I CAN
TRUST ME TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON
STUFF. SHE HAS COME BACK.
WITH A MARGINAL.
YEAH. YOU KNOW, TO WORK OUT. I
KNOW THAT I KNOW, YEAH. YOU KNOW
. YEAH. CONTINUE TO KNOW THAT.
WHAT IT MEANS TO HELP. I WOULD
LIKE. TO WHEN I WAS FOLLOWING UP
ON THE PROBLEMS THAT I
DEFINITELY GO ALL THE WAY INTO
THEM, I JUST, I REMEMBER THE
EXPERT FOR GIBSON LIKE THAT.
REMEMBER BUT I THINK IT I KNOW
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE. SO I WAS
JUST LIKE, OKAY, I GET SOME
CLARITY. AND WITH THAT, THE
NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE
HEARING IS ADJOURNED