California Air Resources Board

Summary

Would expand the Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership Act, known as the AB 900 program, to include specified hospital projects and requires CARB to complete a greenhouse gas emission determination as one of the requirements needed to obtain the Governor’s certification, which grants the project expedited California Environmental Quality Act review. Was not heard in the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources.

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Summary

Would prohibit the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection from requiring applicants for a grant that receives funding from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to consider the greenhouse gas emissions impacts of vegetation management projects pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. Was not heard in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. 

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Summary

Would have expanded existing school site acquisition and environmental certification requirements under the California Education Code for public and State-funded schools to include private and charter schools.  The requirements include evaluation of the schoolsite for hazardous substances, waste, and air emissions, among other provisions. The bill would have also extended the requirements for the purchase of a schoolsite or the construction of a school under the California Environmental Quality Act to include charter and private schools. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have exempted from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) housing projects located in a very low vehicle travel area, as defined; required the Office of Planning and Research to maintain maps depicting very low vehicle travel areas; exempted other housing projects as specified; and required CEQA lead agencies approving specified exempted projects to file for notices of exemption, among other provisions.  Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have extended the Jobs and Economic Improvement through Environmental Leadership Act of 2011 (AB 900, Buchanan, Chapter 345, Statutes of 2011) until January 1, 2025.  The bill would have also expanded eligibility to include smaller housing projects and specified procedures for the quantification and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, including removing CARB’s role, authorizing the Office of Planning and Research to charge a fee for the greenhouse gas determination, and prioritizing on-site and local direct greenhouse gas emissions reductions over emission offset measures.  Failed passage on Senate Concurrence.

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Summary

Would have made eligible under the Jobs and Economic Improvement through Environmental Leadership Act of 2011 (AB 900, Buchanan, Chapter 345, Statutes of 2011) a category of transit projects that meet specified vehicle miles traveled requirements.  Was contingent on the enactment of SB 995 (Atkins), which did not receive Senate Concurrence.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 757 without my signature.

This bill expands the types of environmental leadership projects eligible for streamlined judicial review through the Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership Act of 2011(AB 900, Buchanan, Chapter 354, Statutes of 2011) to include zero-emission, public transit projects, provided the lead agency applies for the Governor's certification no later than January 1, 2023 and the project is approved no later than January 1, 2024.  The provisions of this bill are contingent on the enactment of Senate Bill 995 by Senator Atkins, which did not successfully pass in the Legislature.

While I support efforts to accelerate transit projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce miles traveled, enactment of this bill is contingent on the successful statutory extension of the AB 900 statute by SB 995, which unfortunately failed passage in the Legislature.

For this reason, I am returning SB 757 without my signature.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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Summary

Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act, until 2023, various transportation projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities projects, charging infrastructure for zero-emission buses, and new rapid transit, bus, or light rail service. Projects must be carried out by a public lead agency, located in an urbanized area on or within an existing public right-of-way, not add physical infrastructure that increases new automobile capacity on existing rights-of-way, not require demolition of affordable housing units, and be completed by a skilled and trained workforce, except as provided.

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Summary

Would have increased to 50 percent, from 25 percent, the allowable parcel area of a transit priority development project that may be farther than a half-mile from a major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor and still meet the requirements for limited California Environmental Quality Act review.  Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Would have expedited permitting and contracting requirements and California Environmental Quality Act procedures to facilitate the replacement of the Leroy Anderson Dam and Reservoir, required CARB to complete a greenhouse gas emission determination on specified project components, established requirements for greenhouse gas emission reduction mitigation measures, and authorized CARB to charge a fee for its work.  The greenhouse gas determination framework would have been similar to the Jobs and Economic Improvement through Environmental Leadership Act of 2011 (AB 900, Buchanan, Chapter 345, Statutes of 2011).

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Governor’s Veto Message:

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 3005 without my signature.

This bill would modify contracting requirements and prescribe expedited California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review and regulatory processes for various state agencies to facilitate projects for the Leroy Anderson Dam and Reservoir.

Notwithstanding the importance of completing projects at the Anderson Dam, the bill sets unrealistic timelines for state entities to expedite deliverables.  This will require staff to be diverted away from other critical projects throughout the state that are going through the CEQA process.  Although the Anderson Dam projects are a key element of dam safety, it is problematic to set a precedent for a special process and timeline for one project that may undermine the quality of review by departments.

Furthermore, a public works project of this magnitude will have significant environmental impacts, and therefore, review through the full CEQA process is necessary.

For these reasons, I am returning Assembly Bill 3005 without my signature.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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Summary

Would have extended the Jobs and Economic Improvement through Environmental Leadership Act of 2011 (AB 900, Buchanan, Chapter 345, Statutes of 2011) until January 1, 2024.  This bill would also have authorized CARB to charge a fee for the greenhouse gas emission determination for each project, added specified requirements for greenhouse gas emissions mitigation measures, and required a minimum 20 percent reduction in vehicle miles traveled for approved projects.  Hearing canceled in the Assembly Appropriations Committee at author’s request.

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