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 require CARB, as part of the next Scoping Plan update, to develop a plan to use sustainable aviation fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft in the State by 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Was not heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

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Summary

Would require the Department of Transportation to develop a pilot program for the purpose of issuing a special permit for specified vehicles hauling raw milk. The bill would require the fuel used in permitted vehicles to have an LCFS carbon intensity rating of 65 or lower and require the Department of Transportation, in consultation with CARB, to submit a report to the Legislature identifying among other things, the emission reductions as a result of the program. Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

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Summary

Would require CARB, when updating the Scoping Plan, to identify a 2045 climate goal, with interim milestones, for the State’s natural and working lands, and identify policies to help achieve the 2045 climate goal. The bill would also require CARB, by January 1, 2024, to develop standard methods for State agencies to consistently track greenhouse gas emissions reductions, carbon sequestration, and other benefits from natural and working lands. Moved to the Senate Inactive File.

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Summary

Would have required a local agency, as defined, to allow an applicant for a housing development project to reduce the required number of motor vehicle parking spaces based on the number of long-term bicycle parking spaces and car-sharing spaces provided, subject to certain limitations, as specified.  Was not heard in the Senate Governance and Finance 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 allowed a city or county, as part of its authority over land use permitting and after consultation with the relevant local air districts, to develop and adopt air monitoring plans.  After the adoption of an air monitoring plan, the bill would have allowed the city or county to require the installation of continuous and periodic monitoring systems for hydrocarbon emissions from nonrefinery stationary sources.  The bill would have provided a funding mechanism to support such air monitoring.  The bill also would have required the Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM)—formerly known as the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources—in the Department of Conservation by January 1, 2021, to review and evaluate its existing regulations that apply to a sensitive production facility, as defined.  The bill also would have required CalGEM to update such regulations, as appropriate, and prioritize actions needed to reduce specified emissions from oil and gas operations and to ensure environmental justice goals are achieved.  Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Would have required CARB by January 1, 2023, to identify an overall climate goal for the State’s natural and working lands to sequester carbon and reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions as part of the next Scoping Plan Update.  The bill also would have required CARB to identify actions that would help achieve the climate goal and integrate opportunities to enhance other public benefits.  Finally, the bill would have required CARB to develop methods for State agencies to track greenhouse gas emission reductions, carbon sequestration, and co-benefits from natural and working lands over time as part of the next Scoping Plan Update.  Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have authorized a State agency to apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to sponsor a Go Green specialized license plate program.  Go Green specialized license plates would have only been available for zero-emission vehicles.  The bill would have also required DMV to deposit revenue generated by the Go Green specialized license plate program, after administrative costs had been deducted, in the Enhanced Fleet Modernization Subaccount to provide additional funding for the retirement of older polluting vehicles and incentivize the purchase of new and used zero-emission vehicles.  Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

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