Senate Hearing on Newsom’s Budget Trailers
On Thursday, the CA Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee held a hearing about the proposed Infrastructure Proposals (gutting CEQA) that Governor Newsom wants to include as a package of “trailer bills” attached to the state budget that must be completed by June 15.
The Governor’s strategy would avoid regular legislative process. Advocates for a healthy Bay-Delta have serious concerns about this attempt to jam through massive legal changes to permitting and public oversight of proposals like the Delta Conveyance Project (Delta tunnel).
The discussion was euphemistically described as “robust” by one participant. While labor and water contractor groups spoke in favor of the trailer bills, most of the statements by Senators and public interest groups opposed the Governor’s package of budget trailer bills.
State Senator Brian Dahle
Emphasized that the future of Californians are on the line for the environment, our businesses, and future generations. "We've set goals without a plan. We should never do policy based on money in a pot. We are setting ourselves for failure when we don’t include the public and we don’t have a plan for where we want to go. We cannot get this wrong."
State Senator Susan Eggman
Expressed extreme disappointment about the Governor's infrastructure proposals. She reminded the committee of the cost of the Delta tunnel and reminded colleagues that the State Water Board needs to finish the Bay-Delta Plan before permitting the Delta tunnel. "It's disrespectful to all the work we've done to participate in the process. The tunnel will have a huge impact on Delta residents and the flyway for birds and animals.”
State Senator Mike McGuire
Said that, regarding the Delta tunnel, there's "no way in hell" he could support the trailer bill to ram that project through without citizen and judicial oversight.
State Senator Monique Limón
Said it's starting to feel like we're being “jammed” by design regarding Newsom's trailer bills. These changes will be very hard on environmental justice communities, especially when their voices can go unheard, or silenced. Providing funding to impacted communities is key, but so is mitigating these impacts in the first place.
State Senator Alex Padilla
Agrees that the process to build the Delta tunnel by reducing CEQA review is being jammed by design. He adds that the cost for expediency should never be the cost of our legislative process. "We shouldn't accept the premise here that we're incapable of acting. It’s more than disrespectful."
Dan Bacher, Journalist
Strongly opposes the trailer bill package that Governor Newsom is trying to jam through legislature, particularly the provisions regarding CEQA and the Delta tunnel. Salmon fishing is closed along CA's coast due to the collapse of salmon populations on the Sacramento and Klamath Rivers that were caused by "terrible state and federal water and fishery management during the drought."
Artie Valencia, Restore the Delta
Explained that Restore the Delta has advocated for the EIR and EIS to include water, air, and climate impacts but the document still falls short on these. Do right by environmental justice communities who already deal with past negligence when it comes to environmental review.
The Delta Conveyance project will not solve drought, nor does it have any environmental justice mitigation for water, air, or climate impacts embedded into its plan or current environmental impact reports.
Barry Nelson, Golden Gate Salmon
Highlighted the shutdown of fishing season and that there is a desperate need to protect our salmon runs and waterways. Urges the Senate committee to reject the trailer bills.
Susan Jordan, CA Coastal Protection Network
Agreed with Senator Alex Padilla these changes are being jammed, and that it is deliberate. They will have major impacts on marginalized communities, and they were not consulted, she adds. This is a pandora's box and these proposals are completely inappropriate and must be rejected.
Doug Obegi, NRDC
Described that this package of trailer bills that propose significant changes to environmental laws don't advance climate energy projects and instead focus solely on water projects. Besides, the trailer bills don't seem to speed up permitting for these water projects anyway.
NRDC opposes the current iteration of the Delta tunnel project as it impacts fishing communities, Harmful Algal Blooms, Native American Tribes, and more. Obegi notes that the Delta Reform Act requires the Council to have full council to look at plans for 38 million people. He reminded the legislature that Five Delta Counties filed a lawsuit against the tunnel based on protection for Sandhill Cranes, which they are now trying to delist with a protected species trailer bill. These birds are an economic driver for the Delta region. Also, the Delta Conveyance project has huge GHG issues and impacts. These five infrastructure bills weaken environmental protections and limits legislative processes.
Kim Delfino, Earth Advocacy
Spoke on how the admin’s proposals poses risk for fully protected species. She asked why there is a dual standard for species on and not on the Fully Protected Species List? Also, if the legislature is going to act on this proposal, they need to put it into statute that the state will construct wildlife crossings before or during construction.
Advertising