News
Millions must cut water use in drought-stricken California
Associated Press – April 27
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) took the unprecedented step on Tuesday of requiring about 6 million people to cut their outdoor watering to one day a week as drought continues to plague the state. MWD's board declared a water shortage emergency and required the cities and water agencies it supplies to implement the cutback on June 1 and to enforce it or face hefty fines. MWD uses water from the Colorado River and the State Water Project to supply 26 public water agencies, which then provide that water to 40% of the state’s population.
Coastal Commission staff recommends against approving Poseidon’s ocean-to-tap water plant
The Orange County Register – April 25
Poseidon Water's long-running, controversial effort to turn the ocean off Huntington Beach into tap water for much of Orange County suffered a potentially fatal blow on Monday when California Coastal Commission staff released a report saying the project should not be built. Citing a range of economic and social factors, including environmental damages from the proposed plant, the staff recommended that the commissioners reject the project at their May 12 public hearing in Costa Mesa. The Commission may still approve the project despite this staff recommendation.
Proposed Assembly bill would strengthen Valley Air District oversight to clean up pollution
The Fresno Bee – April 26
A California bill that would bring new oversight over the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District was moved forward on Monday by the State Assembly's Natural Resources Committee. Assembly Bill 2550 would require the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to step in at the local level to develop new air pollution regulations for industries like agriculture, oil refineries, and manufacturing facilities, especially in areas where local air regulators have failed to meet clean air standards on time. According to the bill, CARB could conduct independent inspections at the Valley's most prolific oil refineries and glass-melting furnaces, and local community-based organizations would work alongside CARB and the air district to identify new pollution control measures.
San Mateo County and nine cities file lawsuit against Monsanto over PCB contamination
The Almanac – April 23
San Mateo County and nine of its cities and towns filed a lawsuit last Thursday in San Mateo Superior Court against a successor to Monsanto Company and others to recoup costs of addressing contamination associated with polychlorinated biphenyls, also known as PCBs. The lawsuit alleges that Monsanto is responsible for pollution conditions in the county, thereby creating a nuisance, by its manufacture, promotion, and distribution of PCBs, a carcinogenic organic chlorine compound. According to the County's statement, PCBs are poisoning fish and wildlife, disrupting businesses and recreation, and threatening the health of residents throughout the county.
Biden reverses Trump move to open up additional land for oil drilling in Arctic
CNBC – April 25
The Biden administration on Monday reversed a Trump administration plan that would have allowed the government to lease more than two-thirds of the country's largest swath of public land to oil and gas drilling. The Bureau of Land Management's new decision will shrink the amount of land available for lease in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, which is home to wildlife like caribou and polar bears. The decision returns to an Obama administration plan that allows fossil fuel extraction in up to 52% of the reserve.
Southern California steelhead get broader protection as state studies endangered species status
Ventura County Star – April 22
The California Fish and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously last Thursday to grant a year-long protection under the state's Endangered Species Act for the native Southern California steelhead as state officials review whether the fish merits a state listing as "endangered" or “threatened" with extinction. The state listing could broaden protections the fish has had since 1997 as a federally designated endangered species. Water agencies in Ventura County and elsewhere have said that such protection could delay projects and potentially limit water supplies. Commissioners delayed a decision in February to allow those agencies and others time to discuss potential limited exemptions under state regulations.
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