Tire Recycling Workshop

Cal Recycle is hosting a Tire- Derived Innovation Workshop:

Date: Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Time: 8:00am – 4:30 pm 

Location: Sacramento Convention Center
1400 J Street, Room 305
Sacramento, CA 95814

This workshop will also provide an understanding of the resources and funding available from CalRecycle for the use of crumb rubber.

CalRecycle’s goal is to increase the diversion of tires from landfills to 90 percent by 2015. The innovation workshop is designed to identify new and existing products that can accept crumb rubber, and specific markets for these products, supporting environmental sustainability and CalRecycle’s specific objectives. For more information, or to register click here.

Proposed Revisions to Statewide WDR for Sanitary Sewer Systems

On March 24, 2011, the State Water Resources Control Board (Board) released for public comment draft Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems (SSS WDR). If adopted, the proposed SSS WDR would replace the existing statewide SSO WDR (Order WQ 2006-003.) The proposed revisions represent a major departure from the program that has been successfully implemented under the SSO WDR. According to the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA), “… the proposed WDR broadens liability, is overly detailed and prescriptive with regard to implementation of local programs, and places an unwarranted burden on local governments to address privately owned sewer laterals.” 

Written comments are due Friday, April 29, 2011 at noon. A Board workshop will be scheduled at a future date, most likely in June. The proposed SSS WDR, staff report and related documents are posted on the Board website.

Comments should be addressed as follows:

Jeanine Townsend, Clerk to the Board
State Water Resources Control Board
1001 I Street, 24th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Comment letters may be submitted to the Clerk to the Board via email (if less than 15 megabytes in total size) or by fax at (916) 341-5620. Please indicate in the subject line: “Comment Letter – SSS WDRs Review & Update”

Solid Waste

AB 255 (Wieckowski) – Request for Comments
As Introduced February 3, 2011

AB 255, by Assembly Member Wieckowski, would allow a permanent household hazardous waste collection facility to accept recyclable latex paint if the following conditions are met: 

1. The location manages the recyclable latex paint in accordance with all applicable latex paint product management procedures;
2. Any latex paint that is accepted as recyclable by the location and which is later discovered to be non-recyclable shall be deemed to be a waste generated at the location where this discovery is made;
3. The owner or operator of the location has a business plan that meets the requirements of the hazardous materials business plan pursuant to Section 25504 of the California Health and Safety Code.

This bill will be heard on April 5, 2011 in the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee.

Energy

SB 454 (Pavley) – Support
As amended March 29, 2011

SB 454, by Senator Fran Pavley, would allow the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and the Contractors’ State License Board the ability to investigate, take action, and establish an administrative enforcement process for contractors that fail to comply with building energy efficiency standards and permit requirements. CSAC supports this bill because it will help to ensure the effectiveness of California’s building energy efficiency standards ensure that the proper permitting process is observed. SB 454 will also help to rid the industry of bad actors that underbid legitimate licensed contractors because they avoid the expense of proper building permits and/or workers compensation insurance. It is for these reasons that we support this bill. 

This bill is set for hearing on April 5, 2011 in the Senate, Utilities and Communications Committee. 

SB 771 (Kehoe) – Request for Comments
As Amended March 22, 2011

SB 771, by Senator Christine Kehoe, would include landfills, digesters, or wastewater treatment facilities that generate electricity as eligible electricity generating systems that may receive incentives pursuant to the Emerging Renewable Resources Account. The Emerging Renewable Resources Account is funded, in part, by the public goods charge. The public goods charge is a surcharge imposed on the bills of customers of the three largest electrical corporations, including: Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas and Electric, and Southern California Edison. Moneys are collected to support cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation activities, public interest research and development. 

This bill will be heard on April 5, 2011 in the Senate, Utilities and Communications Committee.

Historic Buildings

AB 654 (Hueso) – Request for Comments 
As amended March 29, 2011

AB 654, by Assembly Member Ben Hueso, would require all historical properties subject to historic preservation contracts to be inspected by the county assessor, Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR), and the State Board of Equalization (BOE) prior to entering into a new contract and every five years. This bill would also require the owner of the property to record the contract with the county in which the property is located, and require the administrative fee to cover the costs of processing designation requests, contracts, monitoring, and enforcement. 

Current law allows counties to enter into contracts with owners of qualified historical properties that restrict the use of the property in exchange for lowered property assessment values. This bill would ensure that the tax break is not given to a property owner without the owner’s compliance. This bill is set for hearing on April 13, 2011 in the Assembly Local Government Committee.