Solid Waste

SB 568 (Lowenthal) – Request for Comments
As Amended April 14, 2011

SB 568, by Senator Allan Lowenthal, would prohibit a food vendor after January 2014 from using polystyrene foam food containers. The bill defines a polystyrene foam food container as a container made of thermoplastic petrochemical material utilizing the styrene monomer, including a cup, bowl, plate, tray, or clamshell container that is intended for single use. The bill does not pre-empt a local government from adopting and enforcing additional single-use takeout food packaging ordinances, regulations, or policies that are more restrictive. This bill also exempts schools from complying with this provision. This bill is on the Senate’s Third Reading File.

Weights & Measures

SB 744 (Wyland) – Request for Comments
As Amended May 3, 2011

SB 744, by Senator Mark Wyland, would remove the legal requirement that only licensed sealers of weights and measures, or licensed service agents can test and place into commercial service a weighing, measuring, or counting device, with particular reference to water sub-meters. The bill would allow any water sub-meter tested by a manufacturer to be deemed tested, sealed and approved for commercial use. The bill includes a January 1, 2015 sunset for this new provision. 

The California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association (CACASA) is opposed to SB 744, stating that it would remove the impartiality of the sealer that is provided under current state law. Existing statute prohibits sealers of weights and measures from having any direct or indirect interest in the sale, adjusting or repairing of any weighing, measuring, or counting device. In addition, CACASA argues that the bill would not require manufactures to notify the County Sealer of the placement into service of a water sub-meter, an existing requirement of all licensed service agents. This bill has been referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Animal Control 

AB 1121 (Pan) – Request for Comments
As Amended April 26, 2011

AB 1121, by Assembly Member Richard Pan, would allow cities and counties to issue puppy licenses, and creates new reporting requirements for pet dealers, rescue groups and other entities to submit monthly reports to local governments with information about recently sold or adopted dogs. According to the author, the purpose of this bill is to remove barriers that reduce compliance with the state laws that require dog licensing. The California Animal Control Directors Association is in support of the bill. This bill has been referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Integrated Regional Water Management Plans

SB 834 (Wolk) – Watch
As Amended May 4, 2011

SB 834, by Senator Lois Wolk, would require an integrated regional water management plan (IRWMP) for any region that receives water from the Delta watershed, to demonstrate how the IRWMP complies with the new state policy to reduce dependence upon the Delta. That policy which was established in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Reform Act of 2009 (Delta Act) specifies that “The policy of the State of California is to reduce reliance on the Delta in meeting California’s future water supply needs through a statewide strategy of investing in improved regional supplies, conservation, and water use efficiency. Each region that depends on water from the Delta watershed shall improve its regional self-reliance for water through investment in water use efficiency, water recycling, advanced water technologies, local and regional water supply projects, and improved regional coordination of local and regional water supply efforts.” SB 834 is on the Senate Third Reading File.

Groundwater 

California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program Update

Pursuant to SBx7- 6 (2009), DWR developed the California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring (CASGEM) program. The intent of the CASGEM program is to establish a permanent, locally-managed program of regular and systematic monitoring in all of California’s alluvial groundwater basins. 

Phase Two of the CASGEM Online Submittal System will be released on May 18, 2011 for prospective Monitoring Entities to submit their groundwater elevation monitoring plans, CASGEM well construction and location information, shapefiles, and any other additional information. In preparation for this new phase, the CASGEM Online Submittal System will be unavailable from 5 PM May 11, 2011 until release of the Phase 2 system on May 18, 2011.

Additional information on monitoring plan development is available now. Click on the following link to access the CASGEM Monitoring Plan Summary. Except for the period of May 11 through 18, the System is available for agencies to notify DWR of their intent to become a monitoring entity. You may click on the following link to access the CASGEM Online Submittal System.

Phase Three of the CASGEM Online Submittal System, which will enable Monitoring Entities to submit their groundwater elevation data and will provide public access to view the CASGEM data, will be available in late fall 2011.

If you have any questions about this update or the CASGEM Program, please contact one of the following DWR staff:

Northern Region 
Bill Ehorn
Senior Engineering Geologist
2440 Main Street
Red Bluff, CA 96080
530-529-7344
behorn@water.ca.gov

North Central Region 
Chris Bonds
Senior Engineering Geologist
3500 Industrial Blvd 
West Sacramento, CA 95691
916-376-9657
cbonds@water.ca.gov

South Central Region 
Dane Mathis
Senior Engineering Geologist
3374 East Shields Avenue
Fresno, CA 93726
559-230-3354
dmathis@water.ca.gov

Southern Region
Timothy Ross
Senior Engineering Geologist
770 Fairmont Avenue, Suite 102
Glendale, CA 91203
818-500-1645 ext. 278
tross@water.ca.gov

DWR Headquarters
Linda Bond
Engineering Geologist
Conjunctive Water Management Section
Regional Planning Branch
901 P Street, Room 213
P.O. Box 942836
Sacramento, CA 94236
916-651-9224
lbond@water.ca.gov