CSAC Agriculture & Natural Resources Policy Committee Meeting 

The next meeting of the CSAC ANR Policy Committee will take place during the CSAC Annual meeting in San Jose, CA on Tuesday, November 19th from 10am- 12pm. The Committee will cover the following topics: 

• Department of Conservation Update: Mining/SMARA Reform and Farmland Conservation 2014 Legislative Teaser:  Cap and Trade, Williamson Act Part II, Solid Waste Management
• Federal Update: Secure Rural Schools, PACE Program, Water Resources Development Act, PILT and the Farm Bill
• 2014 water Bond Preview
• The National Flood Insurance Program: FEMA Mapping Update

 Other Workshops and Meetings you might be interested in…

Coastal Counties Regional Association Meeting – Learn about issues effecting Coastal Counties on Wednesday, November 20th 12:30- 2:30 p.m.
CSAC Dialogue on Water – This workshop is for county officials who are interested in discussing California’s water quality and supply issues. Led by a neutral facilitator, county supervisors and others from around the state will have an opportunity to discuss the biggest water challenges facing their region. This meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 19th3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Mining

SB 447 (Lara) – Support
Chapter 417, Statutes of 2013
 
SB 447, by Senator Lara was signed by the Governor last week.  Existing law, under SMARA, requires the Department of Conservation to periodically publish a list that identifies surface mining operations compliant with SMARA requirements or that are subject to an appeal of alleged SMARA violation pending before the board. The law further specifies that public agencies may purchase sand, gravel or other aggregate from only those surface mining operations on the so-called “AB 3098 list”. SB 447 allows mine operators who are not in compliance with the state mining laws to remain on the AB 3098 list if they have entered into an order to comply with the lead agency or the department to correct any violations that may have occurred during an operation. This measure also requires the department to submit to the Legislature a report on the activities of lead agencies and surface mining operations. 

Forestry

AB 744 (Gordon & Dahle)
Chapter 647, Statutes of 2013 
 
AB 744, by Assembly Members Gordon and Dahle, was signed by the Governor this week. This bill is related to the Timber Harvesting Plan (THP), which is the environmental review document submitted by landowners to CalFire outlining what timber will be harvested, how it will be harvested, and the steps that will be taken to prevent damage to the environment. Existing law authorizes the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to exempt from those provisions the harvesting of trees less than 18 inches in stump diameter, and under special circumstances, the removal of trees less than 24 inches in stump diameter to achieve the goal of fuel reduction may receive a THP exemption. AB 744 establishes the Forest Fire Prevention Pilot Project Exemption which would allow trees with up to a 24-inch diameter to be harvested for the purpose of fuel reduction under the Forest Fire Prevention Exemption. The pilot project is valid for the Sierra Nevada Region, including Modoc, Siskiyou, and Trinity counties.