Solid Waste
AB 34 (Williams) – Pending
As Introduced December 16, 2010

AB 34, by Assembly Member Das Williams, would add to the definition of organic waste to include vegetable yard and wood waste. The bill also includes findings that recognize the benefits of diverting organic waste from landfills and states that California should work to increase organic diversion by increasing capacity and end-use markets. This bill has not yet been referred to a policy committee.

California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program

On December 16, 2010, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) released final documents for the implementation of the California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring (CASGEM) program, as mandated by SB X7 6, passed as part of the special session water reform package in 2009. The final documents include the CASGEM Procedures for Monitoring Entity Reporting and the DWR Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Guidelines, which are available here.

SB X7 6 amended the California Water Code to require regular and systematic monitoring and public reporting of groundwater elevations in all groundwater basins and sub-basins in California, on or before January 1, 2012.

DWR has developed an online system for submittal of monitoring entity notifications, monitoring plans, and monitoring data. The first phase of the system is anticipated to be operational on December 17, 2010. The system allows agencies to notify DWR of their intent to become the Monitoring Entity and meet the January 1, 2011 legislative deadline. Subsequent phases, that will allow submittal of monitoring plans, groundwater elevation data, and other information, will be developed and implemented starting in early 2011. An online help file is being developed to assist users. The system will be accessible through the CASGEM web site. More information is available at the DWR website.

California Bay-Delta Conservation Plan Update

On Wednesday, the federal government released a coordinated report on the California Bay-Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP), calling for the restoration of tens of thousands of acres of marshes, wetlands, and habitat, and the construction of a new water conveyance system to move water from north of the California Bay-Delta to water users in the Central Valley and the southern part of the state. 

The federal report, which complements a related report issued by the State of California, urges continued progress toward completion of the BDCP and supports major elements of the plan, calling them a promising means of addressing the critical needs of both the Bay-Delta ecosystem and the state’s water delivery structure. 

Agriculture

Over the last two years, the California State Board of Food and Agriculture has been working on the California Agricultural Vision (Ag Vision) — a process to result in a strategic plan for the future of the state’s agriculture and food system. 

The report, released this month, identifies key strategies for California’s agricultural and good sector, including improving access to healthy food for all Californians and securing an adequate water supply for agricultural purposes. 

CSAC Medical Marijuana Working Group

In November, the CSAC Medical Marijuana Working Group sponsored a forum at the CSAC Annual Conference to discuss county issues related to Proposition 215. The workshop shed light on many of the unintended consequences of the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes, including the environmental damage that large medical marijuana grows are causing, and the legal barriers governments face when attempting to regulate marijuana for food safety and toxic pesticides, among other things. Participants also shared their experiences with the development of local medical marijuana ordinances and the specific approaches that have been successful for the regulation of dispensaries, cooperatives and collectives and cultivation issues. 

One of the goals of the Working Group is to provide counties with information on how to deal with some of these difficult issues. CSAC created a medical marijuana webpage dedicated to this issue on the CSAC website, where counties can look at successful ordinances, white papers and additional information about this issue. If you are interested in sharing information on your county’s experience with medical marijuana, please contact Cara Martinson.