Save the Date— CSAC Agriculture, Environment & Natural Resources Policy Committee.

Please save the date of Thursday, May 28 from 10:15- 11:45 a.m. for the next meeting of the CSAC Agriculture, Environment & Natural Resources Policy Committee, which will take place during the CSAC Legislative Conference. Agenda Highlights include:

• Sustainable Groundwater Management Act Implementation
• Focus on the Drought: California’s Agriculture
• State of the Sierra Nevada Forests
• Update from Metropolitan Water District
• AENR Legislative & Budget Priorities: Update on Stormwater Funding Initiative; Cap and Trade: PILT & Fairs

Public Contracts-Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans

AB 1315 (Alejo) – Oppose
As Amended April 21, 2015

AB 1315, by Assembly Member Luis Alejo, would prohibit a public entity, charter city, or charter county from delegating to a contractor the development of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), used to prevent or reduce water pollution or runoff on a public works contract. Recent amendments statutorily restrict the public entities remaining options to an engineer or architect. CSAC has joined with a broad group of public agencies and organizations in opposing this measure. The joint letter of opposition states that, “If the legislature statutorily shifts the development and liability of the SWPPP to the public agency, or to a design professional or architect, it will create confusion and conflict within the public works process. AB 1315 will only further disconnect the entity responsible for the development of the SWPPP from the entity that performs the work related to the SWPPP.” AB 1315 will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 20, 2105.

Marijuana

AB 243 (Wood) – Pending
As Amended April 22, 2015

AB 243, by Assembly Member Jim Wood, would establish a medical marijuana cultivation (MMC) permit system. The bill would also require all medical marijuana cultivation to be conducted in accordance with state and local laws and best practices and would require state agencies to address environmental impacts of MMC and coordinate with local governments in enforcement efforts. CSAC was supportive of AB 243 as introduced but has concerns with the recent amendments that would establish the new permit system. We are currently working with the author to have those concerns addressed. AB 243 will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 20, 2015.

AB 266 (Cooley) – Pending
As Amended May 11, 2015

AB 266, by Assembly Member Ken Cooley and co-sponsored by the League of California Cities and the California Police Chiefs Association, would establish within the Department of Consumer Affairs a Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation. It would require the bureau to license and regulate dispensing facilities, cultivation sites, transporters, and manufacturers of medical marijuana and medical marijuana products, subject to local ordinances. This comprehensive regulatory framework addresses a wide range of issues affecting dispensing facilities and cultivation operations. This bill will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 20, 2015.

Solid Waste

AB 45 (Mullin) – Oppose
As Amended

AB 45, by Assembly Member Kevin Mullin, would require jurisdictions to create a baseline for household hazardous waste (HHW) diversion and meet a requirement for HHW diversion. This bill also makes findings outlining what constitutes a comprehensive HHW collection programs and allows Cal Recycle to create a model ordinance for a compressive collection and diversion program. CSAC has a number of concerns with the bill. First, AB 45 would take away the incentive for the Legislature to pass any additional Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation for products that are banned from our landfills. Requiring local governments to collect a certain amount of HHW places the burden of the end-of-life management of toxic products squarely on local governments and tax payers rather than the companies that profit from the products. Creating diversion targets for products that have already been banned from our landfills would result in a costly and time consuming exercise while resources should be dedicated to actual collection and program implementation. Secondly, local governments are better suited to design and implement HHW programs that are appropriate for their community. We feel that it is unnecessary and inappropriate to outline in statute what constitutes a comprehensive program. This bill will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 20,This bill will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 20,015

AB 1159 (Gordon) – Support
As Amended April 21, 2015

AB 1159, by Assembly Member Richard Gordon, would establish a Product Stewardship Pilot Program, which would require producers and product stewardship organizations of covered products- either home generated sharps waste or household batteries, to develop and implement a product stewardship plan. CSAC strongly supports EPR programs as we believe it is an excellent component of the state’s overall hazardous waste reduction strategy. EPR creates a specific role for the producers of toxic and expensive-to-manage products and ensures that industries that profit from these products have a stake in their proper management and disposal. This bill will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 20, 2015.