Posted on 10/06/2005 3:32:45 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan
Governor Schwarzenegger announced today that he has signed legislation that will help protect California's environment. The new laws will help reduce air pollution, clean up contaminated property caused by methamphetamine labs, encourage recycling, and protect pristine wilderness.
"We must be diligent in our efforts to keep California at the forefront of environmental protection and resource efficiency, improving our surroundings and making our state a better place to live, visit and employ people," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "Protecting our environment and preserving California's natural beauty for future generations is a top priority for my administration."
Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill that will allow more low-income vehicle owners to participate in the Bureau of Automotive Repair's Consumer Assistance Program by obtaining financial assistance for smog-related repairs to pass the smog check; he launched the Help California Breathe Easier public service campaign in March of this year to encourage participation in this program. The Governor also signed legislation to better monitor particulate matter in the Central Valley, encourage participation in emission reduction incentive programs in the Bay Area, and established a remote-sensing pilot program for locomotives.
Specifically, the Governor signed:
AB 383 by Assemblymember Cindy Montanez (D-San Fernando) - Air pollution: motor vehicle inspection program: repair assistance.
AB 694 by Assemblymember Wilma Chan (D-Alameda) - Motor vehicle air pollution control: district fees: Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
AB 841 by Assemblymember Juan Arambula (D-Fresno) - Air quality: San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District: particulate monitoring.
AB 1222 by Assemblymember Dave Jones (D-Sacramento) - Air pollution: locomotive air pollution control: Remote Sensing Pilot Program.
AB 1229 by Assemblymember Joe Nation (D-San Rafael) - Air pollution: new motor vehicles: air pollution label.
AB 1660 by Assemblymember Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) - Vehicular air pollution: energy-efficient vehicles.
The Governor signed legislation that will create first in the nation clean-up standards to help remove health and environmental hazardous materials associated with illegal methamphetamine labs. One bill assists by adopting standards and procedures for local governments to ensure proper clean-up. Other legislation directs the Department of Toxic Substances Control to develop health-based standards for investigating and evaluating the level of toxins, in the overall clean-up effort.
SB 536 by Senator Debra Bowen (D-Marina del Rey) - Illegal Drug Lab Cleanup Account: methamphetamine.
AB 1078 by Assemblymember Rick Keene (R-Chico) - Contaminated property: methamphetamine.
The Governor signed legislation related to California's levees that authorizes a study to evaluate the potential impacts to the state water supply in the event of a delta levee breech, and extends authorization for the Delta Flood Protection Program which helps protect fish and wildlife resources.
SB 264 by Senator Michael J. Machado (D-Linden) - Delta Flood Protection Fund.
AB 1200 by Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) - Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Click here for signing message.
The Governor signed legislation to protect pristine wilderness in Yolo County by declaring the 31 miles of the Cache Creek River Basin as wild and scenic.
AB 1328 by Assemblymember Lois Wolk (D-Davis) - Wild and scenic rivers: Cache Creek.
Governor Schwarzenegger also signed legislation related to recycling, the prevention of pollution in ocean waters, the elimination of experimental pesticides in schools, and other environmental protection issues including:
SB 347 by Senator Deborah V. Ortiz (D-Sacramento) - Flood control: American River flood damage reduction project.
SB 365 by Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny (D-San Diego) - Tidelands and submerged lands.
SB 471 by Senator Martha M. Escutia (D-Whittier) - Hazardous materials release: remediation.
SB 771 by Senator Joseph Simitian (D-Palo Alto) - Oceangoing ships.
SB 857 by Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) - Fish passages.
SB 1106 by Committee on Environmental Quality - Public contracts: procurement: recycled goods: solid waste.
AB 67 by Assemblymember Lloyd Levine (D-San Fernando Valley) - Energy: rates: report to the Legislature: fuel cell customer-generators.
AB 193 by Assemblymember Bill Maze (R-Visalia) - Fish and game: Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery.
AB 259 by Assemblymember Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) - Solid waste: handling services: delinquent charges: liens.
AB 405 by Assemblymember Cindy Montanez (D-San Fernando) - Schools: pesticide use.
AB 466 by Assemblymember Barbara Matthews (D-Tracy) - Natural resources: Department of Fish and Game: California Bay-Delta Authority.
AB 1086 by Assemblymember Sally Lieber (D-Mountain View) - Vehicles: operation: state wilderness areas.
AB 1125 by Assemblymember Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) - Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act.
AB 1342 by Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials - Hazardous material.
AB 1415 by Assemblymember Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) - Hazardous waste: mercury relays and switches.
AB 1585 by Assemblymember Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo) - Renewable energy resources: State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission: reporting. Click here for signing message.
AB 1721 by Assemblymember Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) - Environmental education.
AB 1764 by Committee on Natural Resources - Beverage containers: handling fees.
Governor Schwarzenegger has taken unprecedented measures to preserve California's natural beauty and protect the health of its citizens with a number of innovative environmental initiatives. Specifically, Governor Schwarzenegger has implemented policies and signed legislation that will create the Hydrogen Highway to support a rapid transition to a hydrogen fuel transportation system; set the nation's boldest green house gas emissions reduction targets; launched the Green Building Initiative to increase state government's energy efficiency by 20 percent; created the 25-million acre Sierra Nevada Conservancy; permanently funded the Carl Moyer Program to retire polluting engines; launched the Help California Breathe Easier public service campaign to encourage vehicle owners to repair or retire their high-polluting vehicles from California's roadways; accelerated California's renewable energy goal by directing the Public Utilities Commission to require utilities to procure 20 percent of their power from renewables by 2010 instead of 2017; and make it more affordable for Californians to take advantage of solar power.
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I must be more pessimistic than you.
How is that possible? (grin)
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