[Source: The Sacramento Bee] California’s politicians and pundits – including this one – have been busily speculating on what effect a Donald Trump presidency could have on a state that rejected him overwhelmingly. Well, we saw the first major impact last week, without Trump even lifting a finger. A compromise bill that, in effect, reallocates Read More…
Tag: environment
L.A. Supervisor Kuehl appointed to air quality board, ending GOP control of smog rules
[Source: Los Angeles Times] The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors appointed liberal Democrat Sheila Kuehl to replace conservative Republican Michael D. Antonovich on Southern California’s air quality board Tuesday, ending GOP control over the panel and potentially shifting it back toward stricter regulation of polluters. Kuehl’s appointment comes 10 months after Republicans gained a seven-member majority on Read More…
Southern California air board appoints executive, declines to reconsider beach bonfire rules
[Source: Los Angeles Times] Southern California’s air quality board formally appointed former industry consultant Wayne Nastri as executive officer Friday in a vote of confidence in the powerful agency’s new leadership. Nastri was hired as interim head of the South Coast Air Quality Management District eight months ago after Republicans seeking a more business-friendly approach Read More…
California environmental leaders, lawmakers gird for fight against President Trump
[Source: The Press Democrat] Restoring salmon in the Russian River and protecting the North Coast from oil rigs — two long-standing campaigns with broad public support — are among the goals likely to be challenged if not stifled by the sharp right turn of Donald Trump’s administration, environmental advocates and Democratic lawmakers said. More broadly, Read More…
California rejected Trump but could benefit anyway
[Source: The Orange County Register] On Jan. 20, when Donald Trump takes his hand off the Bible and picks up the phone, he could cause a near-seismic upheaval in California just by changing some federal rules and implementing new policies. Let me break the news to you gently: it might work out well. The federal Read More…
Will Trump end California’s climate rules?
[Source: The Mercury News] After eight years in which California had a partner in President Barack Obama in expanding renewable energy and electric vehicles, signing international deals and writing tougher pollution laws to the consternation of industry and Republicans, the election of Donald Trump now sets up the Golden State as a land in environmental Read More…
The EPA’s failure to protect people from the environment
[Source: The Atlantic] A new report from the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights finds the agency toothless — or even harmful — in addressing environmental justice. Does the Environmental Protection Agency actually protect communities of color from environmental problems? A new report from the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights suggests it has largely failed that Read More…
BNSF seeks to overturn judge’s decision to halt rail yard’s expansion
[Source: Los Angeles Business Journal] BNSF Railway Co. said yesterday it will appeal a judge’s decision against the company’s $500 million project to expand a rail yard at the Port of Los Angeles. The decision cites BNSF’s plan to build a 153-acre rail yard, called Southern California International Gateway, in west Long Beach. The company Read More…
Why Long Beach Port is considering paying $46 million for its environmental damage
[Source: Press Telegram] The Port of Long Beach plans to put a price tag on the environmental damage it causes the community, a figure some residents say isn’t hardly high enough to cover the true cost. The body overseeing the port will vote Monday to pay $46.4 million to a compensation fund used to help Read More…