Today Governor Schwarzenegger signed legislation giving Majestic Realty a full exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), allowing them to push ahead with the construction of a 75,000-seat stadium in the City of Industry.  AB X3 81, authored by Assemblymember Isadore Hall, allows Majestic and Industry to sidestep the current lawsuit filed against the project and proceed without adequately addressing environmental impacts.

The bill, introduced in the last hours of the 2009 legislative session, quickly passed through the Assembly. Senate pro tem Darrell Steinberg initially held the measure in an effort to resolve the legal challenges outside the legislature.  When that failed last week the senate capitulated and passed the bill.

With this measure, the governor and both houses of the legislature have suggested - for the first time - that they will interfere with active court cases, and deny citizens' groups their due process rights, if developers have enough money to hire lobbyists. Though this legislation sets a dangerous example, it cannot become a precedent. Developers must not be allowed to purchase CEQA exemptions and sidestep laws that exist to protect every Californian.

SWRCB ISSUES CEASE-AND-DESIST ORDER TO STOP ILLEGAL DIVERSIONS FROM CARMEL RIVER

On Tuesday, the State Water Resources Control Board voted 3-1 to issue a cease-and-desist order (CDO) to halt California American Water's (Cal-Am) illegal diversions from the Carmel River. The order establishes an upper limit on Cal-Am's illegal diversions in the short term, and establishes a deadline of December 31, 2016 for Cal-Am to cease all illegal diversions from the river.

The Planning and Conservation League (the League) has been active in the process for five years, working with all of the interests on the Monterey Peninsula to identify alternatives to dewatering the Carmel River. During the public hearing on Tuesday, PCL's Water Policy Advisor Jonas Minton encouraged the board to issue the CDO in order to guarantee that the Monterey interests continue working together to develop sensible water strategies for the Peninsula.

For Cal-Am to wean itself off illegal diversions from the Carmel River, it must implement sustainable water solutions like increased water recycling and conservation and brackish water desalination.  With these lower-cost strategies, Cal-Am can ensure that its customers continue to receive the water that they need, without driving the threatened Carmel River steelhead to extinction and without irrevocably damaging the ecosystem.

The League will continue to actively support projects that will provide Monterey Peninsula water users sustainable sources of water.

THE LEAGUE RECOGNIZES SIX LEADERS FOR THEIR CONSERVATION WORK

The Planning and Conservation League (the League) and the PCL Foundation are proud to announce this year's award recipients for their extraordinary environmental work and leadership during 2009.  Award winners will be recognized at a luncheon during the League and Foundation's annual Environmental Legislative Symposium, "Greening California's Landscapes: Smart Solutions for a New Era," on Saturday, January 30, 2010 in downtown Sacramento.

Awards will go to the following individuals and organizations:

• Assemblymember Pedro Nava is being recognized as Legislator of the Year for his leadership in defeating PXP's proposal and for being a champion for an oil severance tax. 

• Bill Yeates will receive the Carla Bard Award for Individual Achievement for authoring the Community Guide to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and assistance with the Local Climate Action Initiative.

• The Mother Lode Chapter of the Sierra Club is receiving the David Gaines Award for Non-Profit Work for the Chapter's successful campaign to revise the Stockton General Plan incorporating cutting edge climate change policies.

• Debbie Davis is being recognized for her leadership in the Water Summit and her celebrated expertise in the Legislature on environmental justice issues, as the Environmental Justice Advocate of the Year. 

• Martha Davis will receive the Dorothy Green Water Advocate of the Year Award for her professional leadership, tireless efforts and commitment to water issues in California and along the Los Angeles River.

• Small Business California is the Environmental Business of the Year for its direction, presence and consistent commitment in supporting AB 32 and energy efficiency over the last several years.  

Join us to celebrate these environmental heroes for their outstanding work on behalf of the environment!