Environment
Coastal Protection: Ships
AB 121 (2003) Cruise Ship Water Pollution
Prohibits the discharge of hazardous and medical waste, sewage sludge and oily waste water from cruise ships within three miles of the California coastline and within identified marine sanctuaries.
AB 471 (2004) Cruise Ship Air Pollution
Prohibits cruise ships from incinerating garbage within three miles of the California coastline.
AB 2672 (2004) Large Passenger Vessel Sewage Discharge
Prohibits a cruise ship from releasing any sewage into California waters. The bill (a.k.a. The California Clean Coast Act) requires the owner or operator of a large passenger vessel that releases sewage into California waters or a marine sanctuary to immediately report the release.
SB 771 (2005) Commercial Vessel Discharge/Incineration Ban
Extends existing discharge bans on cruise ships to all commercial ocean-going vessels. Also prohibits incineration on all commercial vessels within California waters.
SB 614 (2009) Cruise Ships
Clarifies and extends certain provisions of the Clean Coast Act, which prohibits commercial vessels from discharging certain types of waste into California waters.
SB 1360 (2012) Cruise Ship Discharges
Extends the prohibition and notification requirements of AB 2672 indefinitely. Senate Bill 1360 expands the prohibition of sewage releases into a marine sanctuary, requiring notification to the Environmental Protection Agency if graywater has been released into a marine sanctuary.
Coastal/Waterways Protection
SB 201 (2006) Sustainable Oceans Act, Aquaculture
Requires the state to consider environmental and public health impacts when deciding whether and where to allow fish farms off California’s coast, as well as determining which fish farmers obtain a lease. Provides rigorous but achievable standards for the aquaculture industry in California’s coastal waters.
SB 497 (2006) Coastal Ecosystems Protection Act, Ballast Discharge
Reduces the invasive species discharged in vessel ballast water in California waters through specific goals and timetables, increases penalties for noncompliance and monitors standards effectiveness. Ballast water released in California waters must have zero detectable organisms by 2020.
SB 1739 (2008) Oil Spill Response Training
Ensures adequate training for first responders to marine oil spills. Requires oil spill response organizations to demonstrate that required resources can be deployed for an oil spill; applies not only to ships but also marine and fueling facilities.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
SB 966 (2007) Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal
Requires the Integrated Waste Management Board to develop a statewide pilot program for the safe and convenient disposal of household unused over-the-counter or prescription drugs.
SB 486 (2009) Medical Sharps Disposal
Requires pharmaceutical manufacturers with at-home, self-injected products, to provide information on their websites about their safe needle collection and disposal programs, if any. They must submit their plans to the State for display on a State website.
SB 369 (2006) Tire Recycling
Expands and extends a state grant program for cities and counties to use recycled tire material in public works projects, reducing the number of used tires in California landfills.
SB 420 (2006) Public Contract Procurement for Recycled Materials
Applies existing recycled-content requirements for road paving projects undertaken by the Department of Transportation to all paving construction and repair projects and makes technical and clarifying changes to existing law relating to recycled content product purchases.
AB 1187 (2001) Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Disposal
Makes recycling HHW easier and more affordable for individuals and local communities. Funding for the California Integrated Waste Management Board’s local government grant program is increased. Collecting more than 20 gallons of used oil per individual at approved recycling centers is now permitted.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
AB 1545 (2003) Email Testimony
Enables the public to submit e-mail as well as hard copy/“written” comments on environmental impact reports being considered by state and local governments.
AB 2814 (2004) CEQA Litigation Modification
Tightens the rules for dismissal of a complaint under the California Environmental Quality Act.
SB 1456 (2010) CEQA Reform
Streamlines the state’s environmental review process, without weakening protections, by making it harder to delay worthy construction projects through increased use of mediation and quick resolution of court challenges. Provides penalties for frivolous lawsuits, and increased discretion for governmental bodies when projects are partially modified.
SB 226 (2011) CEQA Streamlining
Accelerates regulatory and environmental reviews for “urban infill” development and renewable energy projects by avoiding duplicative review. Creates a new statutory exemption for the installation of solar energy systems on an existing structure, and revises CEQA so that proposals to alter city and county general plans can be handled concurrently with the scoping process.
SB 972 (2012) CEQA/Early Comment
Changes CEQA notice requirements to encourage interested parties to comment early in the process of preparing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
Green Chemistry
AB 2472 (2002) Least Toxic Alternatives to Pesticides
Requires a demonstration project at the California State Capitol using least toxic alternatives to traditional pesticides and herbicides for management of the Capitol complex.
SB 509 (2008) Green Chemistry: Toxics Information Clearinghouse
Provides a central repository of chemical data, available to both businesses and consumers, identifying both their possible hazardous effects on health and the environment, and the safer substitutes available. One of the two foundational pieces of legislation (along with AB 1879 – Feuer) establishing California’s landmark Green Chemistry program.
Natural Resources
AB 47 (2003) Timber Harvest Plans
Creates additional protection of California’s watersheds. Timber harvest plans submitted to the State must include maps that show where logging has already occurred, and where it is likely to occur in the future; helping to identify the cumulative impact of logging in a watershed, and manage adverse impacts.
AB 953 (2002) Park and Open Space Districts
Allows both the Mid-peninsula Regional Open Space District and the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District to exchange easements, providing both agencies greater flexibility in preserving open space. Increases the contract amount a district executive director may approve, reducing the administrative burden and expense of small contracts.
SB 203 (2005) San Mateo County Parks
Allows San Mateo County to present voters with a ballot measure to increase sales taxes by one-eighth cent for parks and recreation funding.