(June 22, 2010) A California Chamber of Commerce-supported job creator bill that has the dual benefit of facilitating job creation while ensuring environmental integrity passed a Senate committee last week.
AB 1846 (M. Pérez; D-Coachella) streamlines the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) approval process for certain projects by allowing industries subject to compliance with greenhouse gas regulations under AB 32 to go through an expedited environmental review through a focused environmental impact report (EIR).
AB 1846 passed the Senate Environmental Quality Committee by a 7–0 vote on June 14.
Ambitious Goals
California is aggressively working to meet its ambitious environmental goals set forth by AB 32, The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. As regulations are being adopted to reduce California’s greenhouse gas emission levels, companies subject to compliance with these regulations must make significant modifications to existing facilities in order to reduce emissions in compliance with the law.
By law, greenhouse gas regulations must be adopted by January 1, 2011, so companies have a short timeframe to become AB 32 compliant. In order to make infrastructure changes, these companies must go through the necessary CEQA permitting process before construction of significant project modifications/upgrades can begin.
Since the CEQA process can be arduous, often marked by delays and great expense to business, it is important that the state look for ways to help streamline this process in order to help industries meet their AB 32 goals in a timely manner.
Expedited Review
AB 1846 provides such a path by requiring an expedited environmental review of greenhouse gas compliance projects through a focused EIR.
Specifically, this bill will clarify and streamline the CEQA process for projects required to comply with emission reduction regulations under AB 32. This process will eliminate unnecessary layers of environmental review for specific projects without compromising necessary environmental review.
Action Needed
AB 1846 is scheduled to be considered next by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The CalChamber is urging members of the business community to contact their legislators and committee members and urge them to support AB 1846.
Staff Contact: Brenda M. Coleman