On June 30, 2025, Governor Newsom signed two budget trailer bills into law: Assembly Bill 130 and Senate Bill 131, which reform the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) effective immediately. As explained by the...more
7/7/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
California ,
CEQA ,
CEQA Reform ,
Environmental Policies ,
Governor Newsom ,
Housing Developers ,
Infrastructure ,
New Legislation ,
Real Estate Development ,
Regulatory Reform ,
State Legislatures
President Trump issued an executive order this Tuesday taking aim at state and local climate change laws and policies, including California’s landmark market program for reducing greenhouse gases. The order directs U.S....more
As part of a continued effort to expedite rebuilding after Los Angeles' devastating firestorms, Governor Gavin Newsom this week suspended California environmental laws for utility providers working to reinstall key...more
Plans to build the largest new reservoir in California in 50 years have taken a significant step forward following a judge’s decision last Friday to dismiss a lawsuit filed by environmental groups challenging the adequacy of...more
6/10/2024
/ California ,
Carbon Emissions ,
CEQA ,
Department of Toxic Substances Control ,
Energy Projects ,
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Industrial Discharges ,
NOAA ,
Toxic Exposure ,
Water Pollution ,
Water Quality
The Biden administration on Wednesday proposed strengthening requirements for the removal of lead-based paint dust in homes and child care facilities built before 1978. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates...more
7/17/2023
/ California ,
CEQA ,
Conservation ,
Contamination ,
Drought ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Governor Newsom ,
Lead ,
Oil & Gas ,
Oil Wells ,
State Department of Fish and Wildlife
Attorney General Bonta asks plastic bag producers to prove that bags are recyclable - San Francisco Chronicle – November 2 - On Wednesday, Attorney General Rob Bonta sent letters to seven plastic bag producers that supply the...more
Biden administration outlines plan to pay for Colorado River water cuts as crisis looms - CNN – October 12 As concerns grow over the future of the drought-plagued Colorado River system, the Biden administration has announced...more
EPA sets stringent standards for PFAS in drinking water Bullet E&E News - June 15 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on June 15 announced new drinking water “health advisories” for four per- and polyfluoroalkyl...more
6/27/2022
/ CA Supreme Court ,
California Endangered Species Act ,
CEQA ,
Climate Change ,
Drinking Water ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Review ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Monsanto ,
PFAS ,
Proposition 65
Ninth Circuit blocks permits for hydraulic fracturing off California coast Bullet Los Angeles Times - June 3 The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last Friday blocked hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, off...more
6/13/2022
/ CEQA ,
Climate Change ,
Coastal Real Estate ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Review ,
Fracking ,
NAAQS ,
Oil & Gas ,
Water Resources Control Board
Walmart sued for alleged dumping of hazardous waste in California landfills -
Los Angeles Times – December 20 -
A lawsuit filed last Monday in Alameda County Superior Court by the California attorney general and a...more
EPA unveils strategy to regulate PFAS -
Associated Press – October 18 -
Michael Regan, the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced on Monday that the agency is launching a broad strategy to...more
California drafts safe limits for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water -
Chemical & Engineering News – July 23 -
A July 22 draft report from the California Environmental Protection Agency would set a science-based safe...more
Deb Haaland confirmed as first Native American Cabinet secretary -
NPR – March 15 -
Deb Haaland, a member of New Mexico's Laguna Pueblo, has become the first Native American Cabinet secretary in U.S. history. The...more
Senate confirms Biden’s pick to lead EPA -
The New York Times – March 10 -
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Michael S. Regan, the former top environmental regulator for North Carolina, to lead the U.S. Environmental...more
3/12/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
California Air Resources Board ,
CEQA ,
Climate Change ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Environmental Impact Statements ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Offshore Wind ,
Oil & Gas ,
Renewable Energy ,
Water Pollution
Officials call for protection of Redwood City’s salt ponds -
The San Mateo Daily Journal – February 19 -
Nearly 60 Bay Area political leaders and organizations last Tuesday asked the Biden administration to protect...more
A Note to Our Readers: Although the coronavirus and its many disruptions are dominating the news, we will continue to publish the California Environmental Law and Policy Update so long as there are newsworthy developments in...more
3/27/2020
/ Air Pollution ,
CEQA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Governor Newsom ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
PFAS ,
Public Comment ,
RCRA ,
Real Estate Development ,
Toxic Chemicals
FERC orders draining of Santa Clara County’s biggest reservoir due to risk of earthquake collapse -
The Mercury News – February 25 -
In a dramatic decision that could significantly impact Silicon Valley’s water...more
2/28/2020
/ Air Quality Standards ,
Beverage Manufacturers ,
Breach of Warranty ,
CEQA ,
Department of the Interior ,
FERC ,
Fracking ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Oil & Gas ,
Oil Wells ,
Pollution Control ,
Public Nuisance ,
Scientific Research ,
Water Pollution ,
Water Supplies
Environmental and Policy Focus -
Bill targeting Cadiz water transfer stalls in Senate committee -
San Bernardino County Sun -
Sep 1 -
A bill designed to block the transfer of groundwater from the inland Southern...more
Environmental and Policy Focus -
Reversing course, EPA will not delay an Obama ozone rule -
Washington Post -
Aug 3 -
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reversed its effort to delay Obama...more
Environmental and Policy Focus -
California Supreme Court ruling bolsters bullet train foes -
ABC News -
Jul 27 -
Federal law does not completely preempt application of California’s strict environmental...more
Environmental and Policy Focus -
Trump’s budget proposal slashes EPA funding -
Washington Post -
Mar 16 -
President Trump on Thursday released his budget plan for the next fiscal year, which proposes cutting the...more
Environmental and Policy Focus -
SoCal air board proposes stricter regulations for smog-reduction plan -
Los Angeles Times -
Oct 7 -
The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) released a...more
Environmental and Policy Focus -
Metropolitan Water District completes $175-million purchase of Delta islands -
Los Angeles Times - Jul 18 -
Metropolitan Water District (MWD) this Monday completed the...more
Environmental and Policy Focus -
Proceeds from cap-and-trade auction fall far short of targets -
Los Angeles Times - May 25 -
The latest auction in California’s cap-and-trade market for greenhouse gases fell...more
6/1/2016
/ Cap-and-Trade ,
Carbon Auctions ,
CEQA ,
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Fracking ,
Fracking Bans ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Housing Developers ,
Oil & Gas ,
Oil Spills ,
Pipelines ,
Toxic Chemicals ,
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
Environmental and Policy Focus -
Some emergency drought rules might be eased -
Los Angeles Times - May 9 -
Governor Jerry Brown and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) on Monday laid out a revised...more