Focus
More than 4 million acres of California forests could lose protection under proposed ‘roadless rule’ repeal
CalMatters – June 25
The Trump administration’s plan to repeal a rule prohibiting logging and road construction in undeveloped parts of national forests would remove protection from more than 4 million acres of forestland within California’s borders. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced this Monday that she will act to rescind the “roadless rule,” developed during the Clinton administration, to allow for “fire prevention and responsible timber production” on more than 58 million acres of national forests. The Department of Agriculture has not said how it plans to rescind the rule or how long the effort is expected to take.
News
Kern County approves major rezoning ordinance for oil and gas permitting
23ABC – June 26
Kern County supervisors this Thursday approved sweeping changes to the county’s oil and gas zoning ordinance. The revisions create a new tiered land-use structure, enhanced environmental standards under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and a two-track permitting system aimed at expediting applications across unincorporated areas of the county. The ordinance had been considered multiple times since 2015, following repeated legal challenges from environmental groups. The ordinance could streamline the permitting process for up to 2,697 new oil and gas wells each year.
San Diego County to explore plan to monitor, mitigate Tijuana River sewage pollution
The San Diego Union-Tribune - June 25
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to explore what it would take to administer a plan that calls for further monitoring and mitigation of cross-border pollution from Mexico and implementation of related health protections. The plan includes the study of health impacts of chronic exposure to the toxic sewer gas hydrogen sulfide; assessment of the full scope of crisis-linked economic losses; elimination of a hot spot along the Tijuana River; and creation of a county sewage crisis chief position. County staff will research and recommend which efforts are feasible and how each would be funded.
Malaysia will stop accepting U.S. plastic waste, creating a dilemma for California
Los Angeles Times – June 26
Malaysia will ban plastic waste imports from the United States starting this Tuesday due to America’s alleged failure to abide by the Basel Convention treaty on international waste transfers - a move that could have significant consequences for California, which shipped more than 10 million pounds of plastic waste to Malaysia in 2024, according to the Basel Action Network, an advocacy group. Malaysia emerged as a major destination for U.S. waste after China banned American waste imports in 2018.
California groundwater levels see another bump — but long-term trend still grim
San Francisco Chronicle – June 24
California saw a notable bump in groundwater supplies last year, marking a second straight year that the crucial underground reserve wasn’t drawn down by thirsty cities and farms, according to new data released Tuesday by the state’s Department of Water Resources. Moderately wet weather, in combination with efforts to proactively recharge aquifers and limit pumping, is largely responsible for a gain of 2.2 million acre-feet of water across the dozens of groundwater basins tracked by the state. The increase is equal to about half of what can be held in California’s largest reservoir, Shasta Lake. While the increase is modest, it comes amid a decadeslong slide in groundwater reserves.
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