Focus

Under a new $2.9 billion plan announced on Tuesday, California would pay farmers not to plant thousands of acres of land in order to let more water flow through the state's major rivers and streams to help restore the unique habitat of one of North America’s largest estuaries. The agreement reached by state and federal officials and some of California's biggest water agencies would result in about 35,000 acres of rice fields left unused — or about 6% of the state’s normal crop each year, according to the California Rice Commission. Combined with other measures, the plan would result in an extra 824,000-acre-feet of water each year flowing through the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. One acre foot of water is more than 325,000 gallons, which is usually enough to supply two average households for one year.

News

EPA decides against limiting perchlorate in drinking water

The New York Times – March 31

The Biden administration on Thursday said it would uphold a Trump-era decision and not impose limits in drinking water of perchlorate, a contaminant that has been linked to brain damage in infants. The announcement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shocked public health advocates who had denounced the Trump administration in 2020 for opting not to regulate the chemical. EPA said it would take other action, like setting up new monitoring tools and doing more to clean up contaminated sites, "to ensure that public health is protected from perchlorate in drinking water." The decision does not affect state standards for the chemical. California and Massachusetts, for example, have set their own limits for perchlorate in drinking water.

Governor Newsom calls for more aggressive water conservation

Los Angeles Times – March 28

On the heels of the driest ever start to the year in California, Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday issued a sweeping executive order calling on local water suppliers to implement more aggressive conservation measures as water levels in reservoirs dwindle and residents backslide in their efforts to cut back. The order requires that urban water suppliers activate "Level 2" of their locally customized contingency plans, meaning they must prepare for a shortage of up to 20%. The order also introduces steps to address an increase in well drilling in California's Central Valley and directs state regulators to consider a ban on watering decorative grasses at businesses and public properties, among other measures.

California enacts strict new rules on harbor craft emissions

The Maritime Executive – March 25

Continuing its effort to limit emissions from vessels operating in the state's ports and near the coast, the California Air Resources Board last Thursday approved updates to its Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation designed to reduce diesel soot and nitrogen oxides emissions from commercial harbor craft, including tugboats and ferries. The amendments passed despite objections from industries reliant on such vessels, including sportfishing. The new amendments affect all categories of commercial harbor craft and establish the first emission standard requirements for commercial passenger fishing vessels, pilot vessels, tank barges over 400 feet, workboats, and research vessels.

Environmental group sues Port of Oakland over sand and gravel project

Silicon Valley Voice – March 25

An environmental justice group has sued the Port of Oakland in Alameda County Superior Court, accusing the Port of failing to adequately analyze how the construction of an open-air sand and gravel plant operation could harm residents' health from dust and particulate matter, and to identify mitigation measures to reduce those impacts. The Board of Port Commissioners last month approved a 12-year lease allowing Eagle Rock Aggregates to build the facility on 18 acres. The company plans to store and distribute sand that is used for ready-mix concrete at Bay Area construction projects.

State orders Sims Metal to clean up pollution weeks after fire at Redwood City facility

The Almanac – March 28

Following a March 9 fire at Redwood City's 12-acre Sims Metal recycling and shredding facility, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) on Monday issued an enforcement order requiring the facility to investigate the degree to which its operations may have caused contamination in the area—not only from the fire, but from its overall operations—and to clean it up. DTSC's March 24 order requires Sims to address pollutants at the facility, allegedly including hazardous levels of lead, zinc, and copper, which DTSC is concerned may have migrated to adjacent Bay waters and caused health impacts at nearby properties including day care facilities and schools. DTSC's order states that it has taken similar actions against metal recyclers and shredders statewide.