Late Friday night, the California legislature passed Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the California Environmental, Public Health and Workers Defense Act. Governor Newsom has indicated he will veto the measure. Here are the responses from legislators, NGOs, water agencies, and farmers:
Joint statement by Senator Feinstein and others:
Senator Dianne Feinstein and Congressmen John Garamendi, Josh Harder, Jim Costa and TJ Cox (all D-Calif.) released the following statement in advance of Governor Gavin Newsom’s veto of Senate Bill 1:
“While we support the objectives of SB1 – to protect clean air, drinking water and our environment – the bill as written would jeopardize those very goals. It is critical that all Californians, especially those in our disadvantaged communities, have a reliable supply of clean, fresh drinking water, in addition to water for our environment and essential agriculture industry. We applaud the governor’s leadership in vetoing this bill, and his efforts to solve California’s difficult water challenges with solutions that meet the needs of the 21st century.
“Working together with all water users provides the best hope for avoiding endless litigation on the management of California’s water supply. We know this through experience. Continuing the collaborative process put in motion by the governor can result in improved habitats and protect fish and wildlife species, while also ensuring improved water supply reliability for our communities and family farms across California.”
Joint statement by the NGOs:
The following statement is a joint statement by the Natural Resources Defense Council, Defenders of Wildlife, Sierra Club California, Golden Gate Salmon Association, California Coastkeeper Alliance , Audubon California, The Nature Conservancy, The Bay Institute, San Francisco Baykeeper, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, Environment California, Coastside Fishing Club, and NextGen California
Governor Newsom issued an announcement yesterday rejecting Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the California Environmental, Public Health and Workers Defense Act. The bill, authored by Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins, would ensure California’s authority to preserve our clean air, clean water, biodiversity and safe workplaces in the face of unprecedented threats and rollbacks from the Trump administration. The bill is backed by a broad coalition of environmental, environmental justice, health, business, labor, and fishing groups.
SB 1 passed both houses of the legislature in the early morning hours of September 14 by wide margins.The bill was opposed by some powerful agricultural interests and certain water agencies who helped develop Trump rollbacks of federal regulations protecting endangered species. The opponents of the bill have been particularly focused on a provision of SB1 that would simply require the federal Central Valley Project (CVP), controlled by the Trump administration, to comply with state laws protecting endangered species. In the past, State Administrations of both parties have insisted that the CVP is held to the same legal standards as every other water user in the state. The provision in SB 1 would have codified what has been the policy in practice and ensured fairness for all of us who need water.
To pressure the governor to veto the bill, SB 1 opponents threatened to walk out of unrelated ongoing voluntary agreement discussions about standards for water flowing into the California Bay Delta ecosystem.
Statement of SB 1 Coalition Regarding Governor’s Announcement:
“The Governor’s announcement is disappointing. “By rejecting SB 1 to satisfy the bill’s narrowly focused opponents, he is discarding protections that SB 1 would have provided for endangered species, air quality, water quality and worker safety.
“The Governor’s action also leaves us deeply concerned about the fate of California’s most vulnerable species and the future of our salmon industry.
“The next few months will test the state’s authority. The ‘Voluntary Agreements’ will now be analyzed by all as to whether they meet the standard for threatened fisheries. We’re committed to protecting California’s natural resources and communities.”
From the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA):
ACWA President Brent Hastey is issuing the following statement in response to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement that he plans to veto SB 1 (Atkins):
“ACWA applauds Governor Newsom for recognizing that SB 1 would have derailed the ongoing Voluntary Agreement negotiations and led to unnecessary regulatory uncertainty for water agencies throughout California. His commitment to the collaborative Voluntary Agreement process reflects a belief in California and the people who are working hard, and working together, to truly benefit our communities, our economy and the environment.
“We regret that the coalition wasn’t able to reach an agreement with Senate President pro Tem Atkins over the concerns with the bill. However, we look forward to productively working with her and the Legislature on advancing California’s water future moving forward.”
From Mike Wade at the California Farm Water Coalition:
“We applaud Gov. Newsom for his commitment to veto Senate Bill 1 and maintaining a clear-eyed focus on the Voluntary Agreements, which are a key piece of his Water Resiliency Plan for California.
Senate Bill 1 was essentially a choice between adopting new science and collaborative ways of managing our water, or our outdated system that has overseen the decline of threatened and endangered species and diminished water supply reliability for the Southland, farmers, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
The existing system has worked for no one – and yet SB 1 sought to lock it into law, essentially calling a halt to the Voluntary Agreements. … ”
Read more from the Daily News here: Veto SB1 to embrace progress rather than chaining state to a dysfunctional past
From the Environmental Defense Fund:
Gov. Gavin Newsom has indicated he will veto Senate Bill 1, the California Environmental, Public Health and Workers Defense Act, authored by Sen. Toni Atkins.
“We commend the Governor’s track record of defending public health, social justice and the environment in the face of Trump rollbacks of longstanding protections. We disagree with his reasoning that vetoing SB1 is necessary to make progress in the negotiations with stakeholders, including Environmental Defense Fund, on a solution to the decades-old impasse over how best to manage the water and wildlife of the Bay-Delta.
“To us, the Bay-Delta voluntary agreement negotiations are about working together to find more innovative, cooperative ways of meeting the needs of both the environment and other water users. In their push for a veto of SB1, water agencies have undermined our confidence that they are negotiating in good faith in the voluntary agreement process.
“For now EDF will continue to participate in Bay-Delta voluntary agreement negotiations. We will be looking for real evidence that water agencies are committed to improving fragile ecosystems and rural economies. This means adding more water, habitat restoration and funding to the current proposal to realize a resilient water system that delivers for our economy and our environment.”
From the Golden Gate Salmon Association:
The following is a statement by John McManus, president of the Golden Gate Salmon Association regarding the passage, early Saturday morning, of SB 1, the California Environmental, Public Health and Workers Defense Act of 2019:
“Signing SB 1 should be should be an easy call for Governor Newsom, siding with California instead of the Trump administration. Senate President tem Toni Atkins and the California legislature showed real political courage by passing this bill to block Trump administration efforts to gut environmental and salmon protections. The California salmon fishing industry is facing a wave of attacks from Washington DC. This could be the most important piece of environmental legislation passed in the country this year.”
The Golden Gate Salmon Association (www.goldengatesalmon.org) is a coalition of salmon advocates that includes commercial and recreational salmon fisherman, businesses, restaurants and chefs, a native tribe, environmentalists, elected officials, families and communities that rely on salmon.
GGSA’s mission is to restore California salmon for their economic, recreational, commercial, environmental, cultural and health values. GGSA serves the sport and commercial anglers, businesses, conservationists and foodies that rely on salmon as a long-term, nutritious, sustainable resource.
Currently, California’s salmon industry is valued at $1.4 billion in annual economic activity in a normal season. The industry employs tens of thousands of people from Santa Barbara to northern Oregon. This is a huge economic bloc made up of commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen (fresh and salt water), fish processors, marinas, coastal communities, equipment manufacturers, tackle shops and marine stores, the hotel and food industry, tribes, and the salmon fishing industry at large. Salmon are the keystone species that reflect the health of both their fresh and salt water environment.
From the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations:
Noah Oppenheim, Executive Director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, statement on passage of SB 1:
“The California legislature may have just saved the state’s salmon fishing industry by passing SB1. We’re having a wonderful season this year thanks to 2017’s rains, but if the federal administration’s proposed water grab framework were forced upon is, the next drought could wipe us off the map. Governor Newsom should feel proud of his opportunity to defend our fisheries, which provide local seafood to all Californians, and sign this bill.”
About PCFFA
The Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations is the largest commercial fishermen’s organization on the West Coast, representing 17 local and regional associations from Santa Barbara to Southeast Alaska. As a major commercial fishing industry trade association, PCFFA represents the interests of commercial fishing families who make their living harvesting and delivering high-quality seafood to America’s tables.
From Restore the Delta:
While Governor Newsom has vowed to veto this bill, San Francisco Bay-Delta advocates today asked him to reconsider. Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta said:
“We have spent 2019 working to be the voice of reason from the Delta and to build a bridge with the Newsom administration. That is all now in danger of crumbling. If Governor Newsom continues to echo the talking points of water contractors and vetoes SB1, he will allow Delta fisheries to collapse.
“SB1 is based on the 2011 biological opinions and all the related fishery management science of the Delta, and fishery protections equal water quality protections for the Delta’s 4 million people. He will be rejecting protection of the estuary and its people, plus a host of needed water quality and air quality protections for the state. He is choosing big ag and big water interests over public health and a healthy and clean environment for all Californians.
“We have tracked the Voluntary Agreements to reset flow standards for the Delta tributaries, but like other Delta public entities, were never invited to the table. When the California Department of Water Resources, and California Fish and wildlife introduced the Voluntary Agreements to the State Water Resources Control Board, they promised agreements that would be more protective of the Delta than the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan. But a veto of SB1 will open the door to make the Voluntary Agreements meaningless. We spent years working at the State Water Resources Control Board to advance a Bay-Delta Water Quality Plan that was protective of the Delta. We will not accept the imperfect Bay-Delta Water Quality Plan being replaced with a disastrous Voluntary Agreement based on a gutting of environmental protections.
“Governor Newsom, please sign SB1!“
From the San Luis-Delta Mendota Water Authority:
The following is a statement by San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority Executive Director Federico Barajas on Senate Bill 1, California Environmental, Public Health, and Workers Defense Act of 2019:
“On the last day of this year’s legislative session, time ran out for parties on both sides to come together and forge a reasonable compromise for the benefit of California’s people and the environment. Our hope now is that the Governor will make the right decision to veto Senate Bill 1 with instructions for the Legislature to bring it back to his desk after more work.
“Public water agencies throughout California have expressed concern over their future ability to deliver water to farms, urban water users, the high-tech industry, and wetlands on managed wildlife areas.
“The critical element in SB 1 for farmers, urban water users and wildlife refuges in the San Joaquin and Silicon Valleys, is language that would make it impossible to adopt a set of Voluntary Agreements. These agreements are intended to provide sufficient water management flexibility to increase stream flows, further fund habitat improvements and restore threatened and endangered fish populations.
“SB 1 now creates an impossible roadblock on the path toward adopting the Voluntary Agreements, and ends the commitment to use new science for water management and species protection.
“Continuing to operate California’s water system under regulations that were originally instituted more than 10 years ago using decades-old science will be destructive to the state, regardless of what happens at the federal level.
“SB 1 also jeopardizes the timely and successful implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which requires California groundwater basins to be sustainably managed within the next 20 years. Making surface water deliveries more difficult under SB 1 means that SGMA’s water management goals will increase the harm to the communities served by the Authority’s member agencies and throughout California.
“Water users within the Authority service area are committed to efficient water management. Our diverse set of customers, from farms, high-tech businesses in the Silicon Valley, and critical wildlife refuges, require sustainable water supplies to meet their needs. SB 1, if implemented, will destabilize the water supplies our people need, leaving a wake of economic hardship and environmental uncertainty in its path. That’s why the Governor must get this right and send this back to the Legislature for additional refinement.”
The San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority serves 28 member public agencies, 26 of which contract with Reclamation for water supply from the CVP. These agencies deliver water to approximately 1.2 million acres of farmland, 2 million California residents, and millions of waterfowl dependent upon the nearly 200,000 acres of managed wetlands within the Pacific Flyway.
From Western Growers:
In response to Governor Newsom’s announcement that he will veto SB 1, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif issued the following statement:
“On behalf of thousands of family farmers and rural residents in the San Joaquin Valley, and across the state, who rely on sensible environmental policies for their livelihoods, we applaud Governor Newsom for pumping the brakes on a bill that would have undermined the collaborative progress his administration and water users are making toward enhanced river flows and water quality in the Delta.“Our farmers strive to be good stewards of the environment and our natural resources, and we support a balanced approach to water resiliency that relies on the best available science. There is a better path forward, and we anticipate the opportunity to work with both the Newsom administration and legislators to craft water policy that protects both the environment and the economic viability of our family farms for future generations.”
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