News
California sues EPA again for revoking state’s authority to limit auto emissions
Los Angeles Times – November 15
California and a coalition of 22 other states, Washington, D.C., and the cities of Los Angeles and New York last Friday filed another lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) challenging its move to revoke California's waiver under the Clean Air Act (CAA) that has, to date, allowed the state to set stricter auto emissions standards than the federal government. The CAA also allowed other states to adopt those standards set by the EPA or follow California’s regulations – which 13 other states and the District of Columbia chose to do. The EPA has not commented on California's action, saying the agency does not comment on pending litigation.
Governor Newsom looks to expedite closure of Aliso Canyon natural gas facility
The San Diego Union-Tribune – November 19
Four years after a massive natural gas leak at the Aliso Canyon storage facility forced thousands from their homes in the Porter Ranch community of Los Angeles County, Governor Newsom called on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), to look into expediting closure of the facility. The CPUC is already in the midst of a proceeding to determine whether use of the storage facility can be reduced or eliminated. Earlier this month, it said it was worried about a “significant possibility” of a shortfall in the state’s power system within two years, and extended by a few years the life of four natural gas power plants in the Los Angeles area. Southern California Gas, the operator of site, has long maintained Aliso Canyon is essential to meet the region’s energy needs and has pushed for state officials to lift capacity restrictions at the facility.
California to stop buying GM, Toyota, and Fiat Chrysler vehicles over emissions fight
Reuters – November 18
California officials on Monday said that the state will halt all purchases of new vehicles for state government fleets from GM, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler, and other automakers backing the federal government in its attempt to strip the state of authority to regulate tailpipe emissions. Between 2016 and 2018, California spent some $134 million on vehicles manufactured by these automakers. Starting in January, the state will only buy from automakers that recognize California’s legal authority to set emissions standards, including Ford Motor Co, Honda Motor Co, BMW AG, and Volkswagen AG, which struck a deal with California in July to follow revised state vehicle emissions standards.
Hundreds of SFPD officers sue Hunters Point contractor over health problems
San Francisco Chronicle – November 18
In a complaint filed in federal court last Thursday, the engineering and consulting firm Tetra Tech Inc. and two related entities are alleged to have exposed hundreds of San Francisco Police Department employees to unsafe levels of hazardous materials at the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, leading to chronic health problems and at least two deaths. The shipyard was named a Superfund site in 1989 due to heavy contamination from radioactive substances and industrial chemicals. The lawsuit alleges that a Tetra Tech predecessor corporation misled the city in the late 1990s about the extent of possible contamination at a building on the site that ended up becoming a busy police office and training center. The lawsuit also alleges that between 1997 and 2014, the three Tetra Tech entities acted fraudulently in the cleanup of the site. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice joined a federal whistle-blower lawsuit against Tetra Tech EC, alleging that top managers directed employees to commit widespread fraud in the shipyard cleanup.
California moves to expand protections for endangered fish species
Courthouse News Service – November 21
California officials signaled their intent on Thursday to sue the federal government over allocation priorities for the State Water Project. State regulators say that the conclusions of a draft environmental impact report released by the Department of Water Resources compel them to take action to prioritize the protection of fish species like Chinook salmon, steelhead, and the delta smelt while also ensuring adequate water deliveries to Central Valley farms. The report was released about a month after the federal government released its own rules that committed to deliver more water to the agricultural communities in the Central Valley.
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