California

11/02/2009 -- SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking action against the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency following federal violations of the Clean Water Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

On behalf of the U.S. EPA, the Department of Justice has lodged a proposed consent decree with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against the city and county of San Francisco for releasing at least 940 barrels of diesel fuel -- some of which entered into Islais Creek, a tributary of the San Francisco Bay.    » read more »

With Hundreds of Millions of Race to the Top Education Dollars at Stake, Governor Urges Senate Appropriations Committee to Pass Measure

11/02/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the statement below after the state Senate Education Committee voted 5-0 to approve SBX5 1, a bi-partisan measure proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger and authored by Senator Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) to ensure California is highly competitive in the Obama Administration’s $4.35 billion Race to the Top national funding competition – which has been federally designed to support education reform and innovation across the nation.    » read more »

11/02/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today celebrated the opening of the world’s largest landfill gas to liquefied natural gas (LFG-to-LNG) facility in California, the Waste Management Altamont Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility in Livermore. The plant, put together by partners Waste Management, Linde-BOC and Gas Technology Institute, is designed to produce up to 13,000 gallons of LNG a day and is expected to reduce 30,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.    » read more »

Federal Funds Are Helping To Put Sacramento On The Path To Recovery

October 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-05) applauded the Obama Administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability, and the release of the jobs created so far under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) through September 30, 2009.    » read more »

Interior Appropriations Bill Includes More Than $18 Million for California Sought By Boxer

October 29, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate passed the Interior Appropriations bill, which included more than $18 million in funding for key projects throughout California secured by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA).

The bill now goes to President Obama for his signature.

Senator Boxer said, “I am so pleased the Senate passed this bill that includes critical funding to improve air and water quality in California and help communities fight wildfires. I look forward to seeing President Obama sign it into law.”    » read more »

Data will help protect public health from harmful emissions

10/26/2009 -- TIJUANA, MEXICO – Today in Tijuana B. C., Mexico, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), the Environmental Protection Agency of Baja California, the California Air Resources Board and the Border Environment Cooperation Commission will initiate the Baja California Air Monitoring Network coverage assessment study and the Tijuana-Rosarito Emissions Inventory.    » read more »

New Policies Miss Opportunity to Reward Low Mileage Drivers and Reduce Pollution

SACRAMENTO, CA (October 19, 2009) –The Natural Resources Defense Council today said that new California “Pay As You Drive” insurance regulations will not likely save Californians money nor significantly reduce global warming pollution. The final regulations, which merely permit insurance companies to verify the miles their customers drive, can be found here.

“Our auto insurance policies are sorely behind the times,” said Justin Horner, NRDC transportation policy analyst. “No one should be fooled. The new regulations proposed today cannot be characterized as green. They are nowhere close to what is needed to help the environment or reduce global warming pollution.”    » read more »

Erin Brockovich, public health and environmental advocates urge State EPA to set safe standard to protect Californians

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Oct 18, 2009 – Hexavalent chromium (hex chrome), the notorious cancer-causing chemical made famous in the film Erin Brockovich, contaminates drinking water in over 500 California communities, according to environmental and public health experts. The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) held a hearing today to take public comment on a proposed level for hex chrome in drinking water.    » read more »

October 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, leadership from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will join the State of California along with numerous national and local emergency preparedness organizations at events across the impacted region in solemn acknowledgement of the 20th anniversary of the San Francisco Bay Area 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake.    » read more »

10/16/2009 -- Governor Schwarzenegger: Hello, this is Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger with another California Report.

This week, I signed a number of bills that are so important to the future of California, bills that will keep our streets safer, that will make our schools better and that will protect California homeowners during these difficult economic times.

Let me tell you about just a few of the changes that are ahead.

This week we took a big step toward making California’s roads safer with two new laws that will prevent drunk drivers from ever even starting their cars.    » read more »

House Passes Miller’s Bay Area Water Recycling Bill; Legislation will bring new water sources to drought-stricken California

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. George Miller (D-Martinez) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed his legislation to expand water recycling in six San Francisco Bay Area communities:

“Today’s bill responds to the request for assistance from the state of California and local water managers to expand the supply of water in our drought-stricken state. This bill is good for our economy - it will create thousands of jobs and it will help reduce stress on our oversubscribed fresh water systems.    » read more »

Federal Money Will Push Sacramento Forward as Urban Model for Solar Power

October 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (CA-05) announced the release of $4,300,971 in federal grant funding to expand Sacramento’s the use of solar energy and $3,499,828 for job-training in the solar industry throughout California.

The funding for this initiative comes through the Department of Energy and was authorized by both federal appropriations and the economic recovery package Rep. Matsui supported earlier this year. The funding will bolster Sacramento based research in solar energy as well as educational programs to train Sacramentans on installing the technology.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate gave final approval to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which included an amendment by U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (both D-CA) that will allow for water transfers to help agricultural communities in the Central Valley that have been hard hit by three years of drought. The legislation now goes to President Obama for his signature.

Senator Boxer said, “This measure is a critical first step toward improving water management to help ease the water crisis in the San Joaquin Valley. The legislation will enable water transfers between the east and west sides of the valley, offering some much-needed relief to agricultural communities that are suffering from drought conditions.”    » read more »

New Law Will Keep Deadly Ammunition Out of the Hands of Criminals

10/15/2009 -- Building on his commitment to keeping dangerous weapons off California’s streets and out of the hands of criminals and gang members, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today highlighted a bill he signed, AB 962 by Assemblymember Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles).

This bill would require vendors of handgun ammunition transfers and sales to keep a log of information on handgun ammunition sales, store ammunition in a safe and secure manner and require the face-to-face transfer of ammunition sales.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (CA-05) spoke on the House floor on behalf of the House Committee on Rules to advocate for passage of Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program Extension Act introduced by Chairman George Miller. Congresswoman Matsui’s opening statement, as prepared for delivery, is below:

“I first want to thank Chairman Miller and Chairman Stark as well as Representatives Eshoo, Honda, Woolsey, McNerney, Lofgren, Napolitano, and Speier for their work on this bill, and efforts to address the Bay Area’s water needs. I also commend Senators Feinstein and Boxer for introducing identical legislation in the Senate, and their leadership on this issue.    » read more »