Lawmakers want to change California environmental law

The Governor of California wants to make it easier for California businesses and agencies to build in the financially strapped state, but his efforts are unlikely to actually create any meaningful change. California has long been a proponent of the environment as clean beaches and sunny skies are a hallmark of its tourism appeal.

Gov. Jerry Brown recently visited China and was amazed how fast the country was able to get infrastructure and transportation built. He admired their commitment to progress and wants to let the “bulldozers roll” in the Sunshine State.

California laws are stringent when it comes to the impact business and infrastructure construction can have on the environment. The red tape is enough to keep projects on hold for years and the Governor sees this as a problem for the state. He wants to completely overhaul the California Environmental Quality Act to make it easier for businesses and infrastructure construction.

He’s meeting some serious hurdles from Democrats, organized labor and environmental groups. They have all already publicly opposed his changes to the law and his big ticket projects. Brown is pushing for major infrastructure improvements, including water projects in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, more energy efficient community colleges and public schools and a high speed rail system.

The total cost of these projects are in the billions of dollars, but there will likely be no movement on the infrastructure improvements or changes to the law until after the revised budget sometime in May. The act is over 40 years old and some lawmakers would like to see it updated. Any new infrastructure or construction projects done by state and local agencies must identify are a wide variety of environmental impacts and ways to fix them.

The law has added time and millions of dollars to projects. Many believe that they law is also being abused by labor, business and even private citizens to purposely delay projects until negotiations fall in their favor.

The law will likely receive an update to close some loopholes, but not so much that it will streamline the Governor’s plans for infrastructure.

 Photo courtesy of mopandbucket.blogspot.com