National Environmental Groups Urge Newsom to Sign Bill Protecting Communities from Industrial Pollution
Call on Governor to Cement His Environmental Legacy with Signature
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom is being urged to sign key legislation to protect communities from industrial pollution in a letter signed today by leaders of national environmental groups.
Senate Bill 954 by Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas), which passed the legislature last month, closes loopholes in state law passed during the last legislative session that allows the fast-tracking of potentially polluting projects. The Governor has until September 30 to act on the bills on his desk.
Leaders from NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), Earthjustice, Environment America, League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club wrote that signing the bill would allow the Governor “to further distinguish your legacy of protecting public health, addressing climate change, and safeguarding our air and water supplies, in sharp contrast with President Trump’s destructive policies. By signing SB 954, you can once again show the nation and the world that a strong economy depends on a clean environment.”
“SB 954 is essential to protect California’s communities and our environment from industrial pollution. It has been crafted by consensus through discussions with housing groups, labor groups, local governments, air districts, and other stakeholders, resulting in a workable exemption that carefully balances public protections with business interests,” notes the letter.
“By upholding California’s natural beauty and strong community health protections, the state can continue to grow its economy and support responsible manufacturing. SB 954 reflects the needs of the business community for further economic development while limiting CEQA exemptions for truly polluting projects.”
Read the entire letter here.
The bill addresses the unintended serious risks to environmental, public health, and climate protections enacted through last year’s SB 131, the Public Resources trailer bill, and takes important steps toward fulfilling commitments to fix SB 131’s most harmful provisions. SB 954 refines the “advanced manufacturing” exemption in a balanced way that safeguards California’s workers, communities, and environment while preserving a practical path for eligible projects. SB 954 reflects the needs of the business community for further economic development while limiting CEQA exemptions for truly polluting projects.
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).