Staff
Helen Kerstein
(916) 319-8364
Air Quality, Energy, Climate Change, and High-Speed Rail
Brian Metzker
(916) 319-8354
Forestry, Parks, and Agriculture
Sonja Petek
(916) 319-8340
Water, Coastal Development, and Fish and Wildlife
Frank Jimenez
(916) 319-8324
Highways and Roads, Recycling, and Toxics
Rachel Ehlers
(916) 319-8330
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Environment and Transportation


Publications

Environment and Natural Resources

To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.



Handout

Department of Toxic Substances Control: Overview of Conference Issues Issue 3960, Page 35

June 5, 2015 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee


Handout

Cap-and-Trade: Budget Conference Issues Resources and Transportation Agenda, Page 43

June 3, 2015 - Presented to: Budget Conference Committee


Handout

Resources and Transportation Agenda, Page 31 Item 3860-001-6083—Department of Water Resources Item 3940-101-6083—State Water Resources Control Board Drought Conference Issues

June 3, 2015 - Presented to: Budget Conference Committee


Handout

Governor’s May Revision: 2015-16 Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan

May 17, 2015 -


Handout

Governor’s May Revision: 2015-16 Drought Package

May 17, 2015 -


Report

An Analysis of the Beverage Container Recycling Program

April 29, 2015 - The Beverage Container Recycling Program has operated with an annual structural deficit averaging about $90 million since 2008-09 and is currently forecast to run an average deficit of almost $60 million from 2014-15 to 2017-18, absent any changes to reduce expenditures or increase revenues. In this report, we make several recommendations that could eliminate the structural deficit and improve overall program effectiveness. Specifically, we recommend (1) requiring beverage manufacturers to pay for the full cost of recycling their containers, (2) evaluating program activities to determine how cost-effective they are at achieving recycling and litter reduction goals, (3) giving recyclers more flexibility in where they locate and piloting a new recycler payment structure in order to improve convenience for consumers, and (4) adjusting the administrative payments to program participants to reflect their actual costs.


Handout

Achieving State Goals for the Delta

March 19, 2015 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy and Transportation


Handout

Implementing the 2014 Water Bond

March 18, 2015 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Resources and Transportation


Handout

Overview of the Beverage Container Recycling Program

March 12, 2015 - Presented to: Assembly Budget Committee


Handout

2015-2016 Budget Overview of Environmental Protection Agency and Departments

March 12, 2015 - Presented to: Assembly Budget Committee


Handout

2015-16 Budget Overview of Natural Resources Agency and Departments

March 5, 2015 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy, and Transportation. Hon. Lois Wolk, Chair


Report

The 2015-16 Budget: Resources and Environmental Protection

February 19, 2015 - The Governor’s budget for 2015-16 proposes a total of $9.3 billion in expenditures from the General Fund, various special funds, bond funds, and federal funds for resources and environmental protection programs. In this report, we assess many of the Governor’s budget proposals related to these programs and recommend various changes.


Handout

Major Water Related Proposals in the Governor's 2015-16 Budget

February 12, 2015 - Presented to the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Hon. Mark Leno, Chair


Report

The 2015-16 Budget: Effectively Implementing the 2014 Water Bond

February 11, 2015 - In August 2014, the Legislature approved Chapter 188, Statutes of 2014 (AB 1471, Rendon), which placed before the voters a water bond measure primarily aimed at increasing the supply of clean, safe, and reliable water and restoring habitat. On November 4, 2014, voters approved the water bond measure—Proposition 1. In this report, we (1) describe Proposition 1, (2) review the Governor’s proposals to implement the bond, (3) identify key implementation principles, and (4) recommend steps for the Legislature to ensure that the bond is implemented effectively.


Handout

Implementing the 2014 Water Bond

February 10, 2015 - Presented to: Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife