Environment and Natural Resources Publications

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Report

The Power Crisis is the Key "Wild Card" in the LAO Economic Outlook

February 21, 2001 - The most pressing challenge currently facing the state relates to its electricity crisis, especially in light of the multiplicity of ways that energy affects the economy and ultimately the state's finances.

Report

Energy-Related Proposals

February 21, 2001 - The Governor's budget proposes a number of augmentations totaling $1.2 billion ($1.1 billion General Fund) related to the state's energy crisis. These proposals would add nearly 100 positions across six departments.

Report

CALFED Bay-Delta Program

February 21, 2001 - The 2001-02 budget proposes $414 million in state funds for CALFED. In determining a funding level for the program, there are a number of policy, fiscal, and programmatic issues for the Legislature to consider.

Report

Analysis of the 2001-02 Budget Bill, Resources Chapter

February 21, 2001 - Analysis of the 2001-02 Budget Bill, Resources Chapter

Report

Environmental Water Account: Need for Legislative Definition and Oversight

January 29, 2001 - We recommend that the Legislature hold oversight hearings to evaluate CALFED's proposal for the Environmental Water Account, implemented to acquire water for endangered species protection and recovery in the Bay-Delta region. There are many policy and implementation issues that the Legislature should consider before CALFED proceeds with the new program, including the program's costs, benefits, impacts, governance, and funding. Funding should be governed by the "beneficiary pays" principle.

Report

Improving State Oversight and Direction of Local Air Districts

January 24, 2001 - The state could do a better job at achieving its air quality goals if it exercised more effective oversight of the 35 local air districts. We think that a number of recent problems--including inconsistent and not fully effective local enforcement of air quality regulations--could have been reduced with such oversight. We make a number of recommendations to improve the state's role in air quality regulation.

Report

California's Land Conservation Efforts: The Role of State Conservancies

January 5, 2001 - Because the state lacks a comprehensive land conservation plan, it is difficult to assess the effectiveness of "conservancies" that acquire and protect undeveloped lands. We recommend that, in the short term, the Legislature limit the creation of additional conservancies and enact sunset review provisions for existing conservancies. In the longer term, we recommend a review of the state's overall approach to land conservation.

Report

Propositions 12 and 13--Parks and Water Bonds: Implementation Issues

May 25, 2000 - The two bond measures provide for a major investment in the state's natural resources. The purpose of the report is to identify actions the Legislature can take to ensure that the bond measures are implemented effectively, efficiently, and consistent with the Legislature's goals in enacting the measures. We also recommend actions to provide accountability for bond-funded expenditures.

Handout

State and Regional Water Boards: Issues for Legislative Consideration

February 29, 2000 - Handout accompanying presentation to various legislative committees.

Report

Land Acquisition Funding

February 17, 2000 - The budget proposes language for the Wildlife Conservation Board and State Coastal Conservancy that would allow those departments to use a portion of land acquisition and improvement funding for administrative costs. We believe the language would permit fund redirections that may not match actual workload.

Report

Cal-EPA Cross-Agency Initiatives

February 17, 2000 - We discuss three initiatives proposed in the budget--enforcement, children's health, and the California/Mexico border--that are designed to address environmental issues that cut across a number of the constituent boards and departments under the California Environmental Protection Agency.

Report

State Agencies Can Do More to Improve CUPA Program

February 17, 2000 - Problems in the locally implemented "CUPA" program include inconsistent statewide implementation, inadequate service levels in parts of the state, and inadequate state efforts to hold CUPAs accountable for their fee levels. We recommend the enactment of legislation requiring state oversight agencies to make program improvements.

Report

CALFED Bay-Delta Program

February 17, 2000 - The CALFED Bay-Delta Program will soon shift from planning to making major policy and expenditure decisions about specific projects. We recommend the enactment of legislation to provide a formal organizational structure with clear lines of accountability to the Legislature for these impending decisions.

Report

Watershed Assessment Initiative

February 17, 2000 - Watershed assessments could be useful for improving regulatory and habitat restoration efforts. However, we find that the proposed assessment of North Coast watersheds will not achieve these goals.

Report

Legislative Oversight of Resources Programs

February 17, 2000 - Departments within the Resources and Environmental Protection Agencies have generally disregarded legislative directive to provide program and expenditure information. We recommend that the Legislature withhold action on the budgets of the Secretaries for Resources and Environmental Protection (Cal-EPA) pending submittal of previously requested supplemental reports by the agencies.

Environment and Natural Resources Staff
Ross Brown
(916) 319-8345
Air Quality, Energy, Recycling, and Climate Change
 
Helen Kerstein
(916) 319-8364
Forestry, Parks, and High Speed Rail
 
Frank Jimenez
(916) 319-8324
Highways and Roads, Agriculture, and Toxics
 
Eunice Roh
(916) 319-8327
Mass Transportation, Traffic Enforcement, Statewide Infrastructure
 
Rachel Ehlers
(916) 319-8330
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Environment and Transportation