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Environment and Natural Resources Publications

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Report

Environmental Protection Indicators

February 19, 2003 - Environmental Protection Indicators for California (EPIC) track changes that are taking place in the environment. We recommend the enactment of legislation to guide EPIC and to ensure that data generated by it is sufficiently linked to the budget development process.

Report

CALFED Bay-Delta Program

February 19, 2003 - We raise a number of policy, fiscal, and programmatic issues for the Legislature to consider.

Report

Analysis of the 2003-04 Budget Bill, Resources Chapter

February 19, 2003 - Analysis of the 2003-04 Budget Bill, Resources Chapter

Handout

CALFED Bay-Delta Program: 2003-04 Budget Proposal Issues for Legislative Consideration

January 28, 2003 - Handout presented to Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee and Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3

Report

Enhancing Implementation and Oversight: Proposition 40 Resources Bond

May 7, 2002 - Proposition 40 provided a $2.6 billion bond for natural resource conservation, parks, and historical and cultural resources. We recommend several actions to improve legislative oversight of these expenditures. We also recommend inclusion of future costs for state parks in the budget process.

Report

Better Protection of Fish and Wildlife: Improving Fish and Game's CEQA Review

April 29, 2002 - We find that the effectiveness of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review by the Department of Fish and Game is limited by its lack of a formal process for prioritizing projects for review and determining their level of review. We recommend improvements to, and funding for, the review process.

Report

Water Special Districts: A Look at Governance and Public Participation

March 15, 2002 - Chapter 107, Statutes of 2001 (AB 38, Strom-Martin), requires the Legislative Analyst’s Office to undertake a study of these special districts. In this review we find that while some individual districts have pursued controversial policies, there is no evidence of a statewide structural governance problem.

Report

Reorganizing California's Energy-Related Activities

February 20, 2002 - A multiplicity of agencies, and evidence of certain duplicative activities and other problems, suggests that it is time for the state to "stand back" and assess how its various energy-related entities are organized and interacting with one another.

Report

Funding the State Water Resources Control Board's Core Regulatory Program

February 20, 2002 - The budget proposes to create General Fund savings by shifting some General Fund support for the State Water Resources Control Board's core regulatory program to fees. We discuss the Governor's proposal, make recommendations for fee legislation, and provide an assessment of the board's funding requirements over the longer term.

Report

Addressing the Obligations Resulting From the Department of Parks and Recreation's Land Acquisitions

February 20, 2002 - Recently, the Department of Parks and Recreation has significantly increased its land acquisitions without addressing associated future development and operating costs. We provide options for funding development and operation, and make recommendations to reduce the likelihood that future acquisitions will result in unfunded obligations.

Report

Funding for Fire Protection

February 20, 2002 - We raise concerns with the Governor's proposal to (1) eliminate the General Fund support for emergency fire suppression, (2) reduce General Fund expenditures for "day-to-day" firefighting activities by increasing reimbursements, and (3) eliminate an existing legislative notification requirement. We also offer options for the Legislature to consider for funding fire protection services.

Report

Analysis of the 2002-03 Budget Bill, Resources Chapter

February 20, 2002 - Analysis of the 2002-03 Budget Bill, Resources Chapter

Report

Fiscal and Policy Analysis of the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority

November 21, 2001 - A member-requested fiscal and policy analysis of Chapter 10x, Statutes of 2001 (SB 6x, Burton). This measure created the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority.

Letter

Letter to Assembly Subcommittee on Electricity Energy Oversight

March 13, 2001 - We (a) evaluate the data on electricity supply and demand provided to the committee by the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the California Independent System Operator (ISO) on the summer 2001 electricity outlook, and (b) discuss any actions necessary for the estimates to be achieved.

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.

Environment and Natural Resources Staff
Helen Kerstein
(916) 319-8364
Forestry, Parks, and High Speed Rail
 
Sonja Petek
(916) 319-8340
Water, Coastal Development, and Fish and Wildlife
 
Frank Jimenez
(916) 319-8324
Highways and Roads, Recycling, Agriculture, and Toxics
 
Luke Koushmaro
(916) 319-8355
Mass Transportation, Traffic Enforcement, Statewide Planning and Infrastructure
 
Sarah Cornett
(916) 319-8329
Air Quality, Energy, and Climate Change
 
Rachel Ehlers
(916) 319-8330
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Environment and Transportation