Featured Items
Staff
- Helen Kerstein
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(916) 319-8364
Air Quality, Energy, Climate Change, and High-Speed Rail - Brian Metzker
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(916) 319-8354
Forestry, Parks, and Agriculture - Sonja Petek
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(916) 319-8340
Water, Coastal Development, and Fish and Wildlife - Frank Jimenez
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(916) 319-8324
Highways and Roads, Recycling, and Toxics - Rachel Ehlers
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(916) 319-8330
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Environment and Transportation
Publications
Environment and Natural Resources
To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.
Governor’s Resources Bond Expenditure Proposal
February 18, 2004 - The Governor has deferred the submittal of most of his resources bond expenditure proposals to later in the spring, leaving major gaps in programs traditionally funded from bond funds. We provide a framework to assist the Legislature in evaluating the forthcoming bond proposals; this includes ensuring that the Governor’s proposals reflect legislative priorities for bond funding.
California Power Authority: Where Now?
February 18, 2004 - The budget proposes eliminating the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority (CPA). Although CPA has been unable to fulfill its core mission to finance new power plants, this has largely been due to market conditions. Given significant uncertainties regarding the adequacy of the state’s energy supply to meet future demand, we think retaining some of CPA’s functions (either within or outside CPA) has merit
Timber Harvest Fee Proposal Should Go Further
February 18, 2004 - The budget proposes to impose a new fee on timber owners to partially cover the costs incurred by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDFFP) in its review and enforcement of timber harvest plans (THPs) beginning in the current year. While this is a step in the right direction, we recommend the enactment of fee legislation that would go further by fully funding the costs of CDFFP and all other state agencies with THP review responsibilities.
State’s Approach to Flood Management Should Be More Strategic
February 18, 2004 - Development in and around floodplains has contributed to increased losses due to floods, but the state’s efforts to improve floodplain management have been reduced significantly in recent years. We recommend reducing the state’s share of funding for certain flood control projects to better reflect the local benefit from these projects. This would create future savings that could be used to make more strategic flood management investments and benefit the General Fund.
CALFED Bay-Delta Program: At A Funding Crossroads
February 18, 2004 - The CALFED Bay-Delta Program—with a projected $6 billion funding gap—is at a funding crossroads. To date, the state has been the biggest funding contributor by far to the program, with federal and local governments and water users lagging in their support. We recommend a funding framework for CALFED that applies the beneficiary pays principle, including a fee on water users that take water from the Bay-Delta system.
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment History, Programs, and LAO Perspectives
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April 23, 2003 - Handout presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3
2003-04 Budget Overview: Proposition 50 Bond Expenditures and the CALFED Bay-Delta Program
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April 3, 2003 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2
Funding for Natural Resources And Environmental Protection Programs
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March 27, 2003 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Resources; Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee; Assembly Natural Resources Committee Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee
LAO Recommendations for Funding Fire Protection and Timber Harvest Plan Review and Enforcement
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March 26, 2003 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 On Resources
Department of Pesticide Regulation: History, Programs, and LAO Issues
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March 20, 2003 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3, Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, on March 20th 2003.
Resources and Environmental Protection
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March 5, 2003 - Hearing Handout presented to the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Resources
A Framework for Financing Natural Community Conservation Planning
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February 25, 2003 - Presented to the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee
Fire Protection Fees
February 19, 2003 - We recommend enactment of legislation to fund one-half of the proposed General Fund budget for fire protection on state responsibility areas by imposing fees on property owners who benefit from these services. This would result in a savings of about $170 million to the General Fund.
Coordinating State Agency Representation Before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
February 19, 2003 - The current organization of the state's energy agencies, including the structure of the state's representation before FERC, should be evaluated after key decisions have been made that will dictate what the future structure of the state's electricity market will itself look like. For the interim, we recommend ways the Legislature can ensure coordination among the multiple agencies appearing before FERC.