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.
State Agencies Can Do More to Improve CUPA Program
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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.
CALFED Bay-Delta Program
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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.
Watershed Assessment Initiative
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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.
Legislative Oversight of Resources Programs
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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.
The Role of Water Transfers in Meeting California's Water Needs
September 8, 1999 - If water transfers are to help the state meet its water needs, we think that the Legislature should address a number of issues, including impediments to transfers and stakeholder concerns about potential negative impacts of transfers on "third parties." Statutory policy on water transfers should be clarified and made more consistent.
(1) Tahoe-Area Development Lawsuits Could Have Far-Reaching Impacts, and (2) Economic and Revenue Developments
August 23, 1999 - Four significant lawsuits concerning the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) either recently have been resolved or are proceeding toward resolution. The outcome of these cases could have important consequences for land-use regulation in the Lake Tahoe area. Further, since the cases concern provisions of the U.S. Constitution, they could affect land-use regulation across the country. (Cal Update)
Opportunities and Challenges for the State The Headwaters Forest
May 4, 1999 - We recommend that the Legislature take several steps toward clarifying its intent as regards the management of the Headwaters property and the enforcement of the conservation plan on the Pacific Lumber Company's remaining property.
Improvements Needed in Clean Water Enforcement
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February 16, 1999 - Improvements Needed in Clean Water Enforcement
Significant Maintenance Backlog Negatively Impacts Department's Service
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February 16, 1999 - Significant Maintenance Backlog Negatively Impacts Department's Service
Beverage Container Recycling Program
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February 16, 1999 - Beverage Container Recycling Program
State Regulation of Petroleum Pipelines Still Evolving
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February 16, 1999 - State Regulation of Petroleum Pipelines Still Evolving
Smog Check Program - An Overview
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February 16, 1999 - Smog Check Program - An Overview