About The CalCoast Wave

CalCoast™ publishes The CalCoast™ WAVE without charge to readers up and down the California coast and around the world. CalCoast™ WAVE readers are from federal, state and local governments, as well as NGOs, coastal consultants, academia and students. We have been publishing our weekly e-newsletter since 1997 and we now reach more than 3,200 readers each week .
We hand-curate the week's important news from dozens of sources so you don't have to. Each edition of The CalCoast™ WAVE also includes timely announcements from government agencies, NGOs and others, as well as relevant information about conferences, meetings, and job openings. We encourage readers to forward the CalCoast™ WAVE to friends and colleagues. In addition, please also send us any news tips, announcements, events, or job openings that may be of interest to our readers.

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Editor's Notes:

Legislative Update
                                                        
We have discussed the following bills in previous editions of  The CalCoast™ WAVE . Below are brief updates. For bill content, history, staff reports, bill status, and a comment window, click here
  
and enter the bill number you're interested  in the "Quick Bill Search" window. In addition, you can send a comment on pending legislation after you search for the bill   
 
SB 54  (Allen, D-Santa Monica) and its companion bill in the Assembly, AB 1080 (Gonzalez, D-San Diego), seek to reduce plastic pollution and marine debris by recycling at least 75% of single-use packaging and other products sold or distributed in California by 2030. SB 54 is currently in the Senate Appropriations Committee where it will be heard today (May 16). AB 1080 is currently in the Assembly Appropriations Committee  where it will be heard today. SB 465 (Bates, R-Laguna Niguel) would ensure local governments continue to receive funding for offsite emergency response planning, training, and exercises related to the shuttered San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). SB 465 is currently in the Senate Appropriations Committee where it will be heard today. 
 
AB 1171  (Chen, R-55) would limit the authority of local governments to reduce litter and marine debris. AB 1171 is currently in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. A hearing in that committee was cancelled by Assemblymember Chen and a hearing has not yet been scheduled.  
 
We are tracking the bills above and we will keep everyone advised of their progress.

Highlights From The Articles & Content Below:
  • Marina Drive palm tree fight continues in Long Beach despite Coastal Commission approval
  • Homeless shelter opponents are using this environmental law in bid to block new housing
  • There's a Plan to Improve Drinking Water in California - At a Cost
  • Carbon dioxide from Silicon Valley affects the chemistry of Monterey Bay
  • Virgin Island Corals in Crisis
  • Last turbine installed at Scotland's biggest offshore wind farm
  • Sherman Oaks homeless housing site for seniors gets greenlight from local leaders, residents
  • Level of carbon dioxide on Earth the highest it's been since the dawn of mankind

 


Grants
Proposed EPA program would give $50-million boost to children's health

SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a new $50-million grant program, the Healthy Schools Grant Program, to expand the Trump Administration's efforts to protect children where they learn and play. The announcement is part of President Trump's proposed Fiscal Year 2020 budget and supports EPA's ongoing commitment to evaluate and address risks to children's health. The Healthy Schools Grant Program is a comprehensive environmental health grant program with the goal of identifying and addressing environmental health risks in and around schools that contribute to increased absenteeism and reduced academic performance. The program would provide a total of $50 million for schools to identify, prevent, reduce and resolve environmental hazards including: reducing childhood lead exposure; reducing asthma triggers; promoting integrated pest management; and reducing or eliminating childhood exposure to one or more toxic chemicals in schools. To learn more about what EPA is doing to promote healthy schools, click here . To learn about all of EPA's Children's Health programs, click here .
CDFW Awards $13.2 Million for Fisheries Habitat Restoration and Forest Legacy Projects

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) today announced the selection of 41 projects that will receive funding for the restoration, enhancement and protection of anadromous salmonid habitat in California watersheds, as well as forest legacy restoration.

The grants are distributed through CDFW's Fisheries Restoration Grant Program (FRGP). They include $994,421 allocated for timber legacy restoration projects and approximately $12.2 million for anadromous salmonid restoration projects. FRGP monies come from a combination of state sources and the federal Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund.The 41 approved projects will further the objectives of state and federal fisheries recovery plans, including removing barriers to fish migration, restoring riparian habitat, monitoring of listed populations and creating a more resilient and sustainably managed water resources system that can better withstand drought conditions. The list of approved projects is available on the  FRGP website .

Coastal Commission News
Policy & Political News
 
 
Drought, Water, & Wetlands News

 
 
 
 
Beach & Coastal News
 
Local Government News
Climate Change & Environmental News
 
 Announcements

Deadline Alert! Tell a Green Startup to Apply ASAP!


Know a sustainability entreprenuer with a startup idea? Tell them to apply to Cleantech Open's summer accelerator today to: Create business deliverables, including a pitch deck, pitch video, business plan, market strategy, and more....Find a mentor in their niche, meet with investors and raise capital, gain visibility, consult with experts, connect with industry partners, and access commercialization resources. Cleantech Open graduates have gone on to raise over $1.2 billion in external funding and over $300 million in revenue. Check out our #CTOAlumniSuccess on Twitter. Help us help the planet--spread the word! Give your fellow geek   this link or send him/her to here for more information.
 


California Adopts Complex Rules Governing Filling Waters and Wetlands


The State Water Resources Control Board has adopted regulations imposing stringent new requirements for permits to discharge dredged or fill material into waters and wetlands, which it newly defines. In the face of opposition grounded on the lack of demonstrated need for such new rules (see Newsletter of February 21, 2019), the costs and delays the new rules would impose, and questions whether the new requirements would yield any better results than the already complex existing ones, the proposal of new rules had largely stalled for over a decade. Fears from some that the Trump administration will roll back federal regulation of wetlands, long the mainstay of wetland protection, refreshed efforts to develop new state rules and culminated in the Board's adoption of the new regulations on April 2, 2019.   More information here.


U.S. EPA Honors 2019 ENERGY STAR® Partners of the Year in Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada


The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Pacific Southwest Region and the U.S. Department of Energy are honoring 21 ENERGY STAR partners for their outstanding contributions to public health and the environment. These enterprises have earned ENERGY STAR Awards for demonstrating national leadership in cost-saving energy efficient solutions. They are among the 183 ENERGY STAR Award Winners nationwide that will be honored in Washington, D.C., on April 11.  For more than 25 years, EPA's ENERGY STAR program has been America's resource for saving energy and protecting the environment. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped save American families and businesses nearly 4 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity and associated reductions of over 3 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases. In 2017 alone, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped Americans save $30 billion in energy costs.

CSEF Conference

If you're focused on local economic development through community based infrastructure and interested in understanding new approaches and capital options available to owners, including alternative delivery procurement, public-private partnerships, and opportunity zone funding options, you will want to attend this May. Join more than 650 government and industry leaders, project owners, CVB officials, economic development agencies, developers, and AEC professionals for the Convention, Sports, & Entertainment Facilities Conference (CSEF).
Taking place May 16-17 in San Diego , CSEF is the premier project delivery and networking conference for local governments and the development industry focused on convention centers, conference centers, headquarters hotel, stadium/arena, and entertainment district venues.

Sustaining Benefits from Marine Protected Areas in a Changing Ocean: Findings and Recommendations from the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee
The Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee (MPA FAC) conducted an extensive investigation that identified significant and far-reaching benefits to U.S. ecosystems, economies, communities and cultures resulting from the creation and long-term implementation of the nation's MPAs. Generally, the MPA FAC has found that our nation's MPAs: 1) support healthy, productive, and resilient ecosystems; 2) support coastal communities; and 3) connect America's people to their ocean heritage. Click here for the committee's executive summary and click here for the committee's findings and reccomendations.
Employment Opportunities
I Love A Clean San Diego
Career Opportunities

I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) is in the business of change. The organization works to improve the health and beauty of San Diego. If you're looking for a dynamic, impact-driven organization that values passion and professionalism, ILACSD wants to meet you! Currently there is 1 position open: Philanthropy Manager, Corporate Relations. For job descriptions and details for applying, please click here.

Politico Seeks a California Consumer Reporter Politico HQ

This position would encompass consumer privacy, weed rules and the nationally influential regulations emanating from the Department of Consumer Affairs. POLITICO is looking for a versatile reporter to cover the policy and politics of consumer regulation in California, including data privacy, marijuana and other hot-button issues, as part of their new POLITICO California Pro bureau in Sacramento. Job posting here .
Events
10th Annual Women In Green Forum Los Angeles, CA
August 15, 2019

Over the past ten years, the Women In Green Forum has grown to be the premier event highlighting women in the environmental industry. Each year, they convene sustainability trailblazers who share insights about the newest and most cutting-edge environmental innovations. Join them as they celebrate the 10th anniversary and Decade of Impact. The 2019 program will explore on the advances made in the environmental movement over the last decade and the innovations on the horizon for the coming decade - from future-ready business models to rethinking the blue recycling bin. Register today today to reserve your spot.

  
2019 ACES Oceania Forum Christchurch, New Zealand
September 2-6, 2019

The second ACES Oceania Ecosystem Services Forum (OESF) will build on the success of the inaugural event in Brisbane, Australia in 2017, that raised the profile of the value of ecosystems in decision-making in the Oceania region. OESF 2019 aims to bring together policy-makers, businesses, community leaders and researchers with the aspiration of managing, restoring and creating healthy communities and ecosystems for a resilient future. Please Note: Presentation abstracts and workshop proposals close May 10th. For more information and to register, visit here.

 
You have received this e-newsletter from the California Coastal Coalition (CalCoast™), a non-profit advocacy group comprised of 35 coastal cities; five counties; SANDAG, BEACON and SCAG; private sector partners and NGO's, committed to protecting and restoring California's coastline through beach sand restoration, increasing the flow of natural sediment, wetlands recovery, improved water quality, watershed management and the reduction of marine debris and plastic pollution. When possible, we try to post articles that are not protected by pay walls.  
 
 
 
Steven Aceti, JD
Executive Director,  
California Coastal Coalition

 
CALIFORNIA COASTAL COALITION  |  www.calcoast.org
3110 Hataca Road | Carlsbad, CA 92009