To continue working to speed up reconstruction in the wake of the devastating fires in Los Angeles, Gov. Gavin Newsom suspended California environmental laws this week for utility providers working to reinstall major infrastructure.
His latest Executive Order Eliminate compliance requirements California Environmental Quality Act, It is commonly known as ceqa, California Coastal Law Utilities for rebuilding the “electricity, gas, water, sewer and telecommunications infrastructure” in the Palisades and Eaton Fire combustion zones.
Newsom also continues to encourage viable utilities “underground”, which he says will help minimize future fire risks in these communities.
“We are determined to rebuild Altadena, Malibu and Pacific Palisades more powerful and resilient than before,” Newsom said in a statement. “Accelerating our pace of rebuilding the utility system will help keep survivors home faster and prevent future fires.”
This move is based on Newsom’s previous execution command, which exempts work Rebuilding houses and businesses Destroyed or damaged by a fire Wildfire prevention work From two environmental laws.
CEQA requires local and state agencies to identify and mitigate the environmental impact of their work. The California Coastal Act makes the California Coastal Commission permanently list regulations on coastal development and protection.
While environmentalists foreshadowed the law, developers have long believed their process was considered arduous, with residents and officials urging their demands to reduce or abandon them to speed up fire recovery. The Trump administration also has it Problems arise With the California Coastal Commission’s provisions, the commission will typically enumerate any coastal developments under the State Coastal Act – and said federal aid may have provisions for the work of the Commission.
Newsom is Videos posted on social media This week.
Coastal Commission spokesman Joshua Smith declined to comment on the latest executive order.
Earlier, the committee’s executive director clarified that coastal development permits are usually abandoned after disasters like the Los Angeles fire, as long as the new building is not 10% larger than the destructive structure it replaces. However, the statement has been removed from the Commission’s website.
In a letter sent last month, Newsom urges Edison, Southern California, The largest electricity provider in the region can do everything possible to rebuild lines in these areas.
Newsom wrote: “SCE has the opportunity to build a more modern, reliable and resilient power distribution system that can meet the immediate and future needs of the community.”
Underground installation utilities Much more expensive More than typical above-ground structures limit practice.
Edison spokesman David Eisenhauer said abandoning CEQA and the Coastal Act would help the utility’s ongoing efforts to rebuild and move underground lines.
“We thank Governor Newsom for his actions to help speed up the permit,” Eisenhow said. “This will help us continue this underground process and help communities rebuild stronger.”
Eisenhauer said Socal Edison has rebuilt and moved underground wires of some of its wires in areas affected by the fire. He said some of the work has been planned and allowed, including moving 40 miles of underground lines on Altadena and 80 miles of operations in the Palisades area. However, the executive order will help mitigate the licensing process for future work.
It is unclear how other utilities benefit from executive orders, if any. Representatives from Southern California Natural Gas Corporation and Los Angeles Department of Water and Electricity did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Newsom has previously said the waiver of these executive orders for environmental laws does not show California’s support for such efforts, although many environmental activists fear that such a broad exemption could have serious consequences.
Executive Director of Bruce Reznik Los Angeles Water ServiceThe nonprofit that advocates clean waterways said he understands the urgency of reconstruction, but these efforts require a balance that takes into account important environmental protection, rather than blanket exemptions and exceptions.
“We all want to see reconstruction happen as soon as possible…but we also have to feel smart about it,” Reznik said. “We have to build a recognition of the reality of climate change today.”
He said the natural spaces of Altadena and Pacific Palisades are an important part of the people who like to live there, and it is important to protect these areas – just like the CEQA and California Coastal Act.
“These laws play a crucial role in ensuring that we carry out reconstruction to focus on climate resilience and protect further natural disasters… [and] “The health of our waterways and ecosystems. Unfortunately, this is not how the governor works, and you have to worry about what that will mean,” he said.
Susan Jordan, Executive Director of California Coastal Conservation Network Not testing the soil In affected areas.
“I hope the governor will one day recognize that the Coastal Commission is a willing partner and one of the best tools he has in his toolbox to ensure a quick, informed and coordinated response to build long-term resilience in the coastal coastal areas,” Jordan said in a statement.
