URGENT: Stop California from Gutting Environmental Protection Laws that Protect us from Vested Interests

SB 1370 by Senators Stern and Becker
waives nearly every environmental protection law
to allow the clearance of up to 3,000 acres
of chaparral and forest habitat

On its way out the door, the Newsom administration is attempting push a bill through the state legislature that would eviscerate environmental laws. These laws ensure that science and objective oversight have a chance at stopping destructive government projects.

We tried our best to seek amendments this past week, but the bill is not fixable.

SB 1370 would prevent anyone from questioning massive habitat clearance projects under the guise of wildfire prevention. As a consequence, SB 1370 will:

1. Increase the flammability of the landscape through the spread of flammable, non-native weeds and grasses which are responsible for nearly all wildfire ignitions.
2. Draw fire protection funds away from our neighborhoods to log forests often far from communities most at risk.
3. Decrease California’s amazing biodiversity by creating artificial landscapes that please the logging and biomass industries, but are habitat poor.
4. Waive laws that protect us from chemical herbicides.
5. Convert our native shrublands like chaparral and coastal sage scrub into fields of weeds and isolated remnants of unhealthy habitat.

Cal Fire and other government agencies have demonstrated many times they are unable or unwilling to follow the science to protect our communities from wildfire and protect the environment from counterproductive and damaging projects.

We need our current environmental laws to force them to pay attention to the facts.

AND WE MUST ACT FAST! SB 1370 is before the Assembly Appropriations Committee TOMORROW morning, Thursday, August 13.

What You Can Do By Tomorrow Lunch

1. Get the facts right. Please read today’s excellent article, California can prevent wildfires without abandoning safety, environmental protections by Wendy-Sue Rosen. You can also spend a few moments to understand the impacts SB 1370 will have via our webpages here:
“Fuel” Treatments
and
Prescribed Fire

2. Send opposition emails and notes by tomorrow lunch.
In your EMAIL, NOTES, or CALLS, please use your own words. Please DO NOT cut and paste or copy what we written here – doing so minimizes the impact of your input as the offices will see the duplication.
Two avenues to express your opposition to SB 1370:

• A. Send an opposition to SB 1370 email to the full committee here:
  approps.committee@assembly.ca.gov
  
• B. Call tonight/tomorrow morning. SB 1370 is being heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee tomorrow, Thursday, August 13. The bill is on the later part of the committee’s agenda, so we probably have time to get the message in before their lunch break. Please pick a few of the folks on committee and call their offices, telling them:
  
  I’m calling to urge the Assembly member to vote NO on SB 1370,
  which would waive environmental laws for habitat clearance projects that will
  – increase the flammability of the landscape,
  – draw fire protection funds away from communities at risk,
  – cause native habitats to convert into more flammable, weedy grasslands,
  – and put the health and safety of Californians, ecosystems, and water quality at risk.
  Thank you.
  
  Assembly member office phone numbers
  Speaker Robert Rivas– (916) 319-2029
  Buffy Wicks – (916) 319-2014
  Dr. Joaquin Arambula – (916) 319-2031
  Lisa Calderon – (916) 319-2056
  Jessica M. Caloza – (916) 319-2052
  Mike Fong – (916) 319-2049
  Mark González – (916) 319-2054
  Maggy Krell – (916) 319-2006
  Blanca Pacheco – (916) 319-2064
  Gail Pellerin – (916) 319-2028
  Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins – (916) 319-2079
  

5. If the bill continues on, we will provide you updates
on how you can continue to help.

The current bill and its status can be viewed here.