Plain English Breakdown
The source states no reimbursement is required but does not explain the specific reason why, noting only that a specified reason exists.
Streamlining Environmental Reviews for Water Projects
This law expands special environmental review rules to include water storage, transport, and groundwater recharge projects that provide public benefits and drought preparedness.
What This Bill Does
- Extends the Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership Act of 2021 to cover new types of water projects.
- Includes water storage, water conveyance, and groundwater recharge projects in the list of eligible environmental leadership development projects if they provide public benefits and drought preparedness.
- Requires lead agencies to prepare a record of proceedings for these certified water projects under existing rules.
- States that no state reimbursement is required by this act for costs mandated on local agencies.
Who It Names or Affects
- Lead agencies responsible for preparing records of proceedings and environmental reviews.
- Developers proposing eligible water storage, conveyance, or groundwater recharge projects.
- The Governor's office regarding project certification authority until January 1, 2032.
Terms To Know
- California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
- A state law requiring government agencies to study how projects affect the environment before approval.
- Environmental leadership development project
- A specific type of project certified by the Governor that gets faster environmental review rules under CEQA.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not specify exactly what counts as 'public benefits' or how drought preparedness is measured.
- The special certification authority ends on January 1, 2032, and the entire act expires on January 1, 2034.