As this year ends, we would like to reflect on and share our top legislative accomplishments. We launched our first state and federal legislative priorities list, successfully advocated the passage of strong environmental legislation, held educational elected hikes, and opposed dangerous legislation aimed at dismantling bedrock environmental laws.
Inaugural Year: Legislative Priorities & Elected Hikes
This year we launched our state and federal legislative priorities lists. This key milestone allowed us to set clear, actionable goals for advancing environmental protections at the state and federal levels. Our state priorities include legislation focused on habitat connectivity, holding oil and gas operators accountable, and ensuring equitable access to outdoor spaces. We had the unique opportunity to highlight our state priorities at CEC’s Power in Participation event this autumn where we made a final push for our campaign to support the “Room to Roam Act”. This legislation requires local governments to consider and implement measures to protect wildlife connectivity as part of their general plan. We would like to thank our supporters who sent over 5,500 emails to various elected officials, committees, and most recently to Governor Newsom, ensuring this legislation made it over the finish line.
Other legislation we successfully advocated for was the ability of communities to regulate oil drilling and help the state address polluting idle wells. AB 3233 by Assemblymember Dawn Addis empowers local governments and residents to have a stronger voice on proposed oil and gas operations in their community, ensuring that decisions impacting the environment and public health reflect the priorities of their communities. AB 1866 by Assemblymember Gregg Hart requires oil operators to develop a comprehensive plan to expeditiously plug the estimated 40,000 idle oil wells in California within the next decade. Many of these wells are in Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo Plain National Monument. Others have sat dormant near neighborhoods, schools, and other sensitive receptor sites. The bill also requires operators to prioritize plugging wells within 3,200 feet of where people live, play, and work. ForestWatch is proud to have supported both AB 1866 and AB 3233 throughout the legislative process and extends its gratitude to our assembly members for their leadership. Our advocacy efforts were instrumental in the passage of significant environmental laws this year.
Good legislation is made when policymakers understand what is at stake. That is why this year we held a series of educational hikes with elected officials, providing them with firsthand experiences of the unique ecosystems found in Los Padres National Forest. We fostered informed discussions on the importance of strong policy and where additional protections are needed. Moving forward we hope to see more elected offices join us to create deeper connections with public lands. Next year we will hold an elected hike open to community members so you can share directly with elected officials why public lands are important to you.
On the National Level
This spring we had the privilege of participating in the America the Beautiful for All Coalition DC Fly-in. Along with 130+ environmental groups we educated and inspired decision-makers in the Administration and Congress about solutions to the inequitable nature crisis, climate change, and mass extinction. We met with several congressional offices, and committees and voiced your concerns directly to the Department of Interior, USDA and the U.S Forest Service.
As part of a larger effort, we have signed and collaborated on close to 100 letters advocating for public land protections. Throughout the year we have voiced our support for stronger protections for public lands at the local, state, and federal levels. We are proud to have signed onto letters that oppose harmful legislation such as the Fix Our Forests Act”. This particular bill expands logging across millions of acres of public lands by weakening bedrock environmental protections and limiting citizen input. Our “The Fix is in for our Forests” campaign has so far gathered over 700 emails from community members directed at decision makers asking them to oppose this bill as it moves forward in the legislative process.
What is Next?
The new administration and Congress will pose an uphill battle but we are prepared to push back on any harmful legislation affecting public lands. We will likely see a rise in harmful legislation and see more bad projects proposed in Los Padres National Forest disguised as “forest health” or “wildfire mitigation”. ForestWatch will continue to monitor proposed projects in Los Padres and share insight on legislation that affects public lands with policymakers so they can make informed decisions.
Although we successfully led a campaign to uplift Senator Limón’s, SB 1304, which Governor Newsom signed into law, there is uncertainty about whether this legislation will affect the ongoing proposed Sespe Aquifer Exemption project in Los Padres National Forest. SB 1304 mandates the State Water Resources Control Board conduct an environmental assessment of proposed aquifer exemptions under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and requires at least one public hearing during this assessment process. This legislation is crucial as Senator Limón’s district currently faces several pending aquifer exemption projects. The proposed Sespe Aquifer Exemption project faces significant opposition at local, state, and federal levels. In 2022, four members of Congress—Senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein, and Representatives Salud Carbajal and Julia Brownley—expressed concerns to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding this exemption, citing potential threats to nearby water supplies and ecosystems. They urged the EPA to conduct a comprehensive environmental review. The oil company submitted its exemption request in 2016 following a statewide EPA investigation revealing the widespread discharge of pollutants into protected water sources. SB 1304 plays a crucial role in safeguarding public lands, and public health, and ensuring transparency in the public comment process. We will continue to work with our state representatives to make sure the Sespe Aquifer Exemption project is not forgotten as this law is implemented.
These accomplishments reflect our ongoing commitment to protecting public lands and advancing effective policy. We look forward to continuing this important work in the coming year.
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