Bill Text: CA SB1278 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: California Environmental Quality Act: Port of Oakland: coal shipment.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From committee without further action. [SB1278 Detail]
Download: California-2015-SB1278-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 1278 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 30, 2016 INTRODUCED BY Senator Hancock FEBRUARY 19, 2016 An act to add Section 21080.50 to the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1278, as amended, Hancock. California Environmental Quality Act: Port of Oakland: coal shipment. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report (EIR) on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. This bill would require every public agency with discretionary approval of any portion of a project relating to the shipment of coal through the Port of Oakland to prepare or cause topreparebe prepared an EIR. Because the bill would create new duties for a public agency, which includes a local agency,would be required to prepare or cause to prepare an EIR,this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the City of Oakland. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 21080.50 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read: 21080.50. Notwithstanding other provisions of thisdivision,division and to the extent consistent with federal law, every public agency with discretionary approval of any portion of a project relating to the shipment of coal through the Port of Oakland shall prepare or cause topreparebe prepared an environmental impact report pursuant to this division. SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that a special law is necessary and that a general law cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique nature of coal shipment through the Port of Oakland. SEC. 3. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.