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An unnatural disaster? PCL questions exemption of environmental review for major water merger

Posted by: Maven on May 17, 2009 at 8:07 am

From the California Progress Report, this from Traci Sheehan of the Planning & Conservation League:

Last month the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) submitted a Notice of Exemption to bypass environmental review of their proposal to merge California’s two largest water projects, citing “emergency conditions.”

If approved by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), the exemption would allow the merger of the State Water Project and the Central Valley Project, fast-tracking the transfer of millions of gallons of water from Northern California farmers to Westside San Joaquin Valley agriculture. The exemption would also allow DWR to avoid commitments to protect Northern California and Bay Delta resources by minimizing requirements to mitigate impacts of these transfers.

This week the Planning and Conservation League (PCL) formally questioned DWR’s authority to act under emergency privileges and asked the SWRCB to consider the facts in the record before approving DWR’s proposal.

Read more from the California Progress Report by clicking here.

May 17, 2009 · Filed Under Central Valley Project, State Water Project (DWR), Water Banking

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