California Agency Releases Roadmap for Phaseout of High-Risk Pesticides
The California Department of Pesticides Regulation (DPR) recently released a “roadmap” for the state to fulfill two key goals by 2050: transition to sustainable pesticide management (SPM) and elimination of the use of “high-risk” pesticides. While the roadmap is aspirational and does not provide specific rules at this time, the roadmap goals were developed by a multiagency workgroup in coordination with various stakeholders. It is expected that proposed rules will be forthcoming from DPR and other state agencies as these agencies move toward achieving the roadmap goals.
California Senator Reignites Corporate Greenhouse Gas Emissions Disclosure Bill
A new bill introduced in the California legislature tees up corporate disclosure legislation that narrowly failed to pass the State Assembly during last year’s term. The bill would impose broad greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting requirements on large businesses doing business in California and could effectively set a national standard for these businesses to report GHG emissions.
California Air Resources Board Set to Finalize Ambitious Climate Plan
On November 16, 2022, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) released an updated version of its 2022 Scoping Plan for Achieving Carbon Neutrality. The plan sets ambitious goals for achieving carbon neutrality in California by 2045. Despite the plan’s being only a guiding document, it will likely lead to other agency actions that set stringent requirements related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
California State Water Board Announces Scoping Phase for New Vapor Intrusion Cleanup Requirement
On March 25, 2022, the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) issued a notice of public scoping meeting for a proposed amendment to its rules governing site cleanup. This amendment would establish “requirements for the investigation and assessment of vapor intrusion at cleanup sites statewide.”
California to Ban PFAS in Certain Consumer and Children’s Products
On October 5, 2021, California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed A.B. 1200, which bans per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in paper-based food packaging by January 1, 2023, while requiring cookware manufacturers to begin disclosing PFAS and other toxic chemicals used in their products by 2024. The bill also requires manufacturers to use “the least toxic alternative” when replacing PFAS in the food packaging. (more…)
California “GO-Biz” Unveils Zero-Emission Vehicle Market Development Strategy
On Wednesday, February 17, the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) hosted a live streaming event to unveil its Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Market Development Strategy rolled out earlier this month. The 100-page strategy is one of the state’s first steps in implementing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order N-79-20, signed on September 23, 2020, and discussed in a prior blog post, which sets ambitious targets phasing out new sales of internal combustion engine vehicles.
California Air Resources Board Releases 2020 Mobile Source Strategy
On October 2, 2020, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) unveiled a discussion draft of its 2020 Mobile Source Strategy. The strategy incorporates the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) goals set forth in the recent Executive Order issued by California Governor Gavin Newsom and sets out steps for achieving those goals, such as requiring manufacturers to support and promote advanced technologies and in-use requirements for advanced technologies. (more…)
California Governor Directs State to Develop Near-Future Zero-Emission Vehicle Sales and Operation Mandates
On September 23, 2020 California Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-79-20, expressing the goals that:
- by 2035, 100% of all in-state sales of new passenger cars and trucks will be zero-emission vehicles (“ZEV”);
- by 2045, 100% of all medium-and heavy-duty vehicles in the state be zero-emission for all operations where feasible (and the same goal for drayage trucks by 2035); and
- by 2035, the State will transition to 100% zero-emission off-road vehicles and equipment (where feasible).
