California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills on Monday that environmental advocates are calling the most devastating attack on environmental protections in the state's recent history. Assembly Bill 130 and Senate Bill 131 systematically dismantle core provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), eliminating landmark environmental protections that have protected California's landscapes, wildlife, and vulnerable communities for over half a century.

The End of Environmental Transparency

CEQA, signed into law by then-Governor Ronald Reagan in 1970, was designed to ensure government transparency and public participation in land-use decisions. The law required agencies to identify and mitigate environmental impacts, protecting ecosystems, preserving scenic vistas and waterways, and safeguarding community health throughout the state.

These new bills effectively gut these protections, allowing developers to bypass environmental review for vast categories of projects. The legislation represents what more than 100 environmental organizations have condemned as "an unprecedented rollback to California's fundamental environmental and community protections."

Coastal Zone Impacts

The legislation's impact on California's Coastal Zone presents particularly troubling implications for habitat protection. While SB 131 does not affect the Coastal Act itself, its CEQA exemptions apply throughout the Coastal Zone, leaving projects with no environmental review unless they fall within the bill's limited exclusions.

The legislation's carveout for "environmentally sensitive habitat areas" (ESHA) provides inadequate protection, as many important habitats—including coastal sage scrub and chaparral—may not meet ESHA designation criteria despite their critical role in wildlife movement and ecosystem function. This means SB 131 projects can proceed in the Coastal Zone without environmental review or mitigation, destroying important habitat lands that previously would have received protection.

Furthermore, as CEQA has historically prepared project proponents for successful Coastal Development Permits, its elimination may lead developers to view the Coastal Act as their primary obstacle, potentially setting the stage for future attacks on coastal protections.

Eliminating Landmark Environmental Protections for Vulnerable Communities

Perhaps most concerning is the legislation's impact on environmental justice. The bills remove critical safeguards that have historically protected low-income communities and communities of color from disproportionate environmental burdens. Advanced manufacturing facilities—including semiconductor plants, nuclear facilities, and industrial factories handling hazardous materials—can now be permitted in vulnerable communities without any environmental review.

Read the full article about the dismantling of CEQA protections by Jennifer Savage at Surfrider Foundation.