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May Revision trims and retools several environmental programs; proposes Exide funding reversion and Salton Sea investments
Summary
The May Revision includes a mix of environmental budget adjustments: a partial reversion and alternative fund sources for Exide cleanup, trailer bill language affecting Water Board CEQA treatment, modest staff and legal-defense funding across CalEPA and boards, and targeted investments in the Salton Sea and small water-system regulation.
Department of Finance representatives summarized several environment-related elements of the May Revision, ranging from project-specific funding adjustments to administrative and statutory changes.
Exide cleanup: The May Revision proposes reverting $75 million of a $132 million general fund appropriation for cleanup activities at the former Exide Battery Recycling Facility in Vernon, with the remainder funded from a mix of the lead-acid battery cleanup fund ($35 million) and the general fund ($40 million). Finance said the state has provided about $573 million in general fund to clean up roughly 3,000 residential properties within 1.7 miles of the Exide site. (Andrew Arch, Department of Finance.)
Water Boards and CEQA: Finance said trailer bill language would recognize certain Water Board actions to adopt or revise water quality control plans as actions by a regulatory agency "and therefore falling within a categorical exemption from CEQA," language intended to streamline certain administrative processes.
Staffing and legal defense: The May Revision includes roughly $3 million from various special funds and 12 permanent positions across CalEPA offices, the Air Resources Board and State Water Resources Control Board to defend state environmental laws and respond to federal legal challenges. The plan also included targeted positions and funds for specific programs: technical assistance for agencies administering the California Climate Investments Program, and staff to regulate small public water systems in Monterey County.
CalRecycle and other IT/cleanup funds: The proposal includes one-time and special fund authority for CalRecycle's Integrated Information System and funds in the Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Financing Account for the Water Board to assist with loans and grants to remove or replace underground storage tanks.
Salton Sea and water projects: The May Revision provides multi-year federal trust fund authority and general fund support for high-priority projects at the Salton Sea and urban flood-risk reduction.
Department of Finance urged the committee the hearing was intended to present high-level proposals; members asked for more detailed, department-level answers at the follow-up hearing.
