ConnectingCalifornia.org

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A Bill to Toss Out Old EIR's is Being Debated in Sacramento

an Action alert from the PCL:

SB 1165, one of the Planning and Conservation League's top priority bills for 2008, is headed for a vote in the Senate possibly as early as Tuesday, May 27^th. We need your help! SB 1165 (Kuehl) ensures greater transparency in the creation of draft Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) and requires EIRs older than five years to be reviewed again for new impacts before they can be used to approve a project.

This landmark bill faces significant opposition from development and business interests and needs your help.

Call Your Senator on Tuesday, May 27^th and Ask Them to Support SB 1165!

Use this link to find your Senator:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

Please call the number at your Senator's Capitol Office (rather than calling a district office), identify yourself as living in the Senator's district, and ask for an AYE vote on Senate Bill 1165. See additional talking points below…

SB 1165 ensures that local residents have the opportunity to protect their quality of life any time a new development is proposed. By improving public participation, SB 1165 will result in better projects and thus, less litigation.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Please call First Thing Tuesday Morning to ask your Senator to vote YES on SB 1165!

TALKING POINTS FOR YOUR CALL

KEY POINTS:

1. SB 1165 puts the public on a level playing field with developers during the CEQA process. When developers are allowed to draft the environmental documents, the fox is allowed to guard the henhouse. The public has the right to know if those with a financial stake in the project are the same ones evaluating the project's impacts. SB 1165 gives the public access to this information.

2. SB 1165 will NOT inappropriately chill important communications between a developer and the public agency. If those communications are appropriate, they can be public. If they are not appropriate, SB 1165 will discourage them and chill the developer's undue influence.

3. SB 1165 ensures EIRs reflect current circumstances and will reduce litigation. Today, even when a city wants a subsequent review of old documents, they can be bullied into simply approving a project. SB 1165 will give the cities and counties a chance to take public comment, update an old document, and avoid litigation.

4. SB 1165 is carefully crafted to apply only to projects before they are approved. Despite the fearmongering from the opposition, homes that are partially built will NOT be put on hold for a new review after 5 years. SB 1165 applies only to those instances when a developer wants to dust off an old EIR to secure project approval. These types of decision should be based on a current document.

CALL TUESDAY & TELL YOUR SENATOR TO SUPPORT SB 1165 - SUPPORT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION!