BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1274
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Date of Hearing: April 22, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
1274 (Mark Stone) - As Amended April 15, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable:
SUMMARY:
This bill allows the State Lands Commission (SLC) to authorize
geophysical surveys on state lands. Specifically, this bill:
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1)Allows SLC to issue permits to conduct geophysical surveys on
state lands, including granted and ungranted tidelands and
submerged lands subject to terms and conditions set by SLC to
ensure public safety and protect the environment.
2)Prohibits the SLC from requiring a permit for any geophysical
survey performed on public trust lands granted by statute to a
local trustee if the survey is performed to support dredging.
3)Requires SLC to adopt regulations to aid in the implementation
of this bill and address the potential environmental impacts
of geophysical surveys performed on state lands.
4)Authorizes SLC to promote compliance with permit requirements
by:
a) Providing educational outreach.
b) Establishing a toll-free number for the public to report
permit violators.
c) Issuing cease and desist orders to permit violators.
FISCAL EFFECT:
1)Potential cost pressures in the hundreds of thousands of
dollars for SCL to provide enforcement actions and public
education, outreach, and reporting opportunities.
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Although this bill authorizes, rather than requires SLC to
promote compliance, enforcement actions will likely be
necessary to reduce unpermitted surveys on public lands.
2)Unknown, potentially absorbable costs for the SLC to adopt
regulations and issue permits.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, the state has a
responsibility to establish conditions to ensure that
geophysical surveys performed for scientific and research
purposes do not harm aquatic life or the marine and coastal
environment.
2)SLC Authority. SLC currently has authority to issue permits
for geological or geophysical surveys on ungranted state
lands, located within an oil and gas leasing statute. SLC
also has permitting authority for obtaining core samples to
provide geological information on lands within its
jurisdiction. SLC is authorized to adopt permitting rules and
regulations for this activity.
This bill may create confusion through duplicative permitting
authority.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
AB 1274
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