BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Session AB 2139 (Williams) - Ocean Protection Council: ocean acidification ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| |Version: June 20, 2016 |Policy Vote: N.R. & W. 7 - 2, | | | E.Q. 6 - 1 | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| |Urgency: No |Mandate: No | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| |Hearing Date: August 8, 2016 |Consultant: Narisha Bonakdar | ----------------------------------------------------------------- This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. Bill Summary:1) AB 2139 states that the Ocean Protection Council (OPC), subject to the availability of funding, may develop an ocean acidification and hypoxia (OAH) science task force (group), and outlines required activities for the group. Fiscal Impact: Approximately $1.65 million (special and private funds) for OPC to implement the specified tasks. OPC indicates that funds have already been allocated for the specified activities as follows: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |OAH science task |$25,000 (special fund, OPC grant to CA Ocean | |force: |Science Trust (Trust), matching funds from | | |Oregon and Washington, and B.C.) | | | | |-----------------------+----------------------------------------------| |(A) Adaptation |Minor costs (special fund) | |measures: | | |-----------------------+----------------------------------------------| |(B) Predictive models: |$1.3 million (Proposition 84) | | | | |-----------------------+----------------------------------------------| |(C) Coastal Health |$300,000 (Proposition 84) | |Criteria: | | |-----------------------+----------------------------------------------| |(D) Inventory |$50,000 (special fund, OPC grant to the | AB 2139 (Williams) Page 1 of ? |vulnerable areas: |Trust) | | | | |-----------------------+----------------------------------------------| |(E) Establish joint |Unknown (will be implemented as private funds | |priorities: |are available) | | | | |-----------------------+----------------------------------------------| |(F) Identify gaps: |Minor costs (special fund) for coordination | | | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Background: Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia. Ocean acidification refers to a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period of time. It is caused primarily by uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, and can result in more corrosive seawater and a lower concentration of dissolved carbonate ions that many marine organisms use to grow their shells and skeletons. Ocean hypoxia refers to low or depleted oxygen in the ocean, which often leads to 'dead zones'-regions where life cannot be sustained. The two phenomena are often coupled for a variety of biological and oceanographic reasons. Though significant gaps in knowledge remain, evidence indicates that OAH threatens coastal ecosystems, marine-dependent industries, and human communities, and has become a priority for many state, federal, and private entities. OAH and the West Coast. Although OAH is a global phenomenon, research indicates that the West Coast of North America will face some of the earliest, most severe changes in ocean carbon chemistry. The threats posed by OAH's progression will be further compounded by other dimensions of global climate change, and, according to some research, may also serve to exacerbate global warming. The West Coast Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Science Panel (Panel) was established at the request of OPC in an effort to develop the scientific foundation necessary for West Coast managers to take informed action. The 20-person panel of scientific experts was charged with summarizing the current state of knowledge and developing scientific consensus about available management options to address OAH on the West Coast. The resulting document, "Major Findings, Recommendations, and AB 2139 (Williams) Page 2 of ? Actions" summarizes the Panel's work and presents Actions that can be taken now to address OAH. According to the report, OAH endangers not only the biological health of marine organisms but also the numerous economic and societal benefits that stem from the West Coast's dependence on its coastal waters. The Panel unanimously affirms that acidification of coastal waters is an undeniable, pervasive issue whose impacts have only begun to be felt. The report further cautions that delayed action could render future management interventions far less effective. OAH and the OPC. According to the OPC's website, OPC has committed support to improve scientific understanding of acidification and hypoxia and the impacts to biological resources. The OPC is funding research through California Sea Grant to provide insights into the effects of the upwelling of acidic waters along the California coast, and recently approved funding for scientists to perform integrated modeling of acidification, hypoxia, and nutrient inputs in the ocean. The project will enhance current regional oceanographic modeling systems enabling a more comprehensive and consistent evaluation of both anthropogenic and climatic perturbations on near-shore physical, chemical, and biological conditions. This bill cites the Panel's report in its findings and declarations, and states intent for OPC, to ''address the challenge of ocean acidification''. Proposed Law: This bill: 1) Makes findings and declarations regarding about the West Coast Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Science Panel and its recent findings and recommendations, and the OPC's mission. 2) Authorizes OPC, subject to the availability of funding, to develop an OAH science task force. 3) Requires, subject to the availability of funding, that the OPC implement the following measures: (1) facilitate climate change adaptation in the ocean; (2) develop, refine, and integrate predictive models of OAH; (3) work with other agencies to ensure efforts to address OAH are informed by the AB 2139 (Williams) Page 3 of ? best available science; (4) develop a comprehensive inventory of OAH-vulnerable areas in California; (5) Establish and advance joint priorities for OAH research with other governmental and private entities; and (6) identify gaps between OAH monitoring efforts and management needs, and the actions necessary to address these gaps. 4) Requires OPC, beginning on January 1, 2018, and annually thereafter, to adopt recommendations for further actions that may be taken to address ocean acidification and hypoxia at its first meeting of the year. Related Legislation: SB 1363 (Monning, 2016) requires, to the extent that funding is available, the OPC, in consultation with the State Coastal Conservancy and other relevant entities, to establish and administer the Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Reduction Program, and specifies approaches that must be considered. This bill is pending consideration in Assembly Appropriations. Staff Comments:1) Purpose. According to the author, "many studies point to the harmful effects of ocean acidification, but the state does not currently have enough data at its disposal to evaluate the scope of the problem or make educated policy decisions. Key strategies to address this deficiency include generating an inventory of ocean acidification 'hot spots,' developing predictive models of ocean acidification, and defining gaps between monitoring efforts and management needs. Up to this point there has been very little focus on ocean acidification at the state level, and this measure codifies ocean acidification as a priority for the Legislature and the Ocean Protection Council." Funding? AB 2139 is explicitly subject to funding availability, and does not appropriate any funds or designate a funding source for the activities outlined in the bill. The OPC indicates that addressing ocean hypoxia is a top priority for which funds have been made available from various sources including bond funds, grant funds, foundation monies, and in-kind contributions. This bill codifies expectations and activities that should be undertaken to further this effort. AB 2139 (Williams) Page 4 of ? -- END --