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32 June 8 - 22 , 2018 VOL . 37 • ISS . 13
Rep . Calvert Introduces Rider Banning Lawsuits Against Delta Tunnels
Representative Ken Calvert of Riverside County ( R-Corona ), who has received numerous campaign contributions from engineering and construction firms , bottled water companies , and developers , has introduced an alarming rider to federal draft spending bill that would ban state or federal lawsuits against Governor Jerry Brown ’ s Delta Tunnels project .
The rider , found on 141 of the 142- page bill for fiscal year 2019 for the Department of Interior and other agencies , states , “ SEC . 437 . Notwithstanding any other provision of law , the Final Environmental Impact Report / Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan / California Water Fix ( 81 Fed . Reg . 96485 ( Dec . 30 , 2016 )) and any resulting agency decision , record of decision , or similar determination shall hereafter not be subject to judicial review under any Federal or State law .”
Rep . Calvert , who also serves as the Chairman of the Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee , claimed that in the bill , the Interior Subcommittee “ has made every effort to balance a host of competing needs and provided the Interior Department , EPA and other agencies under our jurisdiction with the resources necessary to carry out their mission ,” but made no mention of the rider .
“ Our bill funds a number of American priorities like our National Park Service , the Smithsonian , Native American programs , efforts to prevent and combat wildfires , and the development an earthquake early warning system for the West Coast ,” said Calvert .
The Interior , Environment , and Related Agencies Subcommittee met on the evening of Tuesday , May 15 to start discussion on the bill — and approved a motion to bring the bill before the full committee . The full Committee will review the bill at a later , unannounced date .
Delta Tunnels opponents disagree with the Calvert ’ s contention that the spending bill has “ has made every effort to balance a host of competing needs .” According to an analysis from Restore the
Delta , “ The draft bill contains numerous environmentally disastrous riders , such as Section 437 which would exempt CA WaterFix from judicial review , including preempting state law to preclude litigation under state laws . In other words , it would prevent anyone with standing from suing the Delta Tunnels project .”
The group said this “ would affect numerous cases already filed in state and federal courts .” These include state law claims under the California Environmental Quality Act ( 20 cases filed ) or the California Endangered Species Act ( 3 cases filed ), as well as litigation under the federal Endangered Species Act ( 2 cases filed ) or NEPA ( no cases yet filed because the Bureau has not yet issued a Record of Decision ).
Congressional opponents of the Delta Tunnels , including Congressman John Garamendi ( D-CA ) blasted Calvert ’ s introduction of the rider .
“ It seems the twin tunnels ’ proponents in Congress are afraid that the project would violate state and federal law and they are seeking to insulate themselves from any lawsuits to prevent delays in the project ,” said Garamendi . “ The reality is , they should be worried because the $ 17 billion project would be a disaster for the Delta ecosystem and economy .”
“ Prohibiting federal or state judicial review of environmental documents on the twin tunnels sets a dangerous precedent that will have lasting and negative impacts on water laws across the nation ,” continued Garamendi . “ The federal government has a history of deferring to state water law and this provision is truly a radical assault on environmental laws by the Congress .”
John McManus , Executive Director of the Golden Gate Salmon Association ( GGSA ) that represents sport and commercial salmon fishermen and related businesses , said salmon and other West Coast fish species “ will be wiped out if the current version of the tunnels is built , which is why GGSA and allies are already in court calling for a fair legal review .”
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“ Those in favor of the tunnels and moving more northern California water to southern California know we ’ re likely to win in court since the environmental damage is easy to prove . That ’ s why they ’ re using their money and political connections to simply get the laws changed rather than comply with the law and modify the tunnels to make them less damaging ,” he said .
Patrick Porgans of Porgans and Associates said , “ Calvert ’ s rider doesn ’ t surprise me . It ’ s just another way to circumvent public input and to continue business as usual .”
Porgans was the one who made a California Public Records Act request that resulted in the release of emails documenting illegal ex-parte communications between the Department of Water Resources ( DWR ) and State Water Board staff in the current California WaterFix hearing process
Then on Wednesday , Restore the Delta revealed that Congressman Ken Calvert has received a number of campaign contributions from an array of construction and engineering corporations , including the Parsons Corporation , the bottled water industry , Southern California developer interests , and general members of the Southern California Water Committee .
For example , Calvert this year has received $ 15,000 in donations from the Parsons Corporation , an engineering , construction , technical , and professional services firm , and $ 12,500 from the Jacobs Engineering Group , a global provider of technical , professional , and scientific services , including engineering , architecture , construction , operations and maintenance .
“ Starting with his history as the lead sponsor of CALFED and ending with his most recent campaign contributions , it ’ s clear that Congressman Calvert primarily serves the interests of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California , and construction companies hoping to win the WaterFix bid ,” said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla , Executive Director of Restore the Delta . “ If this rider becomes part of the Congressional budget authorization , CA WaterFix would no longer be subject to judicial review under any Federal or State law .”
In a tweet , Jeffrey Kightlinger of the Metropolitan Water District was very evasive about MWD ’ s position on Calvert ’ s rider , noting that a statement from the Southern California Water Committee is an “ accurate statement of @ mwdh2oposition as well on @ CAWaterFixand this legislative proposal .”
The SWC tweet proclaimed : “@ CAWaterFix has been studied & developed over more than a decade of rigorous environmental review , & we stand behind the analysis on this project . We did not make this request & remain committed to a transparent process to implement
By Dan Bacher
this much-needed public infrastructure project .”
Governor Jerry Brown has not to date made any comment on the rider , but Congressman Garamendi and Delta advocates have urged him to oppose it .
“ I think it would destroy Governor Brown ’ s credibility if California doesn ’ t stop the rider ,” said Michael Jackson , lawyer for the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance ( CSPA ) and the California Water Impact Network ( C-WIN ), “ because Brown says he is building the tunnels to save the environment . If he allows the Congressional Republicans to take away environmental protections , it ’ s clear he is either afraid or them or in their pockets . If they get away with ending environmental protections for the Bay-Delta in California , then they could do it on every state environmental issue in the future .”
If the tunnels are built , project opponents say San Francisco Bay-Delta and West Coast fisheries will be decimated while not one drop of new water will be created . The project will not only hasten the extinction of Sacramento River winter-run and spring-run Chinook salmon , Central Valley steelhead , Delta and long fin smelt , green sturgeon and other fisheries , but will imperil the salmon and steelhead populations of the Trinity and Klamath rivers .
Governor Brown ’ s plan to build the Delta Tunnels has accelerated at an alarming rate in the wake of the Metropolitan Water District ’ s vote on April 10 and the Santa Clara Valley Water District ’ s vote on May 8 to fully support the California Water Fix .
A memo released by California Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth outlined “ organizational adjustments ” prompted by the latest developments in Governor Jerry Brown ’ s Delta Tunnels project , including a Joint Powers Authority ( JPA ) tasked with designing and constructing the controversial project .
Then on May 17 , directors from water districts participating in the California Water Fix , including the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California ( MWD ), Santa Clara Valley Water District ( SCVWD ), and Alameda County Zone 7 Water Agency , held the first meeting of the Delta Conveyance Design and Construction Joint Powers Authority Board of Directors in Sacramento .
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