Thursday, August 2, 2012
July Updates
Bill to Ban Plastic Bags
Moves Forward:
Surfrider Foundation California Chapters have been working
on a statewide plastic bag ban for years and we are ecstatic the State
Legislature is now considering a bill that would ban plastic bags (starting in
2014). The bill, AB 298, would also require retailers to provide reusable bags
for sale and charge a fee for recycled paper bags as an incentive for customers
to remember their reusable bags. Please take 2 seconds to send a message to your elected official urging them to vote yes! Please
circulate far and wide! To read
more about the bill go here.
Seismic Testing Challenged
By Surfrider:
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Seismic testing harms marine life.
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Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) is planning to conduct
seismic testing off the Central Coast in order to map fault zones near Diablo
Canyon nuclear plant (supposedly to predict power plant “safety” during an
earthquake). Seismic testing can
have devastating impacts on ocean ecosystems--go here to read more about the dangers
of seismic testing. Surfrider Foundation San Luis Obispo
Chapter has been actively opposing PG&E’s efforts and questions the overall
value of the project—especially considering that the testing will not conclusively prove that the
power plant will be safe during an earthquake. Surfrider believes PG&E should
be using data they are collecting on land in order to analyze fault lines and
ensure that ocean ecosystems and
eco-tourism are protected. As Brad Snook, Chair of Surfrider Foundation San Luis Obispo
said in a comment letter: “Why
risk our fragile ecosystem and bring our citizens financial hardship without
confirmed, measurable proof that this study will save human lives? Even for the
earthquake faults that have been extensively profiled, earthquakes cannot be
accurately predicted”. Read more
about the proposal here.
The Good and Bad News for CA State Parks.
We know, we know….the past several weeks have been an
emotional roller coaster for CA State Parks. Just when we thought nearly 25% of State Parks would shut
down because the State didn’t have enough money to “operate parks”, a reprieve
came when the Governor’s budget allocated millions of dollars to the state park
system, and when local nonprofits and other entities entered into agreements to
maintain/operate State parks. Just
as Park advocates were celebrating the news that Parks would not close, the Sacramento
Bee published an investigation that found the Department of Parks and
Recreation concealed approximately $54 million in surplus funds. Surfrider
Foundation was shocked and extremely disappointed to hear about the news; and
we were dismayed that the funds were not used to help keep parks open. Despite the realization
there are extra funds in the Department of Parks and Recreation, our state park
system is not out of the woods. The economic situation that led to potential
closures does not go away, even with the newly discovered funds.
Surfrider Foundation will continue to work with the Save our State Parks coalition to ensure that
the newly discovered funds will be directed to keeping parks open, functioning,
and ensuring long term financial plans. 
