The Environmental Plank of the Platform of the California Democratic Party - 2004

ENVIRONMENT

Environmental justice, restoration and enhancement must be integral components of our environmental policy. We believe that government must do more than maintain the status quo. Although much has been done to restore and enhance the environment under Democratic leadership in Sacramento, significant environmental degradation continues to occur locally and with the advent of a Republican administration, the environment is further threatened. Environmental degradation jeopardizes the beauty of our landscape, the health of our people, the vitality, and even the safety and security of our nation. We must leave our children a better heritage than polluted air and waters, misused and damaged land, and threatened coasts. We must revamp tax policies that provide direct and indirect subsidies to the most polluting and extractive industries. Instead we must use tax incentives to help create a sustainable and non-polluting future for California and the world. We must further encourage governmental and industrial support for environmental education programs at all academic levels, including urban, low-income schools.

A model for successful environmental protection and enhancement exists today in California. Under the administration of Governor Gray Davis and the Democratic leadership in the State Senate and State Assembly, we achieved significant progress in the areas of coastal protection, improving air and water quality, saving old growth forests, improving the state's effective Bottle Bill, and establishing a recycling program for toxic electronic waste and many other issues that had remained dormant during 16 years of Republican administrations.

Now, despite the new Republican administration, we must protect all our hard-won victories and closely monitor all appointments to state agencies and departments where environmental protection regulations can be altered or even ignored. This is especially true for appointments to boards and commissions such as the Coastal Commission, the Integrated Waste Management Board and the Board of Forestry.

We must not allow the tragic events of September 11th to be used to weaken environmental laws under the guise of "national security." For example, we strongly oppose drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (or any area set aside for protection) and we reconfirm our commitment to prevent any new drilling off our coasts. The way to support and advance energy independence is through alternative, non-polluting renewable energy sources. We support policies that protect California's environmental laws from the Bush administration's efforts to weaken national environmental protections.

We reject radical Republican attempts to weaken or relax hard-won environmental and regulatory reform. We also oppose Congressional riders that exempt resource extraction projects from federal and state environmental laws. We have a commitment to increased conservation and environmental restoration for the preservation of California's invaluable natural resources, wildlife, plants and animals.

A Healthy Environment Creates Jobs. California Democrats believe in:

1) adoption of a sound and progressive energy policy that will create jobs now and into the future through research and industrial development of non-fossil fuels;

2) adoption of sustained yield approaches to the development of natural and agricultural resources;

3) regulation of the environment to protect the health of workers, thus reducing employee health care costs, medical expenses and absenteeism;

4) recycling materials to preserve resources while providing jobs in the recycling and remanufacturing industries; and

5) protection of California's environment and cultural resources, thus enhancing tourism, a major provider of jobs.

Natural Resources. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is the major legal tool for protecting California's environment. We support full implementation and enforcement of CEQA principles, in order to protect the state's natural and cultural resources, including historical and archaeological sites, and strongly oppose efforts to undermine it through legislation or regulation.

California Coast. Support strengthening California's pioneering coastal protection program by revising outdated local coastal programs, implementing the State's polluted runoff protection plan, and preserving the integrity of the coastal act by defending the California Coastal Commission and the process for appointment of coastal commissioners. Permanently ban all offshore oil and gas drilling along the California Coast. Establish and enforce marine protected areas to restore and protect coastal fish species. Expand coastal public access and recreational opportunities by additional funding to develop, open, operate and maintain new coastal public access, the acquisition of coastal parklands and development of the California Coastal trail. Protect and restore coastal wetlands and other environmentally sensitive habitat areas. Implement a comprehensive shoreline erosion program that encourages beach sand replenishment and the avoidance of hard structures. Clean up toxic hot spots. Support the establishment of a Northern California Coast Wild Heritage Wilderness region and explore the idea of establishing other ocean wilderness areas.

Forests. Support extensive reforestation efforts throughout our state. Reforestation must include planting diverse species to maintain habitats for birds and wildlife. End the cutting of ancient coastal redwood and Douglas-Fir and inland sequoia, fir, pine and cedar trees, and allow only select cutting of second-growth trees. Require true sustained yield in our forests to ensure future employment while guaranteeing environmental protection. Require that trees taken from national forests by logging companies be paid for at no less than current market rates. Enforce and expand, where necessary, timber harvest buffer zones along watersheds. Export only finished lumber to ensure a stable forest and wood-products industry and to protect jobs. Oppose the Bush administration's court settlement that forbids the Department of Interior from considering any of their lands for wilderness designation, including in the Headwaters Preserve. Oppose bills that would change existing forestry laws to allow issuance of long-term harvesting permits of unlimited size for long periods of time. Continue to oppose the abuse of the salvage logging definition, which currently includes all trees that may become diseased or die. In order to prevent wildfires, require clearing of brush and removal of debris after the cutting of all trees that may become diseased or die. Fine those logging companies that do not provide clearing of brush and removal of debris after the cutting of trees in order to provide for such clearing and removal of debris. Oppose herbicide use in forests in order to protect biodiversity and water systems and support manual conifer release or other non-toxic alternative control methods to clear competing vegetation. Oppose attempts by the Bush administration and the timber industry to overturn or severely weaken the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, including their attempts to exempt national forests in Alaska from this rule. Support the scientifically based Sierra Nevada Forest Plan to guide management of 11 national forests and jurisdictions in the Sierra region, and oppose the Bush administration's amendments which would increase logging and pose serious threats to the quality of our forests, wildlife habitat and watersheds. Because we have lost over 700,000 acres of our state's unprotected wilderness in the past 20 years, it is imperative to further protect wilderness areas in the national forest service lands of California.

Mining, Drilling and Grazing. Reform and enforce laws governing mining, drilling and grazing practices to ensure that such operations are carried out in accordance with sound environmental principles. Mining, drilling and grazing fees should fully compensate for all environmental degradation and never be less than market value. Mining regulatory reform should prohibit private purchase of public land for mineral extraction and give land managers discretion to deny mining permits where other uses are deemed to be of higher priority, and provide for funding of abandoned mine reclamation from royalty revenues.

Desert. Enforce and adequately fund laws that protect the fragile desert ecosystem, including desert tortoise habitat, from use as a dumping ground and from other exploitation. We oppose nuclear waste storage and disposal in the desert. Military bases that are closed but are not converted to civilian uses must have nuclear waste containment and cleanup. All nuclear waste threatens California water tables with nuclear contamination.

Water Resources and Habitats. California fisheries provide wholesome food and contribute significantly to our state's economy. Preserve and rehabilitate streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands and estuaries so that they can again produce an abundance of healthy fish. End untreated wastewater discharge. Encourage tertiary treatment and the use of reclaimed water for irrigation and groundwater recharge uses. Release adequate water supplies from dams at appropriate times to provide the necessary temperatures for salmon and other aquatic life propagation including native fish populations in the Klamath River. Prohibit commercialization and experimentation with genetically modified fish in California, since accidental releases are possible which could decimate native fish populations. While long-term environmental rehabilitation is underway, employ the fishing community to restore habitat. Protect and restore wetlands -- they provide wildlife habitat, contribute to flood and erosion controls, and replenish groundwater. Support sustainability of groundwater resources; empower the State Water Resources Control Board with groundwater preservation authority. Continue to provide adequate funding to achieve the goals of President Clinton's Lake Tahoe Summit. Oppose the building of a dam on the American River and support the building of reservoirs in areas receiving the water for use in homes, businesses and agriculture. Support other effective flood control methods for the Sacramento region. Require the cleanup of leakage of MTBE from service station tanks and equipment. Require oil companies to achieve the elimination of MTBE with great urgency. California Democrats support the ongoing CalFed process and urge all parties to continue to work together to achieve a fair solution that protects the environment, agricultural, residential and industrial needs for water.

Another environmental concern is the continuing battle among interest groups over water rights. As a population-rich state, California must secure, via equitable and fair bilateral treaty with Mexico or regional agreements with Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon, an adequate supply of water to meet the needs of its people. We encourage water conservation and recycling and accurate pricing of water, given our limited supply.

Safe, Breathable Air. Support laws that fairly and effectively regulate, eliminate, and minimize air pollution in California. Air pollution causes damage to people's health, damage to agricultural crops and native ecosystems upon which we depend for our survival, and results in a decline of our quality of life. Urge Air Quality Management Districts, especially in the most polluted areas in the state, to strictly enforce all federal and state air quality standards and end open burning in agricultural areas. Rapidly retrofit or phase out diesel trucks. Support zoning choices that encourage the location of schools and housing away from direct exposure to freeway air pollution.

Agriculture. Support agriculture that conserves land and water, provides decent jobs and work environment for farm workers, sustains a healthy food supply for the nation and provides an economically viable way to preserve open space. Support California's organic food standards. Require labeling for all genetically altered food products. Develop incentives that encourage farmers to use conservation farming techniques and alternatives to toxic pesticides such as integrated pest management. Oppose aerial spraying of herbicides and insecticides. Fertilizers used on crops for human consumption should not contain toxic wastes.

Solid Waste & Recycling. Design comprehensive recycling programs to reduce pollution. Reuse, conserve and reserve for future use existing natural resources in order to reduce the demand for landfills. Insist that local governments provide adequate buffer zones around landfills, as now required around hazardous waste disposal facilities. Hold federal, state and local governments accountable for source reduction and the responsible handling of waste; no government should be exempt from regulations designed to reduce waste streams from landfills or sewage treatment plants. Require local governments to offer comprehensive curbside recycling. Expand California's successful beverage recycling program to include wine and other alcohol containers. Impose advance disposal fees on packaged products. Create and expand markets for recycled products by providing revenue-neutral tax incentives that favor the use of recycled materials wherever possible. Require the state, local governments and school districts to purchase recycled paper and other products and to match, if not exceed, current federal government guidelines. Encourage the public to follow the same guidelines. Ensure toxic electronic waste in high-tech products such as computers and television sets is recycled and not exported to developing nations where workers and their families are exposed to dangerous environmental and public health risks. Support efforts to reduce plastic packaging and keep it out of the marine environment. Enforce laws and regulations for auto dismantlers to prevent oil and fluid runoff into waterways and the coastal environment.

Protect Endangered Animals and Plants. Support the preservation and expansion of the Endangered Species Act. Species diversity is essential for maintaining whole ecosystems, and may well lead to a variety of presently unknown, but greatly beneficial, future uses, such as medicines and food crops.

Parks. Protect, expand, and fully fund the national and state parks systems, including funds for bicycles and pedestrian trails. Support access and tax incentives to developers of land in outlying areas of cities and towns bordering city, county and state parks and recreation areas in order to encourage creation of greenbelts defensible against wildfires. Oppose inappropriate or excessive user fees that limit public access. Oppose situating dumps in or near county, state or federal parks. Support free day-use of state beaches to ensure compliance with the Coastal Act.

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT

Global Warming. Support efforts to initiate, develop and undertake an international plan to set specific carbon dioxide reduction goals designed to stabilize the climate through soil, forest and energy programs that protect against global climate change. Impose an immediate ban on the manufacture, distribution or sale of all ozone-depleting chemicals and their related products, other than those absolutely essential for pharmaceutical uses. In light of the Bush administration's inappropriate response to its own EPA's global warming study, expand California's efforts to reduce greenhouse gasses and fully support California's groundbreaking legislation to reduce auto emissions.

Trade. Enforce the health, safety and environmental protection mechanisms in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and in other applicable trade agreements. Include and enforce such mechanisms in all future trade agreements and support appropriate amendment to existing trade agreements to prevent the weakening of federal, state or local environmental protections, or the use of trade agreements as an excuse for environmental degradation. (See the section entitled "Restore America's Economic Leadership" in the World Peace and International Relations Plank.) Use Trade agreements to encourage our trading partners to improve environmental conditions in their own countries. In NAFTA, appoint persons who are committed to environmental conservation and restoration practices to the Environmental Commissions created by the "side agreements" and demand that our treaty partners do the same. Establish and maintain a wildlife corridor from Mexico to Canada for wildlife migration. Require that international development projects undergo the equivalent of the CEQA process before expending U.S. financial aid. NAFTA Chapter 11 currently gives foreign corporations more rights than U.S. citizens by allowing them to claim that a state has expropriated or "taken" their property, including all expected future profits, simply by passing laws or rendering unfavorable court decisions. Chapter 11 should be renegotiated and should not be considered a model for any future treaties.

World Trade Organization. Use our membership in the World Trade Organization to espouse strong environmental protections and strong labor standards.

ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION

California Democrats oppose any and all legislation that allows a degradation of our environment in exchange for the promise of cheap energy, including exemptions from CEQA standards. Energy is vital to our economy and our quality of life. The State of California should adopt a holistic approach to energy under which its generation and consumption are considered in all decisions, whether regarding transportation of people and goods, or in design and construction and maintenance of our communities and of our industrial and service sector capabilities, from software to heavy industry. Clean energy, co-generation, and distributed generation are all achievable and offer significant benefits. Criteria for "Green Buildings" have been developed. Home designs that exceed the requirements of Title 24 by 10% and even 20% have been achieved economically.

Our thirst for energy has resulted in almost total reliance upon imported oil and gas -- a situation which leaves us vulnerable to crippling shortages and escalating, uncontrolled costs. These dependencies distort our foreign policies and result in dependence upon unstable and undemocratic regimes and even major commitments of military forces. We unnecessarily become a part of conflicts instead of assuming our proper role of respected mediators.

Our refusal to abide by the Kyoto protocol or even to provide a (promised) equivalent methodology to reduce production of greenhouse gases has aroused worldwide resentment and prevented us from participating fully in the emerging markets for clean technologies. Joining the Kyoto community of nations will result in long-range economic benefits.

California has often led the nation in achievements and this is an area which cries out for our leadership. We already lead the nation in energy production by renewable methods and efforts are underway to accelerate that effort. The State has defined and is implementing an Energy Action Plan which should be aggressively pursued. Its goals are to:

Ö Meet California's energy growth needs while optimizing energy conservation and resource efficiency and reducing per capita electricity demand;

Ö Ensure reliable, affordable, and high quality power supply for all who need it in all regions of the state by building sufficient new generation;

Ö Upgrade and expand the electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure and reduce the time before needed facilities are brought on line;

Ö Promote customer and utility owned distributed generation;

Ö Ensure a reliable supply of reasonably priced natural gas;

Ö Demand that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission assess fair and just reparations from energy companies that manipulated and gamed California's spot market during the energy crisis, resulting in losses to California energy consumers of billions of dollars.

Our policies should include incentives for renewable and non-polluting energy sources, expanded use of mass transit, and removal of direct and indirect federal government subsidies and special immunities for the fossil fuel and nuclear power industries. Reduce carbon dioxide emissions by using renewable, non-polluting resources.

Fuels. Support implementation of upgraded energy standards for new automobiles, establishment of comparable fuel efficiency standards for new light trucks, SUV's and vans, and reinstitution of mandatory energy efficiency standards for new construction. Transition to non-carbon fuels should be encouraged. Natural gas is a first step but shortages and dependence upon imports is predicted. Support price regulation of propane in household use. Domestic biofuels should be encouraged. Hydrogen is the world's most abundant fuel and the transition to a hydrogen infrastructure using the European Union model of renewable energy can be achieved in approximately ten years.

Whereas hydrogen fuel cell power for transportation and co-generation is a long-term goal, high fuel-cell costs are currently a roadblock. However, internal combustion engines can easily be modified to burn hydrogen or even both hydrogen and gasoline, and extremely low-emission hydrogen-hybrid autos, SUV's, trucks and buses can be procured within a very few years. The State should buy more very-low emission vehicles and establish a policy of having at least 10% of its automobile fleet as hydrogen-hybrid vehicles within five years. Gasoline-hybrid vehicles are popular now and more will be available each year; they should be encouraged.

Focus public spending for transportation on repair, maintenance and safety upgrades to the existing transportation infrastructure. Community planning should support the expansion and efficient interconnection of public rail and bus systems and bicycle and pedestrian facilities. In long range planning consider innovative technologies such as personal rapid transit systems which are now in demonstration trials.

Community & Regional Planning. Support comprehensive planning to more effectively manage the pressing issues of air quality, solid waste, transportation and land use as a necessary step to protect open spaces, agricultural lands, park lands, watersheds and other environmental areas that cross city, county, state and national boundaries. Support sustainable development practices and improved plans that acknowledge the link between transportation and land use patterns. Prevent suburban sprawl from invading agricultural lands and encroaching on cultural resources. Encourage commercial development in existing downtown areas. Decrease the dependence of local governments on sales tax revenue, a leading cause of sprawl inducing regional mall development, by providing a stable source of revenue for local governments.

Nuclear Waste. Existing nuclear waste should be disposed of only with the express approval of the residents of the area where the dumping would take place. Support the enforcement of the prohibition against the dumping of nuclear waste at municipal dumps.

POPULATION, HEALTH AND SAFETY

Family Planning. Support federal funding for family planning and education here and abroad, in recognition of the impact the individual has upon the environment and natural resources.

Regulations. Adopt an environmental policy that favors protection over remediation; simplify, but do not weaken, environmental regulations. Consistently oppose any transfer of liability from polluters to taxpayers.

Toxins. Eliminate the use of pesticides, herbicides and other agricultural chemicals harmful to farm workers, the environment or food production. Assess the risks of toxins on the basis of the most vulnerable - children - and work to reduce those risks. Support increased funding for the development of non-toxic alternatives. Advocate aggressively for responsible toxic waste disposal practices. Support the goals of Proposition 65 (Toxic Chemical Labeling Initiative). Urge corporations to assume responsibility for cleanup of their toxic wastes and the immediate cleanup of toxins in ground water. In those cases where military bases have been designated for conversion to civilian use, the military should pay the cost of clean up.

Ecology and Industry. Encourage industry to develop life enhancing, rather than life destroying, products that do not deplete our resources. To reduce the use of water, land and fertilizers, develop alternative methods for producing paper, clothing, food and building supplies. Support alternative non-wood fibers for manufacturing paper, such as all annual bast fiber crops. Encourage the replacement of environmentally and occupationally harmful technologies with clean production systems. Situate transformers and high voltage power lines far away from schools, libraries, public playgrounds and residential neighborhoods.

Smoking. Permit and encourage local governments to enact greater limits on smoking than is required by state or federal laws, especially to discourage teen smoking.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Protect Disadvantaged Populations. Adopt a national and international framework to address industrial practices and governmental policies that disproportionately and unfairly cause environmental harm to disadvantaged populations. All individuals have the right to be protected from environmental degradation and at no time should low-income populations be forced to pay an unfair share of the cost of pollution. Incinerators, disposal facilities and waste treatment sites should not be placed among any people without their consent. Federal, state and local government agencies should ensure effective and thorough communication and education regarding existing and proposed toxic sites and dumps and development that could impact minority and poor communities.

Lead Poisoning. Enact legislation to resolve the problem of lead poisoning in the inner cities. Fund lead poisoning remediation and medical assistance programs.