Santa Monica Bay Restoration

Section § 30988

Explanation

This law highlights that Santa Monica Bay is a vital public resource for both current and future Californians and an important part of Southern California's ecosystem. However, its health and recreational value are at risk due to accumulated pollutants like DDT and PCBs, alongside threats from stormwater, industrial discharges, and other contaminants caused by growing population pressures.

The Palos Verdes Shelf within the bay has been marked as a federal Superfund site and is involved in the National Estuary Program. Since 1988, efforts led by the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project have aimed to restore the bay, supported by state funding and initiatives like the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air, and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000.

The Legislature aims for the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission to function as a locally-oriented, non-regulatory body within the state government. Its role is to monitor, assess, and coordinate efforts and advise on funding that benefits the bay's use, restoration, and enhancement.

(a)CA Public Resources Code § 30988(a)The Legislature finds and declares that Santa Monica Bay is a public trust for present and future generations of Californians, and an invaluable element in the ecosystem of southern California.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 30988(b) The biological health and recreational resources of Santa Monica Bay are threatened by the historical accumulation of DDT, PCBs and other toxic pollutants, pathogens, nutrients, stormwater and urban runoff, nonpoint pollutant sources, oil spills, and industrial discharges, increasing with population pressures in the region.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 30988(c) Santa Monica Bay’s Palos Verdes Shelf has been identified as a federal Superfund site, and designated under the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s National Estuary Program. Since 1988, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has designated the former Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project as an agency to plan for the Santa Monica Bay’s restoration, and to oversee implementation of the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Plan. The State of California has expended millions of dollars for the administration of the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project, and the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air, and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000 (the Villaraigosa-Keeley Act; Chapter 1.692 (commencing with Section 5096.300) of Division 5 of the Public Resources Code) earmarks up to twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) for Santa Monica Bay restoration projects, as identified by the former Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project.
(d)CA Public Resources Code § 30988(d) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission be a nonregulatory, locally based state government entity that will monitor, assess, coordinate, and advise all state programs, and oversee funding that affects the beneficial uses, restoration, and enhancement of Santa Monica Bay and its watershed.
Santa Monica Bay public trust ecosystem ...

Section § 30988.2

Explanation

The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project is now called the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission. It operates independently but gets administrative support from the State Water Resources Control Board. When other laws mention the old name, they mean this Commission.

Three officials will create an agreement to outline how the state programs affecting the Bay are managed and how the Commission operates, including its members from federal, state, local, and other stakeholder groups.

The Commission can seek and spend funds from various sources for Bay projects, give out grants, make contracts, and coordinate with different agencies and groups for the Bay's health.

A special account, the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Account, is set up for Commission activities. Money previously allocated to the former Project is transferred here. Depending on funding origins, the use of these monies is either as initially intended before 2003 or for broader purposes after 2003.

(a)CA Public Resources Code § 30988.2(a) The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project is hereby renamed the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission. The commission shall independently execute the duties described in this section, and the State Water Resources Control Board shall provide administrative services to the commission. Any reference in any statute to the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project shall be deemed to be a reference to the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission.
(b)Copy CA Public Resources Code § 30988.2(b)
(1)Copy CA Public Resources Code § 30988.2(b)(1) The Secretary for Environmental Protection, the Secretary of the Resources Agency, and the Chair of the Bay Watershed Council of the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission shall enter into a memorandum of understanding that ensures the coordination of state programs affecting Santa Monica Bay, and that delineates the authority of that commission, and its governance structure with respect to the implementation of those state programs. The commission membership shall be prescribed in the memorandum of understanding, and shall include federal, state, and local public agency officials and employees, and representatives of other stakeholder interests.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 30988.2(c) The commission may do all of the following:
(1)CA Public Resources Code § 30988.2(c)(1) Request and receive federal, state, local, and private funds from any source, and expend those moneys for the restoration and enhancement of Santa Monica Bay and its watershed.
(2)CA Public Resources Code § 30988.2(c)(2) Award and administer grants for the restoration and enhancement of Santa Monica Bay and its watershed.
(3)CA Public Resources Code § 30988.2(c)(3) Enter into contracts and joint powers authority agreements, as necessary, to carry out the purposes of the commission.
(4)CA Public Resources Code § 30988.2(c)(4) Monitor, assess, and coordinate activities among federal, state, and local agencies and, where appropriate, private firms, to restore and enhance Santa Monica Bay and its watershed.
(d)Copy CA Public Resources Code § 30988.2(d)
(1)Copy CA Public Resources Code § 30988.2(d)(1) The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Account is hereby created in the State Treasury, and moneys in the account may be expended, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to support the activities of the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission.
(2)CA Public Resources Code § 30988.2(d)(2) The balance of any funds previously appropriated by the Legislature, prior to January 1, 2003, from the General Fund or from bond proceeds to support the activities of the former Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project shall be transferred into the account.
(3)Copy CA Public Resources Code § 30988.2(d)(3)
(A)Copy CA Public Resources Code § 30988.2(d)(3)(A) Funds transferred to the account that are derived from an appropriation from the General Fund are available for expenditure only for the duration originally authorized and only for a purpose authorized by this division as it read on December 31, 2002.
(B)CA Public Resources Code § 30988.2(d)(3)(A)(B) Funds transferred to the account that are derived from an appropriation of bond proceeds are available for expenditure only for the duration originally authorized and may be expended for any purpose authorized by this division on and after January 1, 2003.
Santa Monica Bay Restoration commission duties state water resources ...

Section § 30988.3

Explanation

This law directs the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission to focus on a variety of goals to restore the bay. Their priorities include reducing pollution from stormwater, urban runoff, and other sources, preventing oil and sewage spills, and controlling beach erosion. They also aim to address public health risks from pollution and protect natural habitats like wetlands and coastal areas.

The commission must enforce environmental laws, warn the public about consuming contaminated seafood, and work with schools and universities for educational outreach. Additionally, they should ensure everyone has access to ocean resources and preserve them for future generations.

The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission shall prioritize in its educational, monitoring, and bond proceeds expenditure decisions, proposals, or projects designed to achieve bay restoration objectives including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 30988.3(a) The reduction or elimination of stormwater, urban runoff, and point and nonpoint source pollution.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 30988.3(b) The reduction or prevention of the threat of oil and sewage spills and leaks.
(c)CA Public Resources Code § 30988.3(c) The reduction and prevention of beach erosion.
(d)CA Public Resources Code § 30988.3(d) The reduction and prevention of public health threats from pollution.
(e)CA Public Resources Code § 30988.3(e) The prevention and restoration of, and protection against, loss of wetlands, coastal and riparian habitats, and Santa Monica Bay’s natural and living resources.
(f)CA Public Resources Code § 30988.3(f) Effective enforcement of appropriate environmental laws.
(g)CA Public Resources Code § 30988.3(g) Public education and warnings of any dangers of consuming contaminated seafood.
(h)CA Public Resources Code § 30988.3(h) Increased public education concerning the Santa Monica Bay in collaboration with universities and grades K-12 schools.
(i)CA Public Resources Code § 30988.3(i) Assuring that ocean resources are accessible to all Californians regardless of socioeconomic status, and are preserved and enhanced for future generations.
Santa Monica Bay Restoration stormwater reduction urban runoff ...