The Honorable Isaac Bryan
Committee on Natural Resources
California State Assembly
1020 N Street, Suite 164
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Chair Bryan:
On behalf of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors, I am writing to express our support for Assembly Bill 295 (Macedo), which seeks to streamline environmental review processes for water infrastructure projects through the Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership Act of 2021 ensuring that communities like Tulare County can meet our present and future water needs.
Tulare County is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, and the third most productive county in the United States. However, water scarcity remains one of the greatest threats to our economic vitality, public health, and environmental sustainability. AB 295 directly addresses these concerns by expediting CEQA review for water storage, conveyance, and groundwater recharge projects.
As a rural county, we rely on effective and timely infrastructure development to support our agricultural economy and provide clean, safe water to our residents. Current CEQA processes often lead to excessive delays that hinder essential water projects. AB 295 strikes a balance between environmental responsibility and the need for efficient infrastructure development by ensuring that water projects are not unnecessarily delayed due to prolonged legal and administrative processes.
Tulare County strongly urges the Legislature to pass AB 295 to help secure California’s water future and protect the livelihoods of communities dependent on reliable water access.
Sincerely,
Pete Vander Poel, Chair
Tulare County Board of Supervisors
cc: Tulare County State Delegation, Shaw Yoder Antwih Schmelzer & Lange