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Met Water District seeks exemption from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for one year water transfers

January 13, 2009 -- The Metropolitan Water District posted its 2009 legislative priorities online, as part of the materials made available from the last meeting of the Board of Directors.  One of their legislative priorities includes a water transfer bill which seeks an exemption from CEQA review for one year water transfers. See below:  

 “CEQA Exemptions for One-Year Water Transfers: Exempt one-year transfers from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review such as all one-year transfers or a more narrowly defined group of water transfers (e.g., Drought Water Bank transfers, Department of Water Resources (DWR) approved transfers, etc.).    

One year transfers must already comply within the regulatory parameters for the State Water Project (SWP) and the Central Valley Project (CVP), including all applicable Biological Opinion requirements under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that govern SWP and CVP pumping in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Existing law currently exempts one-year transfers that are required to be approved by the State Water Resources Control Board from CEQA review. Because of the similar ESA, Section 1810(d) and CVP Improvement Act review requirements and protections, a similar exemption for single—usually dry year—transfers not subject to State Water Resources Control Board review seems appropriate.”  

The full list of legislative priorities is available online at: Metropolitan Water District Board Meeting, December 9, 2008.