Bookmark and Share

More press releases

For Immediate Release, February 26, 2013

Contact:  Kassie Siegel, (760) 366-2232 or ksiegel@biologicaldiversity.org 

Center for Biological Diversity Statement on Resignation of State Senator Michael Rubio and
Senator Steinberg's California Environmental Quality Act Proposals

SAN FRANCISCO— Kassie Siegel, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute, released the following statement today on the resignation of California state Sen. Michael Rubio, who has taken a government affairs job with oil giant Chevron, and the introduction of legislation by Sen. Darrell Steinberg proposing several changes to the California Environmental Quality Act.

"We're pleased that Senator Steinberg has announced his intention not to pursue amendments to the California Environmental Quality Act advocated by Senator Rubio last session, which would have turned this important law into a meaningless checklist, undermined public participation and shielded developers and government officials from responsibility for environmental damage.

“CEQA has worked well for the past 40 years, protecting human health and California's air, water and wildlife while ensuring government remains accessible and accountable. While we have serious concerns with the legislation Senator Steinberg introduced last week, we recognize that his proposal is still conceptual, and we look forward to working with the senator and other legislators to strengthen and protect California's bedrock environmental protection law.

"Senator Rubio’s resignation to take a job at Chevron is a reminder that our lawmakers must safeguard CEQA’s ability to protect California from fracking pollution. As Chevron and other oil companies gear up to frack the 15 billion barrels of oil in California's Monterey Shale, we need our legislators to stand up to the oil industry and keep CEQA strong to shield our air, water and climate from a devastating fracking boom."

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 450,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.


Go back