Environment

Idle and orphaned oil wells pose not just a public health risk but could cost an estimated $21.5 billion to clean up. California lawmakers can take several steps to ensure taxpayers are not forced to cover the tab.

The California Coastal Commission's opposition to contentious legislation this year has led to misperceptions that the board is anti-housing. That's not true, says the commission chair.

The environmental costs of ending water diversions from Mono Lake to Los Angeles would be mixed: It might help a shore bird habitat but would require changes that increase carbon emissions.

Truck manufacturers won’t file legal challenges over California's controversial mandate, and in return, the state air board will relax some smog-fighting requirements.

The first day back from the July Fourth holiday turned out to be very, very busy for the California Legislature.  Let’s get right to the highlights: Caste discrimination bill survives: The first-in-the-nation measure to add caste to California’s anti-discrimination laws is still alive after a key committee hearing on Wednesday. The bill language was tweaked […]

A new research paper pinpoints how the California Environmental Quality Act collides with another state law to make housing construction more difficult than it should be.

The package of laws aims to speed up lawsuits for solar farms, reservoirs and other infrastructure, and relax protection of some species. Environmentalists and business groups call them a good compromise.

Californians pay more than $1 billion in recycling deposits annually but few people bother to redeem the empties. The state's sparse redemption system is largely to blame. A new law could help grow and modernize bottle recycling and give consumers significant returns.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom had to concede defeat on trying to get the Legislature to give a very contentious water tunnel project streamlined regulatory treatment.

To help close a $31.5 billion deficit, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature are considering cuts to key climate programs. As an alternative, environmental advocates are asking leaders to instead slash subsidies for oil and gas corporations.