Two months after Los Angeles was devastated by a pair of historic wildfires, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Saturday that he was suspending two of the state’s highest-profile environmental laws to expedite forestry work to avert greater wildfire disaster this summer.
Saturday, Newsom announced he was waiving requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and California Coastal Act to assist
The big picture: These suspended laws, typically requiring meticulous assessments and environmental considerations, have been set aside to facilitate prompt vegetation and tree removal, establishment of fuel breaks, and controlled burns.
- The move by Newsom comes in the wake of mounting criticism from President Trump and California-based allies regarding the state’s wildfire response approach.
- In a state of emergency declaration, Newsom justified the suspension as necessary to ensure swift implementation of fire prevention initiatives, particularly as California braces for the challenging summer and fall fire season.
- The California Environmental Quality Act mandates that local and state agencies address and mitigate environmental impacts of their activities, while the California Coastal Act regulates coastal development and preservation.
- Newsom’s administration emphasizes that the suspension of these laws will expedite critical tasks such as vegetation clearing, fuel break construction, and controlled burns, with the ultimate goal of strengthening forest management and safeguarding vulnerable communities.
- In his announcement, Newsom asserted that regulatory hurdles created by CEQA and the Coastal Act need to be minimized in the face of wildfire threats underscores his dedication to combatting the ever-present danger of fires in California.
What they’re saying: ““This year has already seen some of the most destructive wildfires in California history, and we’re only in March,” Newsom said in a statement. “Building on unprecedented work cutting red tape and making historic investments – we’re taking action with a state of emergency to fast-track critical wildfire projects even more. These are the forest management projects we need to protect our communities most vulnerable to wildfire, and we’re going to get them done.”
- Asm. David Tangipa (R–Clovis) a harsh critic of the Newsom administration’s approach to forest management and wildfire response, tipped his cap to the move.
I’ll be the first to give credit where it’s due—thank you, @CAgovernor, for suspending CEQA as our communities face the threat of massive wildfires
Now, we must act fast to create buffer zones between urban, wild lands & critical infrastructure. We don’t have any time to waste! https://t.co/q9vCBKTsEK— David Tangipa (@DavidTangipa) March 2, 2025
