Governor Newsom suspends California environmental regulations to facilitate rebuilding of homes destroyed by wildfires

To address concerns that environmental protection measures may hinder reconstruction in the coastal region, the government will temporarily suspend environmental laws that could have hindered the rebuilding of structures damaged by the Southern California wildfires.

A fire that began on Jan. 7 destroyed more than 10,000 homes and structures along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway in California.

"Teddy Leonard, owner of Reel Inn, expressed fear that they won't be allowed to rebuild their seafood restaurant on the Malibu coast, which burned down in January. He stated, "It's very scary.""

Under California law, individuals seeking to construct must undergo an extensive environmental review prior to receiving approval. However, state officials have stated that the process will not apply to fire victims who wish to rebuild their destroyed structures.

Before issuing a building permit, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) mandates a review of any potential environmental impacts. Meanwhile, the California Coastal Act concentrates on coastal development and its role in safeguarding "sensitive coastal and marine ecosystems and biodiversity."

On Sunday, the two laws were suspended by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who signed an executive order to halt the environmental review process for those who lost their homes in a tragedy.

Victims who have lost their homes and businesses must be able to rebuild quickly and without roadblocks when the fires are extinguished, as stated by Newsom.

Today, I signed an executive order to reduce permitting delays, which is crucial for our communities to recover faster and stronger. Furthermore, I instructed our state agencies to explore more ways to expedite the rebuilding and recovery process.

Environmentalists and other critics have long criticized CEQA for being restrictive and expensive.

According to Bay Nature, Eric Buescher, an attorney with San Francisco Baykeeper, an environmental nonprofit, stated in 2022 that he believes nobody truly believes that CEQA functions as intended.

"Environmental groups argue that sea level rise projects cannot be reviewed in a timely manner, according to Buescher. Cities contend that the regulations are expensive and impossible to comply with, while developers argue that they are overly restrictive."

The reconstruction of many Malibu homes destroyed by fires may be subject to local regulations aimed at preserving the natural coastline, as these homes were located on the beach along the Pacific Coast Highway.

On Thursday, President Biden declared that the federal government would bear the expenses of debris removal and California's fire management for a period of 180 days.