California governor suspends environmental laws to help rebuild fire-ravaged areas
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order suspending certain state environmental laws to expedite the rebuilding of areas devastated by wildfires.
In a recent announcement, the Democratic governor explained that parts of the California Environmental Quality Act and the California Coastal Act will be temporarily set aside to facilitate reconstruction in fire-ravaged regions.
The order also directs state agencies to identify additional permitting requirements that can be safely waived or streamlined to accelerate the recovery process.
"When the fires are extinguished, victims who have lost their homes and businesses must be able to rebuild quickly and without roadblocks. The executive order I signed today will help cut permitting delays, an important first step in allowing our communities to recover faster and stronger. I’ve also ordered our state agencies to identify additional ways to streamline the rebuilding and recovery process," he said.
(QG - The Guardian / Picture: © Pixabay)