The planning for the State Water Project Contract Amendment for the Delta Tunnel under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta continues, despite the fact that the project has not yet been approved.
The next negotiation session for the SWP Contract Amendment for Delta Conveyance is scheduled for Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. and is expected to adjourn by 3:00 p.m., according to an announcement from the Kearns and West Facilitation Team, the consultants for the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).
Kearns and West are the same consultants who led the controversial public process for the privately funded Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative to create so-called “marine protected areas” in California.
The meeting will be held in the Ballroom at the Courtyard by Marriott Sacramento Midtown, 4422 Y Street, Sacramento, CA 95817.
Kearns and West also announced today that Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the State Water Project (SWP) Contractors are extending the negotiation schedule, in the event that negotiation meetings for the proposed amendments to the SWP water supply contracts are needed in late October 2019.
“The public negotiation process is expected to result in an Agreement in Principle (AIP) among DWR and the SWP Contractors that describes a methodology for cost allocation and the related matters that would be the basis of a contract amendment if a project is approved and after all necessary environmental review. Environmental analysis of the proposed amendments and of the underlying Delta conveyance facility itself, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, as well as the development of actual contract amendment language would follow development of the AIP,” the facilitation team stated.
It is no surprise that Newsom is supporting the agribusiness-promoted Delta Tunnel project, since the total contributions from agriculture in his 2018 campaign for Governor were $637,398, including $116,000 from Beverly Hills agribusiness billionaires Stewart and Lynda Resnick, the owners of the Wonderful Company.
Agribusiness tycoons are among the most strident supporters of the Delta Tunnel and Big Ag’s voluntary agreements — and are among the strongest proponents of attacks on the Endangered Species Act, a landmark federal environmental law that SB 1 would have helped to protect.
Newsom on September 28 vetoed Senate Bill 1, the California Environmental, Public Health, and Workers Defense Act of 2019, that would defend the Endangered Species Act and other environmental laws against attacks by the Trump administration.
The Conference Call Option
Members of the public not able to attend the negotiations meeting in person also may participate via conference call: PHONE LINE: 719-359-4032, ACCESS CODE: 474346#
“A webinar option will also be available for remote participants to view documents and presentations during the meeting. The webinar can be accessed via the following link: http://kearnswest.adobeconnect.com/deltaconveyance. Please note that the webinar will not include audio and you will need to dial into the conference line via telephone using the number above to hear the meeting,” according to Kearns and West.
“You do not need a user name or password to join the meeting. Please select the guest option, type in your first and last name, and then click the “Enter Room” button. A new window or tab should open with the meeting room,” facilitation team added.
Meeting materials will be posted online at: https://cadwr.app.box.com/s/irusyewojv4nwzmxfznghzmgli9sswcw.
The draft agenda for the meeting is posted on this site for your reference: https://cadwr.box.com/s/irusyewojv4nwzmxfznghzmgli9sswcw.
NOTE: Parking will be validated and there will be no fee. Attendees need to pull a ticket and bring it with them to the meeting for validation.
The meeting rooms at the Courtyard will be as follows:
Negotiation Room: Ballroom
PWA Caucus Room: Ivy Room
DWR Caucus Room: Orchid Room