Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties.
RCRC and GSNR President and CEO Greg Norton to Address the TuCARE 28th Annual Natural Resources Summit
Greg Norton, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) and Golden State National Resources Corporation (GSNR), will speak at the Tuolumne County Alliance for Resources and Environment (TuCARE) 28th Annual National Resources Summit at the end of this month. RCRC has a longstanding commitment to forest management solutions and fire prevention. To further those efforts, GSNR was founded in 2019 as a public benefit, non-profit corporation committed to reducing fire risks by new and innovative methods. As the Summit focuses on the future of forest management, Norton will draw upon his experience leading the efforts of both RCRC and GSNR to speak about innovation in the wood products industry.
The TuCARE 28th Annual Natural Resources Summit agenda is filled with other distinguished speakers, including a keynote address by Jim Hubbard, Undersecretary for the Forest Service Department of Agriculture. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, in-person attendance is limited, but there are several ways to attend virtually. The Summit will be held on October 30, 2020 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.. The agenda and details for virtual attendance are available here.
DWR Announces Comment Period for the Systemwide Flood Risk Reduction Program Draft Guidelines
This week, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced the opening of a 45-day public comment period for the Systemwide Flood Risk Reduction Program Draft Guidelines. As part of this process, DWR held two virtual webinars describing the program, also earlier this week. The draft guidelines are available here. Comments can be submitted to SystemwideFRR@water.ca.gov. The public comment period will end at 5:00 p.m. on October 30, 2020.
DWR Update on the Delta Conveyance Project Validation Action
In August, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) filed a “validation action” with the Sacramento County Superior Court regarding DWR’s authority to, among other things, issue revenue bonds to finance the planning, design, construction and other capital costs of the proposed Delta Conveyance Project. Since the original filing, the court has issued a summons and a public notice is now available. These documents and the validation complaint can be found here.
The Department seeks a judgment confirming the validity of revenue bonds the Department authorized to pay for the environmental review, planning and design, and if approved and subject to the specific conditions precedent, construction of Delta conveyance facilities. The Department is not seeking in the validation proceeding a determination that it has complied with all legal prerequisites that may apply to approval and/or implementation of any Delta conveyance facility.
Any interested person may appear and contest a validation action, subject to specific time limits and procedural requirements. In the Department’s validation proceeding, interested persons must appear, in conformance with applicable legal and procedural requirements, not later than October 30, 2020.
HCD Announces Help for Those Affected by Northern California Wildfires in Lake, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and Yolo Counties
On August 22, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the White House approved California's request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to bolster the state's emergency response to wildfires burning in Northern California and support impacted residents in Lake, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and Yolo Counties.
This declaration helps people in those counties through support and services that includes:
- Crisis counseling
- Housing and unemployment assistance
- Legal services
If you sustained losses from the Northern California fires in Lake, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, or Yolo Counties, you can now apply for assistance.
To begin the process:
- Apply online with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) OR
- Call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or 800-462-7585 (TTY).
HCD encourages the use of online applications whenever possible. For additional information and important details, see the entire HCD announcement here.