Legislation that would allow the Oakland Athletics speed up the environmental regulatory process for proposed ballparks in one of two locations in the city was approved, 7-0, Wednesday by a state senate committee.
The bill, authored by Oakland Assemblymember Rob Bonta, streamlines the judicial process related to the California Environmental Quality Act. Specifically, allowing for the resolution any lawsuits to 270 days following release of an Environmental Impact Report.
Assembly Bill 734 heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee next Tuesday.
Support also came from the home team. East Bay State Sens. Bob Wieckowski–chair of the Environmental Quality Committee–and Nancy Skinner sit on the committee. Both gave full support to the bill.
Bonta’s legislation does not discern between potential Oakland ballparks sites at Howard Terminal near Jack London Square and the current Oakland Coliseum complex. Both are specifically mentioned in the bill.
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and Athletics president Dave Kaval also attended the committee hearing.
ebcitizen.com 