Damon Connolly — Identified himself as chair of ESTM and opened the joint oversight hearing.
Damon Connolly — Addressed as 'Chair Connolly' in the opening remarks.
Leticia Castillo — Assembly Member Leticia Castillo was welcomed to the hearing.
Catherine Blakespear — The meeting participants repeatedly note that Senator Catherine Blakespear, the Chair of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, is on her way and expected to join the hearing soon.
Catherine Blakespear — Addressed as 'Chair Blakespear' in the opening remarks.
Catherine Blakespear — Addressed by the speaker in a question about how the Legislature could improve its relationship with BES; likely a transcription error for Senator Blakespear.
SB158 — Cited as the 2021 bill that created the Board of Environmental Safety and enacted DTSC reforms.
SB158 — SB 158 is cited as the basis for DTSC's brownfield revitalization work.
SB158 — Referenced again as the legislation that enacted DTSC reforms and created the board.
SB158 — Referenced as the legislation that enacted DTSC reforms and created the board.
SB158 — Cited as directing the board to review and consider approval of the director's annual priorities and develop metrics.
SB158 — Described as requiring board review of the director's annual priorities and department metrics.
SB158 — Described as a reset for DTSC intended to improve transparency and accountability.
SB158 — Cited as requiring the board to approve a hazardous waste management plan on a three-year schedule.
SB158 — Referenced again as the law requiring approval of the hazardous waste management plan.
SB158 — Referenced as the reform package adopted five years earlier.
SB158 — Described as the negotiated approach used to address governance and fee structure issues.
SB158 — Referenced as the legislative intent the board should align with.
SB158 — Cited as the reform package that included review of hazardous waste classification.
SB158 — Cited as the reform point before which community members lacked a public venue to question DTSC decisions.
SB158 — SB 158 is discussed as the statute that originally drew opposition from Ms. Mazzaros’ organization and later shaped the board and related community engagement changes. The witness then explains that SB 158 set out several structures—such as the director’s priorities, the hazardous waste management plan, and performance metrics—as separate and independent, and argues that these articles should be more clearly connected by statute.
SB158 — SB 158 is discussed as the foundational law that created the board and established its limited decision-making authority. The speaker also references SB 158 as the basis for the required fee structure analysis and notes that the initial GNH fee assumptions set under the bill were too low.
SB158 — SB 158 is discussed as the governing statute that both established/shaped the Board of Environmental Safety and defines the board’s role in making structural recommendations and submitting them in writing to the Legislature.
SB158 — The speaker discusses SB 158 as a bill intended to achieve greater accountability and transparency at DTSC, says they support SB 158, and notes that it created a more transparent and accountable DTSC.
Angela Johnson-Mazaros — Angela Johnson-Mazaros is introduced as the first witness, then identifies herself to the committee and explains that she is a senior attorney with Earthjustice’s Community Partnerships Program, appearing to discuss DTSC as an informed participant.
SB673 — The speaker references SB 673 as the 2015 law that required DTSC to adopt permitting and regulatory reforms, notes that DTSC implemented some but not all of the bill’s mandates—especially missing protections for people near dangerous or lawless facilities—and then emphasizes that DTSC’s current regulations are meant to implement SB 673’s directives.
SB673 — SB 673 is discussed as a bill that would require DTSC to consider the vulnerability and existing health risks of nearby populations when issuing, modifying, or renewing permits, emphasizing community protection in permit decisions.
SB673 — Regulations required under SB 673 remain unfinished despite being required years ago.
SB673 — Referenced as having criteria on community vulnerability and setback distances that have been pending for 11 years.
AB158 — AB 158 is cited as the governing statute that limited the board’s ability to reject the flawed plan, explaining why the board could not refuse approval and framing the board’s authority over the plan.
Don Kepke — Introduced himself and testified on behalf of the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance.
Miguel Alatorre — Introduced as the next witness.
Miguel Alatorre — Miguel Alatorre is mentioned twice in quick succession in connection with praise for his comments about BES capacity issues, indicating a single continuous discussion of the same point.
Miguel Alatorre Jr. — Introduced himself as executive director and co-founder of the Unidos Network, co-chair of the Environmental Justice Advisory Council, and Planning Commissioner of District 2 in Kings County.
Ms. Mazzaros — Identified as a witness whose organization originally opposed SB 158.
Mr. Alatorre — The speaker thanks Mr. Alatorre for bringing a local government perspective and for recognizing that the oversight board has led to real improvements.
Ms. Kupke — Asked for suggestions on improving the fee structure while a fee analysis is underway.
Cecilia Aguiar-Curry — Addressed as 'Assembly Member' in a question prompt; likely the member being invited to ask a question.
Cecilia Aguiar-Curry — The transcript says 'BES' in a way that may be a transcription artifact; no specific member is clearly identified here.
Angela — Thanked at the close of the testimony; likely one of the witnesses or panelists.
Andrew Rakestra — Introduced himself as Board Chair and began an update on DTSC reform.
SB502 — Referenced as the authority under which DTSC proposed a direct-to-regulatory-response priority product listing.
SB502 — SB 502 is cited as the legal authority that allows the agency to streamline its process for identifying, proposing, and listing priority products.
SB673 — Proposed regulations mandated by Senate Bill 673 are described as long overdue.
SB673 — Discussed as part of efforts to address community vulnerabilities.
Robin Christensen — Identified as Deputy Director of the Safer Consumer Products Program at DTSC and explains SCP scope limitations.
Robin Christensen / DTSC director — References the director's comments about priority product listings and regulatory efficiency.
DTSC representative — Responds that DTSC is being more nimble.
Ms. Messeros Johnson — Her feedback is described as instructive to the department.
Carl DeMaio — Named as a former colleague and impetus behind SB 158.