Many of the large power generation plants in the state will be required to participate in the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program when it commences. The compliance costs incurred by the generators will be substantial and will likely be passed directly on to the utilities, and ultimately on to the industrial, residential, agricultural and commercial customers served by the various utilities in the state.
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When meeting with legislators or regulators CLFP staff often discuss the complex and expensive regulatory burden facing food processors and other businesses in California. However, most of our data is relatively general and it would be very useful to have information that provides more detail about the scope of this problem. To obtain this data CLFP will be distributing a survey to its members to generate information that will provide a more accurate picture of the actual regulatory costs and requirements.
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In 2008, California took a bold step toward creating a comprehensive, science-based system for identifying and regulating the chemicals in consumer products. California’s Green Chemistry Initiative is the largest and most complex effort undertaken anywhere to examine chemical ingredients in consumer products and, where appropriate, substitute safer materials.
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Budget: The State Budget continues to be the top issue at the Capitol. The State Constitution declares that the Legislature shall pass the budget by June 15, a deadline only rarely met. It is unlikely that this deadline will be met this year. Governor Brown’s plan hinges on Republicans and voters agreeing to temporarily extend increases to the personal income, sales and vehicles taxes that were enacted two years ago. The hikes are set to expire by June 30 unless the Legislature renews them. Extensions of these taxes would close the remaining $9.6 billion deficit.
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As of May 16, California’s tomato processors reported they have or will have contracts for 12.2 million tons of processing tomatoes for 2011. This production is nearly equal to the final contracted production total from last year. The May contracted acreage of 258,000 is 10,000 less than the January intentions forecast and 11,000 below last year’s level.
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MRL. These three letters in this instance stand for Maximum Residue Levels. You might ask, what does this mean? Isn’t that just another word for tolerances? Oh yes, I do wish it was just that simple. As I soon found out by attending the 2011 MRL Workshop hosted by the California Specialty Crops Council this past June 1 & 2 in San Francisco, it is more than just tolerances. And how differently each country uses an MRL would make ones head spin.
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