Clean California
Fighting for a Cleaner California
As gas, heating, and electricity prices reach all-time highs, and as the effects of greenhouse gasses on our natural environment continue to reveal themselves, California needs advocates ready to lead the state to a new energy future and to fight back to protect the state’s precious natural resources. Senator Leland Yee has worked tirelessly to create options for cleaner energy resources, strengthen laws holding polluters accountable for their effects on the environment, and to preserve California’s unique ecosystem.
For his efforts, Yee has been recognized as an environmental leader by the State’s major advocacy organizations: Yee has a 100% rating from the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters and Environment California. Yee was also named an “Environmental Champion” by Environmental California and a “Coastal Steward” by Vote the Coast, a grassroots organization committed to the protection of California coastal and ocean resources. In addition, he received the Resource Conservation Award from the California Resource Recovery Association.
Rated 100% pro-environment
For his voting record and strong advocacy of the environment in the California Assembly, Leland Yee received independent ratings from the state and district’s most respected environmental organizations:
• Rated 100%, Sierra Club of California
• Rated 100%, California League of Conservation Voters
• Rated 100%, Environment California
• Named 2004 “Coastal Steward,” Vote the Coast
Oil Spill Response
In 2007, a 900-foot container ship, the Cosco Busan, struck a Bay Bridge fender in dense fog, opening a 150-foot gash in ship’s side, spilling over 53,000-gallons of oil into the San Francisco Bay. Determinations by federal investigators showed that the failure to install standard navigation equipment on the Cosco Busan was a factor in the spill.
The 53,000-gallon spill resulted in the deaths of more than 2,000 migratory birds, including endangered and threatened species. Damage to beaches, wildlife and the fishing industry was estimated at $70 million.
In response Yee authored and passed a bill that required shipping vessel owners operating in San Francisco Bay to pay an additional surcharge toward training and updated navigation software and equipment, ensuring that a similar accident will not happen again.
Defending our Coastline
A representative for a district with more than fifty miles of coastline, Leland Yee has been a strong voice for protecting the coast, beaches and San Francisco Bay.
• Offshore Oil Drilling.
Authored and passed statewide resolution declaring California’s opposition to efforts by Republican Congressman Richard Pombo and the Bush administration to re-open California’s coastline to offshore oil drilling
• Oil Spills and Ship Pollution.
Helped pass anti-dumping legislation that bans large ships from releasing polluting materials into state waters and voted to require all oil produced from offshore facilities to be brought ashore by pipeline instead of much more dangerous barges
• Devil’s Slide Tunnel.
Moved key legislation to build the Devil’s Slide Tunnel along Highway 1, which avoided an alternate highway project that would have paved over a pristine coastal creek
• Protecting San Francisco Bay.
Supported San Francisco Charter Amendment requiring voter approval before any public project, such as SFO expansion, is allowed to fill 100 acres or more of San Francisco Bay
• Coastal Litter.
Introduced legislation to clean up the state’s beaches from the estimated 4.5 trillion cigarette butts littered there each year
• Coastal Contamination.
Joined fellow legislators from the Bay Area to raise environmental standards and fight microbiological contamination in and around San Francisco Bay
Making Polluters Pay
Leland Yee’s position on environmental damage is clear: when industry damages our natural environment, they should be accountable for the costs of repairing the harm done. And when state or federal government doesn’t take action against polluters, private citizens should be allowed to do so.
• Polluter Pays.
Strongly supported “Polluter Pays” legislation that requires polluters, not taxpayers, foot the bill for environmental cleanup and regulatory programs
• Water Contamination Liability.
Worked to pass new law that allows public water systems to hold polluters liable for the costs of investigating and cleaning up the contamination
• Toxic Injuries.
Supported law that would protect victims of toxic injuries by making it easier to recover damages from polluters
• Right to Sue.
Supports new law that would allow California citizens to sue polluters when state or federal regulators do not take action, as is the case in 16 other states
Protecting Parks, Forests and Open Space
As a San Francisco Supervisor, Leland Yee earned a reputation as an advocate for the parks and open space that make neighborhoods great. In the State Assembly and Senate, he has worked equally hard to protect the natural resources of California for people and wildlife.
• Cleaning Up Parks.
Authored and passed legislation allowing districts to impose stiffer fines and thereby repair damage caused by trail destruction, tree cutting, trash dumping, vandalism, and other illegal activity
• Farallone Islands.
Led effort to educate the public and build opposition to federal legislation that would have endangered the fragile, diverse ecosystem of the Farallone Islands, located just 27 miles off the San Francisco coast, which is home to over a quarter of a million seabirds and at least 36 different species of marine mammals
• Oak Woodlands.
Voted to protect oak woodlands by requiring the Board of Forestry to consider alternatives to projects that threaten state timberlands
Clean Air and Water
A Co-author of AB32, California’s historic Global Warming Solutions Act, which aims to reduce California’s green house gases levels by nearly 30% by 2020, Leland Yee is working hard to make California take a stand against global warming, air pollution and water contamination.
• Clean Fuels.
To reduce transportation emissions that cause almost 60 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in California, Leland Yee supported legislation to cut harmful emissions, promote clean fuels and more efficient car-parts, encourage non-motorized traffic, and facilitate car-sharing for commuters across the state
• Clean Power Generation.
Worked to reduce California’s petroleum dependence by supporting fast-track authorization for clean power generation projects around the state
• Agricultural Pollution.
Worked to impose strict emissions controls on polluting agricultural equipment in the central valley, phase out harmful agricultural open-field waste burning, and reduce harmful particulate matter emissions that are a major cause of asthma and respiratory disease
• Recycling.
Supported laws requiring cell phone retailers implement cell phone recycling programs to recycle and reuse the units otherwise discarded
• San Mateo County Pollution Grant.
Won a $228,480 grant from the California Integrated Waste Management Board, so San Mateo County can inspect and identify waste tire operations that pose serious risks to the public and environment
• Water Quality Standards.
Voted to strengthen water quality standards, improve monitoring and reporting requirements, and establish civil liability to violations of cease-and-desist and cleanup orders, and streamline and clarify California water quality law
• School Pesticides.
Voted to prohibit use at schools of pesticides that have not been tested by state health agencies
