<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "> http://<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/09/03/1236082/-Rep-Matsui-asks-Governor-to-postpone-BDCP-document-release">www.dailykos.com/story/2013/09/03/1236082/-Rep-Matsui-asks-Governor-to-postpone-BDCP-document-release</a><div><br></div>P<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; ">hoto of Rep. Doris Matsui at a press conference on the banks of the Sacramento River with other northern California Congress Members on May 31 by Dan Bacher.</span><br><br><img src="cid:B566385F-45DE-4BEC-8947-90F02B763851@local"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(23, 52, 92); min-height: 12px; "><a href="http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2013/09/03/img_2654.jpg"></a><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; "><font face="Verdana" size="2" color="#17345c" style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(23, 52, 92); "><a href="http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2013/09/03/img_2654.jpg"><b>800_img_2654.jpg</b><b></b></a></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; "><font face="Verdana" size="2" color="#17345c" style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(23, 52, 92); "><a href="http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2013/09/03/img_2654.jpg"><u>original image ( 5184x3456)</u><u></u></a></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 13px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 24px; ">Rep. Matsui asks Governor to postpone BDCP document rele</span></font></font><font face="Verdana" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 24px; ">ase </span></font></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">by Dan Bacher </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">Expressing “deep concerns” regarding the assumption that federal funding will be required to construct the peripheral tunnels, Congresswoman Doris Matsui Doris Matsui (CA-06) and six other Representatives sent a letter to Governor Jerry Brown asking him to postpone the release of Bay Delta Conservation Plan documents. </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">Representatives George Miller (CA-11), Mike Thompson (CA-05), Jerry McNerney (CA-09), John Garamendi (CA-03), Anna Eshoo (CA-18) and Ami Bera (CA-07) also signed the letter. </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">The state of California plans to release its draft BDCP Plan for public comment on October 1, 2013, just a month from the date of the legislators' letter, August 30. </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">The letter was released a time when a revised tunnel plan, supposedly developed to have less impact upon North Delta communities, faces increased scrutiny, due to the destructive impacts it would have upon sandhilll cranes on Staten Island. (<a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2013/09/01/5698188/new-water-tunnel-route-sets-up.html"><font color="#17345c" style="color: rgb(23, 52, 92); "><u>http://www.sacbee.com/2013/09/01/5698188/new-water-tunnel-route-sets-up.html</u></font></a>) </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">“Given the deep cuts to the federal budget over the past few years and the parameters of sequestration, the letter expresses concern with the assumption that federal funding for the BDCP will take over other important national infrastructure and conservation priorities,” according to a news release from Matsui’s office. </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">The legislators point to the BDCP's draft of Chapter 8, which assumes that up to $4 billion in federal funding will be set aside for the construction of the BDCP project. </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">“We believe this is an unrealistic assumption given historical funding levels of established programs, severe budget cuts, other commitments by federal agencies for this funding, and our overall concern that the BDCP process is not being governed by sound science,” the letter stated. </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">They said Chapter 8 specifically identifies federal funding accounts that will require appropriations to specifically be designated for the BDCP, including the following: </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><i>CVPIA – Central Valley Project Improvement Act Restoration Fund (USBOR) </i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><i>CA Bay-Delta Restoration Appropriations (USBOR) </i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><i>Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (USFWS) </i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><i>The Land and Water Conservation Fund (USFWS) </i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><i>National Coastal Wetlands conservation grants (USFWS) </i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><i>CA Bay-Delta Restoration Appropriations (USFWS) </i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><i>Regional Ecosystem Conservation (NMFS) </i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><i>Estuary Restoration Act (NMFS) </i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><i>National/Regional Partnership Grants (NMFS) </i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><i>CA Bay-Delta Restoration Appropriations (NMFS) </i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><i>CA Bay-Delta Restoration Appropriations (USACE) </i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><i>San Francisco Bay Area Water Quality Improvement Fund (USEPA) </i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><i>CA Bay-Delta Restoration Fund (USEPA) </i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><i>Environmental Quality Incentives Program (NRCS) </i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><i>Wetlands Reserve Program (NRCS) </i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><i>CA Bay-Delta Restoration Appropriations (NRCS) </i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); "><i>CA Bay-Delta Restoration Appropriations (USGS) </i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">“Despite meetings with senior federal and state officials to discuss our concerns, we continue to believe the current BDCP plan and process are deeply flawed and do not warrant federal funding at this time, especially to the levels called out for in the draft plan," the letter stated. "Additionally, Northern California stakeholders continue to be left out of the process. The lack of involvement is particularly troubling given that the State plans to release its draft BDCP Plan for public comment on October 1, 2013." </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">“We request that you postpone the release of the BDCP management plan until all stakeholders are at the table, sound science is conducted, and a workable financing plan is developed,” they said. </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">The complete letter is available here: <a href="http://matsui.house.gov/press-releases/rep-matsui-leads-letter-expressing-concern-with-assumption-of-federal-funding-for-bdcp/"><font color="#17345c" style="color: rgb(23, 52, 92); "><u>http://matsui.house.gov/press-releases/rep-matsui-leads-letter-expressing-concern-with-assumption-of-federal-funding-for-bdcp/</u></font></a> </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">Governor Jerry Brown is fast-tracking the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) to build the peripheral tunnels under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in order to export massive quantities of water to corporate agribusiness interests and oil companies seeking to expand fracking operations in Kern County and coastal areas. (<a href="http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/08/07/the-ocean-frackers"><font color="#17345c" style="color: rgb(23, 52, 92); "><u>http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/08/07/the-ocean-frackers</u></font></a>) </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">The construction of the tunnels will hasten the extinction of Central Valley salmon and steelhead, Delta and longfin smelt, green sturgeon and other fish species, as well as pose enormous risk to sandhill crane populations. </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">The “changed” Delta plan released on August 14 does not change the fact that 48 significant and unavoidable impacts that are identified in the BDCP will be inflicted on Delta communities, fisheries, farms, and boaters, according to tunnel critics. </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">“This new proposal does not even consider the significant harm that would come to sandhill cranes that nest on Staten Island,” said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta. “These magnificent birds will do even worse than Delta residents with around the clock construction noise, traffic, and tunnel muck, disrupting their nursing areas.” </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">“Jerry Meral refuses to acknowledge these 48 significant and unavoidable impacts publicly; he directed Dr. David Sunding to ignore these impacts in the incomplete economic analysis released last week; and this latest attempt to sell the plan as improved points to new disasters in the making,” according to Barrigan-Parrilla. </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#111111" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">For more information, go to: <a href="http://www.restorethedelta.org/"><font color="#17345c" style="color: rgb(23, 52, 92); "><u>http://www.restorethedelta.org</u></font></a>. </font></div></body></html>