Assembly Joint Resolution
No. 2
CHAPTER 142
Relative to coastal and marine waters.
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Filed with
Secretary of State
September 17, 2021.
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LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AJR 2, O’Donnell.
Coastal and marine waters: Santa Catalina Island: dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane.
This measure would request that the Congress of the United States and the United States Environmental Protection Agency take all measures necessary to prevent further damage to California’s citizens, wildlife, and natural resources by the dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane waste dumped in the waters near Santa Catalina Island.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee:
NO WHEREAS, California’s coastal and marine waters are among the state’s most precious resources and their conservation is essential to the preservation of both marine wildlife and California’s thriving ocean economy, including fishing, tourism, commerce, and recreation sectors; and
WHEREAS, Santa Catalina Island and its surrounding waters provide habitats for a variety of marine creatures, including mantis shrimp, horn and leopard sharks, moray eels, and several species of sea birds; and
WHEREAS, Santa Catalina Island also serves as a key part of southern California’s ocean tourism economy, generating over one hundred sixty million dollars ($160,000,000) in economic activity in 2016 and receiving over 1,000,000 visitors in 2019; and
WHEREAS, Despite critical protections provided by the federal Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-532), the dumping of hazardous material in ocean waters before the implementation of that act continues to threaten the health of California’s citizens and wildlife to this day; and
WHEREAS, The rediscovered dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) waste dumping site off the north coast of Santa Catalina Island represents a significant threat to the health of marine life in those waters and all animals in the food chain dependent on that marine life; and
WHEREAS, The threat posed by these contaminants to the ecosystems on and around Santa Catalina Island also constitutes a threat to the ocean economy of the island and California, which depends on the continued health of marine life and safety of those experiencing California’s waters; and
WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon both the state and federal government to ensure these precious natural resources are preserved for future generations and protected from further damage by past ecological mistakes; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature requests that the Congress of the United States and the United States Environmental Protection Agency take all measures necessary to prevent further damage to California’s citizens, wildlife, and natural resources by the DDT waste dumped in the waters near Santa Catalina Island; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, and to the author for appropriate distribution.