California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order temporarily suspending landmark environmental laws to allow victims of wildfires to rebuild their destroyed homes and businesses faster.
Newsweek has contacted Newsom's office for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Wildfires have devastated communities across the Los Angeles area, burning through an area larger than San Francisco and destroying more than 12,000 structures since January 7.
At least 24 people have died, and at least 100,000 remain under evacuation orders. Early estimates indicate the fires may be the costliest in U.S. history. AccuWeather, a private forecaster, has put the damage and economic loss between $135 billion and $150 billion.
What To Know
On Sunday, Newsom signed an executive order that suspends requirements for permits and reviews under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act for properties that were substantially damaged or destroyed in the fires.
CEQA, which was signed into law in 1970 by then-Governor Ronald Reagan, requires public agencies to regulate activities that may affect the environment.
Newsom's order also directs state agencies to identify other permitting requirements that can safely be suspended to accelerate rebuilding.
It also calls for the state's Department of Housing and Community Development to coordinate with the affected jurisdictions to establish new rules that would allow all permits and approvals to be issued within 30 days.
The California Coastal Commission, the agency tasked with coordinating with officials in enforcing the Coastal Act, has said the law already ensures that the reconstruction of homes and other structures destroyed by a disaster are exempt from typical permits, provided the new structure is in the same location and not more than 10 percent larger than the one destroyed.
What People Are Saying
Newsom told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday: "California leads the nation in environmental stewardship. I'm not going to give that up. But one thing I won't give into is delay. Delay is denial for people: lives, traditions, places torn apart, torn asunder … We're going to be back. We're going to do it efficiently and effectively.
"Don't turn your back. Don't walk away, because we want you to come back, rebuild, and rebuild with higher-quality building standards, more modern standards. We want to make sure that the associated costs with that are not disproportionate, especially in a middle-class community like this."
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a news conference on Thursday: "With so many homes and businesses lost, we are already putting plans in place to make sure that we aggressively rebuild. My office is leading the city effort to clear the way. Red tape, bureaucracy—all of it must go."
Kate Huckelbridge, the California Coastal Commission's executive director, told the Los Angeles Times: "When the time comes to rebuild, both the Coastal Act and the Governor's Executive Order provide a clear pathway for replacing lost structures quickly and easily."
What Happens Next
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, as of Monday morning, the Palisades fire was 14 percent contained. The Eaton fire was 33 percent contained, and the Hurst fire was 95 percent contained.
Firefighters are bracing for severe wind conditions that could further challenge efforts to gain control of the fires.
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