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- Written by: California Department of Food and Agriculture
The board is composed of eleven members and the IHAB vacancy is for a representative who intends to register as a grower of industrial hemp.
The member shall be a representative of at least one of the following functions: seed production, seed conditioning, marketing and/or seed utilization.
The term of office for board members is three years. This position is a mid-term appointment and the term ends on May 31, 2020.
Members will meet at least once per year, but may meet more frequently if needed. The members receive no compensation, but are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the California Department of Human Resources.
The board will advise CDFA and make recommendations on matters including, but not limited to, industrial hemp seed law and regulations, enforcement, annual budgets, and the setting of an assessment rate.
Individuals interested in being considered for this board appointment should send a brief resumé to Michelle Pham by April 19, 2018 at California Department of Food and Agriculture, Pest Exclusion Branch, 1220 N St., Room 344, Sacramento, CA 95814, Attention: Michelle Pham.
For additional information, you may contact the Nursery, Seed and Cotton Program at 916-654-0435.
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- Written by: Pacific Fishery Management Council
The council will select a final alternative at their next meeting in Portland, Ore., April 6 to 11.
Detailed information about season starting dates, areas open, and catch limits for all three alternatives are available on the Council’s Web site at www.pcouncil.org .
Fisheries north of Cape Falcon (in northern Oregon) are limited by the need to reduce catch of lower Columbia natural tule Chinook and coho stocks of concern. Additionally, three stocks of coho (Queets River, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Snohomish) currently meet the criteria for overfished status, which is also a concern when structuring 2018 fisheries.
The council also provided guidance to structure ocean fisheries so that the ocean escapement of Columbia River upriver bright fall Chinook is at least 200,000 fish, which will allow more access to that healthy stock in Columbia River treaty Indian and non-Indian fisheries.
Fisheries south of Cape Falcon are limited by the need to reduce catch of Oregon Coast natural coho, Klamath River fall Chinook, Sacramento River fall Chinook, and Rouge/Klamath coho. Klamath River fall Chinook and Sacramento River fall Chinook contribute significantly to ocean harvest, but both met the criteria for overfished status as a result of poor returns over the past three years.
However, the forecast for Klamath River fall Chinook is substantially improved over last year, and both stocks are projected to meet their spawning escapement objectives under this year’s management alternatives.
“Although some abundance forecasts are improved over last year, the 2018 salmon runs still present a challenge for ocean fishermen and managers throughout the west coast,” said Executive Director Chuck Tracy. “In the north, low returns of some Puget Sound and Washington coastal coho runs and lower Columbia River natural tule fall Chinook will constrain fisheries. In the south, the conservation needs of Sacramento River fall Chinook and Rogue/Klamath coho will constrain fisheries.”
“Once again, the Council adopted a range of management alternatives for public review designed to conserve and rebuild a broad range of Chinook and coho stocks of concern. Commercial and recreational fisheries will face restrictions in areas along the entire west coast in response to the Council’s conservation efforts” said Council Chair Phil Anderson.
Northern Oregon and Washington (north of Cape Falcon)
Sport season alternatives
Ocean sport fishery alternatives north of Cape Falcon in Oregon and off the Washington coast include Chinook recreational quotas ranging from 22,500 to 32,500, a decrease from 2017. For coho, recreational quotas range from 16,800 to 42,000 hatchery coho, compared to 42,000 in 2017.
Starting dates range from June 23 to July 1, and in all alternatives, recreational fisheries are scheduled to run through early September. Both coho and Chinook retention are allowed in all alternatives.
Commercial season alternatives
Non-Indian ocean commercial fishery alternatives north of Cape Falcon include traditional Chinook seasons between May and September. Chinook quotas for all areas and times range from 22,500 to 32,500, compared to 45,000 in 2017.
Coho quotas in the commercial fishery alternatives range from 3,200 to 5,600 marked coho, similar to 2017.
Tribal ocean fisheries north of Cape Falcon
Chinook and coho quotas for tribal ocean fishery alternatives range from 30,000 to 50,000 for Chinook salmon, and from 12,500 to 40,000 for coho. Seasons open May 1 and run through September 15.
California and southern Oregon (south of Cape Falcon)
Sport season alternatives
Chinook fishing in the Tillamook, Newport, and Coos Bay areas all open March 15 and run continuously through Oct. 31.
Oregon ocean recreational alternatives include mark-selective coho fishing seasons starting in late June and running through mid-August or Labor Day Weekend in the area between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mountain.
Quotas range from 20,000 to 40,000 marked coho. In addition, non-mark-selective fisheries are proposed for the area between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mt. in September, with quotas of 4,500 to 9,800 coho.
Due to improved forecasts of Klamath River fall Chinook abundance in 2018 compared to 2017, the Klamath Management Zone was reopened in both California and Oregon this year.
Ocean sport fishing is restricted below Horse Mountain, California compared to recent years, due to the stock status of Sacramento River fall Chinook.
Alternatives for 2018 fisheries were structured to allow for spawning escapement in excess of what is required under the Salmon Fishery Management Plan in an effort to begin the rebuilding process for both Klamath River fall Chinook and Sacramento River fall Chinook.
Commercial season alternatives
Commercial season alternatives south of Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. are constrained this year to protect Sacramento and Klamath River fall Chinook. Chinook salmon seasons open May through October with closed periods in May through August.
The commercial alternatives reopen salmon fishing in both the California and Oregon sectors of the Klamath Management Zone this year, although the Oregon portion is closed in Alternative III. Fishing opportunity is provided primarily by a range of monthly Chinook quotas between May and September.
Commercial season alternatives south of the Klamath Management Zone are also restricted this year to protect Sacramento River fall Chinook. All areas are limited to about two to three months of fishing or less.
Public hearings to receive input on the alternatives are scheduled for March 26 in Westport, Washington and Coos Bay, Oregon, and for March 27 in Salinas, Calif.
The council will consult with scientists, hear public comment, revise preliminary decisions, and choose a final alternative at its meeting April 6 to 11 in Portland.
The council will forward its final season recommendations to National Marine Fisheries Service for its approval and implementation by May 1.
All council meetings are open to the public.
- Details
- Written by: Department of Insurance
The recent revision to the Federal Tax Schedule for 2018 reduced the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent.
As a result some insurers, whose rates were based on the 35 percent corporate tax rate may now be charging excessive rates.
In California the prior approval process that applies to property and casualty insurance rates limits insurer profits and rates.
The notice reminds insurance companies with excessive rates that they are obligated to file a rate change application with the department to ensure they are complying with Proposition 103.
"I am working to make sure insurance companies are not taking advantage of their policyholders," said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. "In California insurer profits are limited under Proposition 103, therefore the savings they realize from the tax reductions should result in those savings being passed on to policyholders through lower premiums."
In January, Commissioner Jones directed the department to commence a regulatory review of insurers' rates due to the federal corporate tax rate cuts.
The commissioner also modified the Prior-Approval Rate Making Regulations to properly reflect the change in tax savings from the corporate tax rate cuts.
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- Written by: Editor
On Thursday, Sen. McGuire introduced amendments to SB 1029 – the Great Redwood Trail Act – setting in motion the legislative process that will address the future of the North Coast rail line which would eventually connect the San Francisco and Humboldt Bays.
“The decisions made two decades ago to create a rail agency without some base level of funding have proven unrealistic and we have spent the past months having honest, and difficult, conversations about exactly where it is practical for freight to operate on the rail line. These discussions have been focused on the highest and best use of the remaining miles of track,” McGuire said.
“Our goal moving forward is to create a world class trail system for the entire length of the line – from San Francisco Bay to the Humboldt Bay – which would be a destination for locals and outdoor enthusiasts from across the planet,” McGuire added. “The trail would be a significant economic driver for our region and traverse through some of America’s most scenic landscapes, connecting folks with ancient redwoods, state parks and local trails.”
Facing aging infrastructure that has fallen into disrepair on large portions of the rail line, as well as a long-term lack of sustainable funding, the North Coast Rail Authority (NCRA) will be dissolved through SB 1029, and the 300 mile long right-of-way will be segmented in two.
The Northern Segment – from Willits to Arcata – will be temporarily transferred to the state Department of Transportation, who is charged with beginning the “railbanking” process, cataloging property easements and advancing environmental work.
The Great Redwood Trail Agency would then take over to start building the actual Trail in the coming couple of years. The legislation will also authorize the continuation of excursion and potential freight trains around Humboldt Bay.
The Southern Segment, from Willits to Lombard in southern Sonoma County, will be transferred to a separate agency, who will be responsible for continuing freight operation on the portion of the line currently active, and for creating the southern portion of the Great Redwood Trail.
No specific successor agency has been decided upon yet, as it’s still very early in the legislative process and discussions are continuing.
SB 1029 will also allow a freight rail study to be completed to measure the potential interest in continuing or expanding freight operations.
SB 1029 will be heard in the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee in early April.