In an article for Bloomberg Law, Manatt Partner Matthew Williamson and Associate David McGrath discussed the creation of California’s new Board of Environmental Safety and its role in deciding appeals of the Department of Toxic Substances Control’s (DTSC) permitting decisions.
According to the article, the new board will hear and decide appeals of DTSC permitting decisions, which will replace the current internal DTSC administrative appeals office. “Whether this change will be an improvement is yet to be seen, but given the slow processing and lack of transparency in DTSC’s current processes, most DTSC stakeholders remain optimistic that the board appeal process will be an enhancement to the resolution of DTSC permitting appeals,” said the authors. The details of the board’s oversight functions have yet to be released, but will address the shortcomings in DTSC’s oversight, including lack of efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability.
Bloomberg Law subscribers can read the full article here.