Deukmejian Signs DFG Measures

Among the last official acts of an outgoing governor often criticized for being soft on environmental issues was the signing of five bills worth $19.45 million to the California Department of Fish and Game.

On the last day before bills passed by the legislature this year would expire on his desk, Gov. George Deukmejian approved the DFG’s so-called “bail-out” package Sunday.

Developers had lobbied hard against a key bill--AB 3158 by Assemblyman Jim Costa (D-Fresno)--that will require them to pay specified fees from $850 to $1,250 for each environmental report required for a project.

That is expected to cost builders $8.2 million a year--an expense that otherwise would be borne by the DFG.

Another bill--AB 2126 by Gerald N. Felando (R-San Pedro)--will cost commercial fishermen an additional $3.5 million in licenses and fees each year.

Also, AB 3727 by Costa will provide $6.6 million in loans to cover a shortfall in the fiscal year that ended July 1. The DFG was authorized to borrow $3.6 million from the Environmental License Plate Fund and $3 million from the Off-Highway Vehicle--or “Green Sticker”--Fund.

Deukmejian vetoed a bill that would have changed the DFG’s name to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, shifting focus to the department’s purely environmental role for non-hunted species.

Before the funding bills were passed, DFG Director Pete Bontadelli had indicated that shortages would require the department to close two fish hatcheries and lay off scores of biologists--or at best use them to fill vacancies in the department where their special abilities might not be utilized.

Now, officials said, nobody will be laid off or transferred and only one fish hatchery will be closed--the catfish hatchery at Imperial Valley, which loses most of its fish to predatory birds, anyway.

The Mojave River hatchery at Victorville, which provides fish for Southern California’s freshwater fisheries, will remain open.

Bontadelli, a former legislative aide appointed by Deukmejian in 1987, was believed to be the architect of the bail-out package, in concert with Deukmejian, Costa and Felando.

Two other bills sponsored by Assemblyman Dan Hauser (D-Arcata) will increase annual revenue from hunting and fishing programs. One--AB 2848--will allow the DFG to auction up to three permits for the tule elk hunt apart from the lottery drawing.

The other--AB 3703--increases the minimum fine for fishing or hunting without a license from $100 to $250.