Wilson Urged to Sign Coastal Protection Bills

State legislators and environmental groups gathered on the Santa Monica Pier on Wednesday to urge Gov. Pete Wilson to sign seven bills they said will protect public health and coastal ecology.

State Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Los Angeles) and Assembly members Wally Knox (D-Los Angeles), Debra Bowen (D-Torrance) and Michael Sweeney (D-Hayward) were joined Wednesday by officials from Heal the Bay, American Oceans Campaign and the Natural Resources Defense Council in calling for Wilson’s approval of the legislation.

Steve Fleischli, a legal and policy analyst for Heal the Bay, said the bills require regular water testing at public beaches, establish inspection programs for contaminated fish, develop plans for cleanup of toxic hot spots, establish two marine refuges off the coast of Malibu and improve storm water runoff inspection.

Fleischli said Heal the Bay worked with the governor’s staff to amend some of the bills and improve their chances for Wilson’s approval.

Fleischli said he thought Wilson would probably sign a bill requiring uniform standards for monitoring beach water quality (AB 411) and the one requiring changes to runoff inspection, but he had no predictions for the success of the other five items.

Wilson has until Oct. 12 to either sign or veto the bills or allow them to become law without his signature.