Series Descriptions
R284.001, Box 1/1-Box 2/11
Series 1
Bill Files
1983-1986
Physical Description: 31 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by legislative session, then numerically by bill number.
Scope and Content Note
Bill files contain analyses, correspondence, notes, reports, and background material regarding state legislation that would
affect programs administered by the Environmental Affairs Agency, as well as issues under its jurisdiction. Legislative topics
include water rights, dumping and storage of hazardous materials, emission standards, solid waste disposal facilities, pesticide
use, and air and water pollution.
1983-1984: AB46-AB4047, ACR15, AJR10-AJR133 (12ff) Box 1/1-1/12
1983-1984: SB77-SB2332, SCR16-SCR60, SJR38 (9ff) Box 1/12-2/1
1985-1986: AB126-AB4325, ACR85, AJR42 (6ff) Box 2/2-2/7
1985-1986: SB59-SB2562, SCR5, SJR6 (4ff) Box 2/8-2/11
R284.002, Box 2/12-Box 2/13
Series 2
Proposed Legislation Files
1983-1986
Physical Description: 2 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year.
Scope and Content Note
This series contains analysis of specific bills and general legislative topics proposed by the boards administered by the
Environmental Affairs Agency: the State Water Resources Control Board, the California Waste Management Board, and the Air
Resources Board. Many of these proposed measures address the ability of each of the boards to conduct analysis, issue and
revoke permits, and administer programs. Other subjects include water treatment plants, water rights, litter law enforcement,
toxic air contaminants, and the monitoring of acid deposition. Also present within the files are legislative measures drafted
upon request of the Governor, which focus primarily on the control and proper disposal of hazardous waste.
R284.003, Box 2/14-Box 2/15
Series 3
Federal Legislation Files
1983-1986
Physical Description: 2 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year.
Scope and Content Note
The Environmental Affairs Agency closely followed several federal legislative measures, due to their potential significant
affect on California environmental law. These measures consist of HR6365 (1982), the "Panetta Moratorium Bill" which sought
to halt development of California's outer continental shelf; HR3400 (1983), which aimed to reduce acid rain through pollution
control; and HR1650 (1985), which amended the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974. Files include news releases, correspondence,
press clippings, notes, publications, and legislative analysis.
R284.004, Box 2/16-Box 11/7
Series 4
Subject Files
1976-1991
Physical Description: 232 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.
Scope and Content Note
Subject files span a wide variety of topics of interest to the Environmental Affairs Agency, and typically consist of correspondence,
background material, notes, and reports. Some subjects include artificial reefs, oil drilling fluids and cuttings, marine
sanctuaries, oil refineries, nuclear power plants, hard mineral mining, and sea otter recovery and translocation. Also notable
are files kept on specific oil companies, and their offshore activities. The file for Exxon Company, U.S.A., for example,
includes correspondence and litigation relating to the Exxon-Valdez oil spill of 1989.
For an alphabetical list of subject headings, see Appendix A in Additional Series Information.
Additional Series Information
R284.005, Box 11/8-Box 11/22
Series 5
Air Quality Files
1977-1987
Physical Description: 15 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.
Scope and Content Note
The Environmental Affairs Agency worked continuously towards achieving consistency between California state law and federal
environmental laws, specifically the Clean Air Act, and implementing policies to improve California's air quality. Materials
found in the Air Quality files were used by the agency as they addressed issues related to emission levels, air pollution
and the monitoring of air quality. The files consist of correspondence, rules and regulations, background material, notes,
reports, scientific studies and influential litigation. Specific topics include exploratory drilling emissions, aerometric
monitoring programs, California v. Watt, environmental impact reports, air pollution in Santa Barbara County, and the Tri-Agency
Air Quality Task Force.
R284.006, Box 11/23-Box 12/14
Series 6
Gorda Ridge Files
1982-1986
Physical Description: 20 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.
Scope and Content Note
This series relates to the United States Department of the Interior's proposed lease sale of the sea floor off the California
and Oregon coasts, called the Gorda Ridge, for deep-sea strip mining of zinc, copper, iron, lead, and silver in 1984. The
decision to lease the Gorda Ridge initiated much controversy in California, especially among those in the fishing and mining
industries. The Gorda Ridge files include background material, correspondence, public hearing transcripts, environmental
impact statements, and press releases. Particularly significant are the files of the Gorda Ridge Technical Task Force, a
fifteen member advisory body charged with making recommendations to the Department of the Interior regarding the Draft Environmental
Impact Statement issued for the lease sale of Gorda Ridge.
R284.007, Box 12/15-Box 13/13
Series 7
California Coastal Commission Files
1978-1989
Physical Description: 20 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.
Scope and Content Note
As the Governor's Outer Continental Shelf Policy Coordinator, the Secretary of Environmental Affairs was consistently involved
with the California Coastal Commission and its work to plan and regulate the use of land and water in the coastal zone. The
California Coastal Commission Files consist of background material, correspondence, notes, meeting minutes, reports, and regulatory
proposals that reflect the working relationship between the two organizations. Topics include the Ocean Studies Program,
proposed regulations and local Coastal Zone Management programs.
R284.008, Box 13/14-Box 14/5
Series 8
Coastal States Organization Files
1981-1989
Physical Description: 11 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of files related to the Coastal States Organization, a forum for Governors of all coastal states participating
in the resolution of nationally significant coastal conflicts. The Coastal States Organization led the legislative effort
to enact the federal Coastal Zone Management Act, which encouraged coastal states to design and implement coastal zone management
plans. The Coastal States Organization files include meeting minutes, publications, correspondence, memoranda, and other
material of interest to the Environmental Affairs Agency relating to California's coastal zone management plan. Some topics
that may be significant to researchers include the Exclusive Economic Zone and the regulation of dredge disposal by the Army
Corps of Engineers.
R284.009, Box 14/6-Box 15/18
Series 9
Department of the Interior Files
1978-1994
Physical Description: 35 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged into two subseries: (1) General Files and (2) Environmental Studies Plans.
R284.009
Subseries 1
General Files
1978-1991
Physical Description: 22 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.
Scope and Content
General Files consists of correspondence, news releases, proposed rules and regulations, and other material documenting the
exchanges between the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Affairs Agency. Of particular importance is the Five
Year Environmental Studies Program, which outlines Department of the Interior plans for outer continental shelf development.
Other topics include proprietary information agreements, the Georges Bank Biological Task Force, and Quarterly Program Status
Reports.
R284.009
Subseries 2
Environmental Studies Plans
1981-1994
Physical Description: 13 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by fiscal year.
Scope and Content
Environmental Studies Plans functioned as a means to implement environmental studies prior to any outer continental shelf
development activities in the Pacific Region. Each environmental studies plan was distributed by the Environmental Affairs
Agency on behalf of the Department of the Interior, to provide state and local agencies and organizations with an opportunity
to review the plans and make recommendations.
R284.010, Box 15/19-Box 17/20
Series 10
Outer Continental Shelf Files
1977-1991
Physical Description: 51 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.
Scope and Content Note
The Environmental Affairs Agency supervised and coordinated outer continental shelf policies for the State of California,
working closely with local governments and the federal government. The Outer Continental Shelf files reflect the agency's
specific interests and concerns regarding California's outer continental shelf, and cover topics such as the Outer Continental
Shelf Lands Act of 1978, management of royalties, labor in the offshore oil industry, and the potential environmental impacts
of outer continental shelf development. They consist of meeting minutes, publications, correspondence, press clippings, and
litigation. The files also include photographs and photographic slides documenting California's aesthetic coastal resources
in places like Humboldt and Orange counties, which were impacted by various development projects.
R284.011, Box 17/21-Box 19/8
Series 11
Outer Continental Shelf Lease Sale Files
1974-1991
Physical Description: 46 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged into two subseries: (1) OCS Leasing Subject Files and (2) OCS Lease Sale Files.
R284.011
Subseries 1
OCS Leasing Subject Files
1974-1991
Physical Description: 13 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.
Scope and Content
Outer Continental Shelf Leasing Subject Files contain meeting minutes, litigation, correspondence, reports, public hearing
transcripts, Draft Environmental Impact Reports, and other material pertaining to the outer continental shelf leasing policies
of the state and federal government. Subjects include leasing permit assistance, lease bidding systems, leasing moratoriums,
and exploration of possible lease areas in the outer continental shelf. Potentially of interest to researchers are materials
relating to the "Big Five Support Staff," a working group composed of representatives from the State Lands Commission, the
California Coastal Commission, and the counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The "Big Five" held periodic
meetings from 1985-1987 to discuss offshore oil development projects and issues, including leases and pending litigation.
R284.011
Subseries 2
Outer Continental Shelf Lease Sale Files
1980-1989
Physical Description: 15 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.
Scope and Content
Outer Continental Shelf Lease Sale Files include correspondence, reports, and other material concerning individual lease sales
offshore of California. The most controversial of these was arguably Lease Sale E-83-5, or the Point Conception Lease Sale,
which the State Lands Commission sought to open to competitive bids from oil companies. The 40,000 acres of land in question
were located in the waters offshore of Santa Barbara County, extending from Point Conception to Point Arguello. The proposed
lease sale marked the first instance that new lands were opened to leasing since the 1969 oil spill off the coast of Santa
Barbara.
R284.012, Box 19/9-Box 21/13
Series 12
Outer Continental Shelf Advisory Board Files
1977-1991
Physical Description: 47 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged into four subseries: (1) Outer Continental Shelf Advisory Board General Files, (2) Outer Continental Shelf Policy
Committee Files, (3) Pacific Regional Technical Working Group Files, and (4) Scientific Committee Files.
Scope and Content
The Environmental Affairs Agency collected materials relating to the Outer Continental Advisory Board, an organization comprised
of three committees, which functioned to provide advice to the federal Department of the Interior. Gordon W. Duffy, the Secretary
of Environmental Affairs, was appointed to the policy committee in 1983.
R284.12
Subseries 1
Outer Continental Shelf Advisory Board General Files
1981-1994
Physical Description: 6 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.
Scope and Content
Outer Continental Shelf Advisory Board General Files contain general information of importance to the Advisory Board. This
subseries consists of Background Materials, which include correspondence, board resolutions, reports, and meeting minutes;
and Events and Opportunities for Action, which contain "OCS Event Bulletins" that provide information on litigation, leasing
programs, and state and federal government responses to issues pertaining to outer continental shelf development.
R284.012
Subseries 2
Outer Continental Shelf Policy Committee Files
1980-1991
Physical Description: 36 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content
Outer Continental Shelf Policy Committee Files is composed of meeting minutes, litigation, correspondence, committee resolutions,
and information about committee membership and attendance. The materials cover the time period of 1980-1991. The files reveal
how the committee functioned in its capacity as an advisory body to the Department of the Interior, and include information
related to monitoring lease sales, coordinating leasing incentives and strategies, and developing policies to regulate development
of the outer continental shelf. Also within the files are records from the Subcommittee on the Five Year Outer Continental
Shelf Leasing Program. The subcommittee functioned as regional subcommittee of the Policy Committee. The file on the subcommittee
includes committee reports, member information, meeting agendas, and correspondence.
R284.012
Subseries 3
Pacific Regional Technical Working Group Files
1979-1991
Physical Description: 4 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content
Pacific Regional Technical Working Group Files include meeting minutes, meeting agendas, correspondence, press clippings,
and information about committee membership and attendance. These materials range in date from 1979-1991. Delegated to advise
the Secretary of the Department of the Interior on matters of regional concern regarding lease sale activities and transportation
related studies and management plans, the Pacific Regional Technical Working Group explored topics like crude oil pipelines,
transportation within offshore lease sale areas, and studies and measures to mitigate the impacts of outer continental shelf
development in the pacific region.
R284.012
Subseries 4
Scientific Committee File
1979-1981
Physical Description: 1 file folder
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content
The Scientific Committee File is comprised of one file folder of material covering the period 1979-1981. These materials
include meeting minutes, meeting agendas, and notes on meeting participation. The Scientific Committee provided advice to
the Secretary of the Department of the Interior regarding the appropriateness and scientific value of the outer continental
shelf studies program conducted offshore by the Bureau of Land Management. The committee adopted resolutions that affected
the scope of the environmental studies undertaken by the Bureau of Land Management, appealed for increased funding for environmental
studies, and issued scientific reports to the Policy Committee to aid in policy development.
R284.013, Box 21/14-Box 22/7
Series 13
Lake Tahoe Files
1971-1985
Physical Description: 18 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.
Scope and Content
Lake Tahoe files consist of background material, correspondence, notes, meeting minutes, reports and litigation. These materials
concern subjects like water quality, water quantity, erosion control, transportation, and air quality in the Lake Tahoe area.
Files contain information about the conflict between state agencies and the California Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, and
the California-Nevada Interstate Compact, an agreement that allocated water from Lake Tahoe to both California and Nevada.
Also of interest are the files kept on Brockway Springs, a controversial development project proposed for Kings Beach in North
Lake Tahoe that was opposed by the California Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.
R284.014, Box 22/7-Box 23/5
Series 14
Budget Files
1975-1985
Physical Description: 20 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by fiscal year.
Scope and Content
Budget files are composed of correspondence, reports, and budget change proposals for the boards administered by the Environmental
Affairs Agency, including the Air Resources Board, the Solid Waste Management Board, and the State Water Resources Control
Board. Budget change proposals consist of program maintenance and reorganization, adding or expanding new program functions,
and implementing legislation. The boards often requested increased funding for special programs, like the Resource Recovery
and Recycling Program, the Air Pollution Control Program, and the Leviathon Mine Pollution Abatement Project.
Note to the researcher: The budget file for the 1983-1984 fiscal year is missing from the series.
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