Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that establishes a new program that protects blue whales and blue skies in California.

Highlights:

• Specifies that the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Sky Program is crucial in protecting marine mammals, the maritime industry, and local public health (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that stakeholders will advise efforts to implement a voluntary statewide vessel speed reduction and sustainable shipping program that aims to reduce air pollution, fatal vessel strikes on whales, and harmful underwater acoustic impacts (Sec. 1).

•  Limits the expansion of the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Sky Program to remain as a single program (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes data collection for ship speed along the California Coast, underwater acoustic impacts, fatal vessel strikes on whales, regional air quality impacts to the coast, and regional air quality impacts to coastal disadvantaged communities (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the program only applies to vessels that are 300 gross tons or greater (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text