Tahoe Regional Planning Compact Is On Its Way to Congress for Ratification

In 1968 the States of California and Nevada entered into a bi-state agreement for the purpose of protecting natural resources and controlling development in the Lake Tahoe region. The bi-state agreement was adopted by the States of California and Nevada, ratified by Congress and signed by the President of the United States in 1969. Under the terms of the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency was created to implement the provisions of the Compact. The first of those provisions was that TRPA would establish environmental thresholds or standards necessary to maintain the natural values of the region including air quality, water quality, soil conservation, vegetation preservation and noise. Additionally, TRPA was required to adopt a regional plan and implementing ordinances.

The first plan was adopted in 1987. The next plan was due in 2007. In 2010 TRPA began the long process of developing and adopting the Updated Regional Plan. TRPA conducted extensive public participation efforts in an attempt to include all stakeholders in the conversation and, hopefully, to reach a consensus on the plan update. During the Regional Plan Update process, several issues arose which required the modification of the Compact between the States of California and Nevada.

In 2011 the Nevada Legislature adopted Senate Bill 271 which would withdraw the State of Nevada from the Compact if a regional plan was not adopted and certain changes to the Compact were not made. Those changes included modifications to the voting procedures to facilitate approval of pro-development applications, and the requirement that consideration of economic circumstances be given in adopting regional plans. Also, when a challenge is mounted to a regional plan, the burden of proof is transferred from TRPA to the challenging party.

TRPA adopted the Regional Plan Update in December 2012. On May 14, 2013, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval and California Governor Jerry Brown announced an agreement to preserve the Compact. The Nevada Legislature adopted Senate Bill 229 to repeal Senate Bill 271. Similarly, the California Legislature adopted Senate Bill 630 to fulfill its obligations under the agreement. The amended Compact will now be forwarded to Congress for ratification.

To read more about this topic check out the article in the Sierra Sun. Additionally, the bill analysis of SB 630 can be reviewed on the Legislative Counsel’s website.