Bill Overview
Title: Salton Sea Public Health and Environmental Protection Act of 2022
Description: This bill provides support for restoring the Salton Sea in California. Specifically, the Bureau of Reclamation must establish a program to provide for water quality improvements, dust mitigation, and environmental restoration at the Salton Sea. The Department of the Interior must, in coordination with efforts by California, engage in activities to improve dust control and habitat conservation. Interior must also establish a Salton Sea Council to coordinate and expedite various Salton Sea projects.
Sponsors: Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-36]
Target Audience
Population: People living near or economically dependent on the Salton Sea
Estimated Size: 1000000
- The Salton Sea is located in Southern California, so the immediate region's residents will be directly impacted.
- Dust mitigation efforts will affect individuals in terms of air quality improvement, benefiting residents with potential respiratory conditions.
- Environmental restoration will benefit wildlife and ecosystems in the area, indirectly affecting people who rely on these natural resources for economic activities like fishing or tourism.
- Federal and state coordinated efforts indicate a possibility of funds directly or indirectly influencing local economic activities and employment.
- Water quality improvements will potentially impact agricultural productivity if irrigation or other agricultural inputs derive from the affected water sources.
Reasoning
- The primary population affected by the Salton Sea Public Health and Environmental Protection Act is located in Southern California. This includes residents, workers, and those who have economic ties to the area, especially in sectors like agriculture and tourism, which are reliant on local environmental conditions.
- People with pre-existing respiratory conditions will see improvements due to dust mitigation efforts, which is a significant consideration for the wellbeing scores.
- Budgetary restrictions imply that while improvements will be significant, they must be targeted and may not completely resolve all environmental issues at the Salton Sea immediately.
- The policy will have little direct effect on individuals who are not living near or are not economically dependent on the Salton Sea, which should be reflected in the distribution of interviews across medium to low impact individuals.
Simulated Interviews
Farmer (Coachella, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy sounds beneficial as it may improve water quality, which is vital for my crops.
- Dust mitigation can help with the health issues both in my family and workforce.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Environmental Scientist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm excited by the comprehensive approach this policy takes, as it could set a precedent for other environmental projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retiree (Salton City, CA)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If dust levels decrease, my quality of life could improve significantly.
- The environmental restoration might boost local tourism, which helps our area thrive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Tour Guide (San Diego, CA)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Restoring the Salton Sea could open up more eco-tourism opportunities which is great for my business.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Real Estate Agent (Palm Springs, CA)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might increase property values as the environment becomes more desirable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
School Teacher (Imperial, CA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that the policy will reduce health risks for my students and improve our educational activities outdoors.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Respiratory Therapist (Riverside, CA)
Age: 63 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better air quality would directly improve patient health outcomes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Landscape Photographer (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I’m not directly affected, the environmental improvements could create more stunning landscapes to capture.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Civil Engineer (Calexico, CA)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might stimulate infrastructure development around the Salton Sea.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Agricultural Worker (Indio, CA)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improvement in water quality ensures the continuation of my job and better health conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $140000000)
Year 2: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $140000000)
Year 3: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $140000000)
Year 5: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $140000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The local environmental and economic context of the Salton Sea region is complex, requiring coordinated efforts across multiple government levels.
- Monitoring and compliance will be crucial to the project's success, necessitating adaptive management strategies.
- The timing of climate-related impacts and regional weather patterns could affect dust control efficacy and water quality efforts.