A CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT DECISION REGARDING A PLASTIC BAG BAN HAS BEEN REACHED. THE COURT UPHELD A BAN PASSED IN MANHATTAN BEACH, RULING THAT AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REVIEW WAS NOT REQUIRED IN THAT CASE. THE DECISION HAS GIVEN ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY NEW MOMENTUM TO URGE A PLASTIC BAG BAN HERE. COUNTY SUPERVISORS HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE PROPOSAL, AND A VOTE IS EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN SOMETIME AFTER A WASTE MANAGEMENT MEETING IN SEPTEMBER. HOWEVER OPPONENTS OF SUCH A BAN SAY THAT THE COURT RULING DOES NOT AFFECT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY…THE RULING WAS SPECIFIC IN WAVING THE IMPACT REVIEW IN THAT PARTICULAR CASE, LEAVING OPEN THE NECESSITY FOR OTHER JURIDICTIONS TO CONDUCT ONE. SANTA CRUZ COUNTY HAS NOT CONDUCTED SUCH A STUDY.
