Assembly Bill 52 came into effect in July 2015. It changes the Native American tribal role in the CEQA process, affecting project time-lines, lead agency responsibilities, the determination of significant impacts and the development of mitigation measures. These changes and recommendations for successful AB 52 compliance will be described and discussed.
Speakers:
David S. Whitley, Ph.D., RPA, ASM Affiliates
Dr. David S. Whitley is a Director at ASM Affiliates, Inc. and manages their Tehachapi office. He has worked on CEQA and NHPA compliance for 40 years. He has nominated and listed over 450 sites on the National Register of Historic Places. His professional publications include 17 books/monographs and approximately 100 articles and chapters. Included among his recent books are The Rock Art of California (University of Utah Press, 2000), the edited volume Handbook of Rock Art Research (AltaMira Press, 2001), and Introduction to Rock Art Research (Left Coast Press, 2005, second edition 2011), which received a Choice Outstanding Academic Book Award for 2006. His latest book is Cave Paintings and the Human Spirit: The Origin of Creativity and Belief (Prometheus Books, 2009). His publications have been translated into 5 languages beyond English. In 2001 he received the Thomas King Award from the Society for California Archaeology for Excellence in Cultural Resource Management.
Laura Miranda, Esq., Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, Vice-Chair California State Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC)
Laura Miranda is a tribal attorney specializing in environmental and tribal advocacy focusing on tribal cultural resources protection. She is a member of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, has a B.A. in philosophy from UCLA and a J.D. from Cornell Law School. Over the past 17 years of practicing Indian law, Ms. Miranda has held the positions of Directing Attorney with California Indian Legal Services, Deputy General Counsel with the Pechanga Tribe and Adjunct Faculty at UCLA Law School. Ms. Miranda has also been serving on the State of California Native American Heritage Commission since 2007.
Ms. Miranda's notable accomplishments include legislative work on a number of cultural resources protection laws, including Native Americans: California Environmental Quality Act - AB 52 (2014) sponsored by Assemblymember Gatto, where she served as one of the technical advisors.
Ms. Miranda is effective in building lasting and mutually beneficial relationships between tribal governments and local governments. She sincerely believes in identifying common ground, creative problem solving and mindful conflict resolution. With this as her road map she has been successful in negotiating numerous agreements and settlements on behalf of tribes with local government agencies and land developers concerning culturally appropriate treatment for cultural resources, sacred places and Native American human remains.
Date: Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Time: 11:30 AM Lunch, 12:00 – 1:00 PM Seminar
Cost: AEP Members - $5, Non-Members - $20, Student Non-Members - $10
Location: John's Incredible Pizza, Fresno - enter through the Party Central Door (http://binged.it/1QO06pB)
