August 30, 2018

The Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr. Governor, State of California State Capitol, First Floor Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: Assembly Bill 2832 (Dahle) – REQUEST FOR SIGNATURE

Dear Governor Brown:

On behalf of the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), I am writing to respectfully urge your signature on Assembly Bill 2832. AB 2832, authored by Assembly Member Brian Dahle, would require the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to work with other state entities and stakeholders to identify approaches for the reuse or recycling of lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles and to submit a report to the Legislature by July 1, 2020, based on their findings. RCRC is an association of thirty-five rural California counties, and the RCRC Board of Directors is comprised of elected supervisors from those member counties.

In addition, twenty-four member counties have formed the Rural Counties’ Environmental Services Joint Powers Authority (ESJPA) to provide assistance to solid waste managers in rural counties. These solid waste managers have been charged with ensuring that their respective counties meet state-imposed requirements in order to reduce waste being disposed in landfills and increase recycling/re-use efforts for certain products.

To meet the state’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions goals, car manufacturers are required to provide an increasing percentage of electric vehicles. While the life of the batteries is expected to generally be 7-10 years, at some point in the future, the state can anticipate a large volume of discarded lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles when the batteries no longer function for their intended purpose. The state should be prepared to properly handle and divert these batteries from the waste stream before it becomes a problem.

AB 2832 would require the Secretary of Environmental Protection to convene a Lithium-ion Car Battery Recycling Advisory Group, with specified members, and submit policy recommendations to the Legislature by April 1, 2020, aimed at ensuring that 90

The Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr. Assembly Bill 2832 August 30, 2018 Page 2 percent of end-of-life lithium-ion vehicle batteries discarded in the state are recycled in a safe and cost-effective manner in the state. RCRC believes AB 2832 is a mechanism for the state to be prepared to properly handle discarded lithium-ion batteries.

Again, RCRC respectfully requests your signature on AB 2832.

Sincerely,

PAUL A. SMITH Vice President Governmental Affairs

cc: The Honorable Brian Dahle, Member of the State Assembly The Honorable Melissa Melendez, Member of the State Assembly The Honorable , Member of the State Assembly The Honorable Freddie Rodriguez, Member of the State Assembly The Honorable , Member of the State Assembly The Honorable , Member of the State Assembly The Honorable , Member of the State Assembly The Honorable Dante Acosta, Member of the State Assembly The Honorable , Member of the State Assembly