Newsom Signs Law Adding Environmental Review for West Oakland Coal Project

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 40 into law, establishing strict regulatory hurdles for developers attempting to open a bulk coal shipping terminal in West Oakland. Titled the Community First Coal Review Act, the legislation was authored by East Bay Assemblymember Mia Bonta to address longstanding health and environmental justice concerns in neighborhoods near the waterfront.

The new statute mandates that any proposal to construct or operate a high-volume coal and petroleum coke export facility must first undergo a comprehensive environmental impact report detailing mitigation strategies for surrounding air quality. For over a decade, neighborhood groups and environmental organizers have pushed back against shipping coal by rail through urban flatlands, citing elevated rates of asthma and industrial pollution.

Local environmental advocates applauded the bill signing as an important safeguard against ongoing developer efforts to bypass local terminal bans. With state-level protections now codifying environmental scrutiny, proponents say the law provides Oakland with durable tools to protect community health.