Wilmer Amina Carter

AB 576, sponsored by the Legislative Black Caucus, included 35 Assembly co-authors, including Speaker Fabian Núñez as a principal co-author. 

"This legislation is designed to protect the cultural, historical and environmental integrity" of the park and preserve its place on the National Registry of Historic Places," said Ms. Carter.

She further continued that, "This legislation is pro-Allensworth, not anti-dairy. The 2.5 mile buffer zone proposed in this legislation would protect the park, while ensuring that the county's vital agricultural industry can continue." Carter noted that Tulare would be the only county affected by this legislation.

Carter's bill "grandfathers" existing dairies, and there are no dairies currently within the 2.5 mile buffer.  "The zone," says Carter, "would protect the park from potential foul odor, flies and groundwater degradation from large scale, commercial animal feeding operations."

Assemblymember Fabian Nunez

In 1976 then-Governor Ronald Reagan designated the community a state historic park. During the last few years, the State of California has spent approximately $13 million to preserve this community site.

This bill, Carter said, "is consistent with the spirit of the Tulare County Animal Confinement Facilities Plan, which is the governing ordinance designed to protect residents, parks and environmental treasures from the affects of a large scale, commercial dairy operation."    The bill moves to the Senate where it will be assigned to a Senate Policy committee.

ALLENSWORTH 222

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors recently approved plans for the 12,000 cow dairy facility adjacent to Allensworth State Park, despite opposition from state and federal agencies, who have formally expressed opposition to the environmental impact report for the proposed dairy operation.

The bill passed out of the Water Parks and Wildlife on a vote of 9 to 4 on April 18.