In March of 2021, the City of Thousand Oaks posted an agenda for its regular City Council meeting in which it was stated that the City would consider awarding a new exclusive solid waste management franchise agreement. During...more
On September 30, 2021, certain COVID-related suspensions of filing, noticing, and posting deadlines and tribal consultation timelines mandated by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and CEQA Guidelines and certain...more
On May 29, 2020, the California Judicial Council amended its Emergency Rule 9 to provide fixed dates for the tolling of statutes of limitations and repose for civil actions. The prior version of Emergency Rule 9 had tied such...more
In Stopthemillenniumhollywood.com, et al. v. City of Los Angeles, et al. the Second District Court of Appeal (Division 3) invalidated the final environmental impact report (EIR) and entitlements for the Millennium Project, a...more
The amendments to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines described in our previous legal alert have been approved by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) and filed by the Secretary of State. The OAL...more
Following a preparation process that has taken more than five years, amendments to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines are poised to take effect shortly....more
On January 26, 2018, the California Natural Resources Agency issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding proposed amendments to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines (Title 14 of the California Code...more
After a four-year long process, on November 27, 2017, the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) announced the availability of a comprehensive package of proposed amendments to the California Environmental Quality...more
Renewable Energy Focus - EPA warns of high cost of climate change: New York Times - Jun 22:
In the absence of global action to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the United States by the end of the century may face up to...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - California court rules tiered water pricing plan violates Prop 218: Allen Matkins - Apr 21:
California's local water suppliers, hit with reduction requirements varying from 8 percent to...more
Environmental and Policy Focus: Berkeley Hillside: New Supreme Court decision defines limits of CEQA exemption challenges to development: Allen Matkins - Mar 2:
On March 2, the California Supreme Court issued the...more
3/9/2015
/ Berkeley Hillside v City of Berkeley ,
CA Supreme Court ,
Central Valley ,
CEQA ,
DTSC ,
Environmental Policies ,
Farms ,
Fracking ,
Fracking Bans ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Manufacturers ,
Oil & Gas ,
Substantial Evidence Standard ,
Wastewater ,
Water
Environmental and Policy Focus - Rail case heading to state Supreme Court: Willits News - Jan 27:
The Supreme Court of California has accepted review of a lower court decision holding that federal law implemented by...more
2/3/2015
/ CEQA ,
Dams ,
Department of Transportation (DOT) ,
Energy Projects ,
Environmental Policies ,
Farms ,
Groundwater ,
Monterey Shale ,
Oil & Gas ,
Preemption ,
Railways ,
Surface Transportation Board ,
US Fish and Wildlife Service ,
Well Drilling
Environmental and Policy Focus -
California needs 11 trillion gallons of water to recover from the drought: Los Angeles Times - Jan 17:
A series of recent rainstorms helped deposit needed moisture to California,...more
Environmental and Policy Focus: Coastal California residents using far less water - Associated Press - Nov 4:
Residents in coastal communities use far less water than their inland counterparts, but still find ways to...more
12/8/2014
/ Air Pollution ,
Automotive Industry ,
CEQA ,
Clean Air Act ,
Coastal Real Estate ,
Drought ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hyundai ,
Kia ,
San Diego ,
SCAQMD ,
Water
Environmental and Policy Focus - Groups sue EPA over failure to reduce air pollution: KPCC - Oct 17:
Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in San Francisco against the U.S. Environmental...more
10/28/2014
/ Air Pollution ,
CEQA ,
Clean Air Act ,
Clean Water Act ,
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Mitigation ,
Public Comment ,
Public Meetings ,
Real Estate Development ,
Sewer Systems ,
US Army Corps of Engineers ,
Wetlands
Environmental and Policy Focus: Federal agency to resume leasing for hydraulic fracturing in California: ABC News - Aug 28:
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management will resume issuing oil and gas leases next year for...more
Environmental and Policy Focus: The California Supreme Court further limits the scope of CEQA review for voter-sponsored initiatives: Allen Matkins - Aug 11:
Voter-driven initiatives meeting California Elections Code...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Appellate court upholds environmental work for high-speed rail via Pacheco Pass: Fresno Bee - Jul 24 --
State appeals justices on Thursday upheld a lower court's approval of an...more
8/11/2014
/ CEQA ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) ,
Environmental Policies ,
Fracking ,
Fracking Bans ,
High-Speed Rail ,
Marijuana ,
Oil & Gas ,
Railways ,
Water
Environmental and Policy Focus: Long-term money a big boost for California's high-speed rail - Contra Costa Times - Jun 17:
Gov. Jerry Brown scored a win for California's $68 billion high-speed rail project by...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Kings County lawsuit challenges Fresno-Bakersfield high-speed rail: Fresno Bee - Jun 5:
The Kings County Board of Supervisors, the Farm Bureau, and a group of county residents filed...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - New high-speed train route approved despite 'unavoidable' effects in Valley: The Fresno Bee - May 12:
The California High-Speed Rail Authority approved a section of rail line from...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - California drought: plan would reverse aqueduct flow to send water back to farms: San Jose Mercury News - May 8:
Water has flowed from Northern California's snow-capped peaks to the...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Federal agencies release proposed rule on Clean Water Act jurisdiction: Los Angeles Times - Mar 25 --
On Tuesday, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - White House proposes new fuel efficiency rules to reduce emissions from heavy trucks: Los Angeles Times - Feb 18 -
President Obama moved ahead Tuesday with plans to further tighten...more
Environmental and Policy Focus: Judge recommends approval of California natural gas plant -- UT San Diego - Jan 7 -
An administrative law judge has urged the California Public Utilities Commission to authorize...more