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About Us:
Welcome to the S&W Environmental, Natural Resources, Oil and Gas Law Blog. This blog is a resource for the regulated community to stay current on new developments impacting the environmental, natural resources and energy sectors. It provides timely updates on a broad range of federal, state and local environmental topics — including proposed legislation and government rulemakings — that impact regulated industries throughout the southwest and the nation as a whole.
Topics
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Recent Posts
- Colorado River Lower Basin States Face Tier 1 Shortage and Maybe More
- NASA Flies First Drone Ever on Another Planet
- The Utah Legislature Chooses “All of the Above” for a Reliable Electric Grid
- Coal Communities’ Transition in Arizona Getting More Attention
- Changes Coming Soon to a Due Diligence Project Near You!
Project Built at Variance With EIR Subject to Late CEQA Lawsuit
By: Sean M. Sherlock Ordinarily the threat of a lawsuit under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) passes once the statute of limitation expires – in most cases 30 days after the filing of a Notice of Determination. But a … Continue reading
Tagged addendum, CEQA, NOD, notice of determination, statute of limitation, supplement
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CEQA Lawsuit to Enforce Climate Change Mitigation Measure Prevails
By: Katherine A. McKitterick and Sean M. Sherlock On October 29, 2014 the California Court of Appeal affirmed a trial court’s judgment enforcing a mitigation measure adopted by a county in its program environmental impact report (PEIR). As of … Continue reading
Tagged CEQA, climate change, Mitigation Measures
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Coastal Commission Public Access Condition Held Invalid
By: Sean M. Sherlock On October 23, 2014, the California Court of Appeal invalidated a coastal development permit condition requiring a property owner to dedicate an easement for public access across her property. The case relied in part on U.S. … Continue reading
Tagged access, California Coastal Commission, coastal development permit, collateral estoppel, easement, exaction
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Governor of California Is Not a “Public Agency” Under CEQA
By Sean M. Sherlock and Brian A. Daluiso The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians (“North Fork Tribe”) is a federally recognized Indian tribe that wants to develop a casino near the City of Madera, approximately 40 miles from the … Continue reading
Tagged CEQA, concur, Governor, IGRA, Public Agency
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Fifth District Invalidates Fresno Senior Housing Project EIR For Inadequate Analysis Of Thresholds Of Significance
by Rick McNeil and Colin Higgins Respondent the County of Fresno authorized the development of an approximately 1,000 acre master planned retirement community in an area zoned agricultural in north-central Fresno County. The project was challenged as being inconsistent with … Continue reading
Tagged Air Quality, EIR, General Plan, Mitigation, Wastewater
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First District Court of Appeal Finds Citizen Group’s CEQA Challenge To College of San Mateo Upgrades Time Barred
by Rick McNeil and Colin Higgins In Citizens For A Green San Mateo, plaintiff (environment group) challenged the removal of more than 200 trees as part of upgrades to the College of San Mateo campus (“CSM”). Plaintiff filed a petition … Continue reading
Tagged CEQA, Statute of Limitations
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Second District Court of Appeal Rejects Conservation Group Challenge to EIR for Newhall Ranch Development
by Rick McNeil and Colin Higgins In Center for Biological Diversity, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Army Corps of Engineers (“Department”) certified an EIR assessing the effects of a proposed conservation plan, resource management plan, streambed … Continue reading
Tagged Cultural Resources, EIR, Endangered Species Act, Mitigation, Project Alternatives, Water Quality
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Second District Court of Appeal Rejects City of Los Angeles’ Attempt to Require Tentative Tract Map or EIR for Benedict Canyon Luxury Home Development
by Rick McNeil and Colin Higgins In this case involving the interpretation of the Los Angeles Municipal Code and the Subdivision Map Act, Tower Lane Properties sought a grading permit from the City of Los Angeles for the construction of … Continue reading
Tagged Judicial Deference, Los Angeles Municipal Code, Subdivision Map Act
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First District Court of Appeal Finds CalTrans’ EIR Deficient For Failure To Properly Evaluate Impacts to Redwood Trees Adjacent to Highway 101
by Rick McNeil and Colin Higgins In Lotus, the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) proposed to adjust and upgrade the roadway alignment of a one-mile stretch of Route 101 that passes through Richardson Grove State Park, home to 300 feet … Continue reading
Fifth District Court of Appeal Dismisses Citizen Group Challenge to Annexation Based on Procedural Irregularities
by Rick McNeil and Colin Higgins Protect Agricultural Land involved a CEQA and a “reverse validation” challenge to the approval by the Stanislaus County Local Agency Formation Commission (“LAFCO”) of the proposed annexation by the City of Ceres of approximately … Continue reading
Tagged CEQA, Excusable Neglect by Counsel, LAFCO, Reorganization Act, Reverse Validation Actions
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