Case # | Name | Category | Court | Judge | Published |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
21-35030
|
Safari Club International v. Haaland
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act preserved the federal government's plenary power over public lands, including the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, in Alaska. |
Environmental Law |
|
R. Gould | Apr. 19, 2022 |
B309764
|
Modification: Buena Vista Water Storage Dist. v. Kern Water Bank Authority
Public water agency's environmental impact report for storage project to divert excess water met California Environmental Quality Act requirements with its good faith efforts at full disclosure. |
Environmental Law |
|
Apr. 13, 2022 | |
19-16711
|
Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center v. Stanislaus National Forest
Forest Service could implement best management practices under provisions of the Management Agency Agreement in lieu of reporting discharge requirements under the California Water Act. |
Environmental Law |
|
D. Collins | Apr. 11, 2022 |
20-35411
|
350 Montana v. Haaland
Department of Interior's finding of no significant environmental impact required more analysis than potential greenhouse gas emissions being "minor" relative to other global emissions sources. |
Environmental Law |
|
M. Christen | Apr. 5, 2022 |
B301374
|
Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters v. City of Los Angeles
Where an alternative project closely comported with and retained the original project's site specifications and size, the Environmental Impact Report's project definition was sufficiently accurate and stable. |
Environmental Law |
|
B. Currey | Apr. 1, 2022 |
A161573
|
Save the Hill Group v. City of Livermore
A reissued final environmental impact report certification and the development project's approval could not stand because the report's no-project alternative discussion was inadequate. |
Environmental Law |
|
T. Jackson | Mar. 31, 2022 |
B309764
|
Buena Vista Water Storage Dist. v. Kern Water Bank Authority
Public water agency's environmental impact report for storage project to divert excess water met California Environmental Quality Act requirements with its good faith efforts at full disclosure. |
Environmental Law |
|
M. Tangeman | Mar. 24, 2022 |
20-35721
|
Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges v. Haaland
Secretary of the Interior had authority under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act to approve a land-exchange agreement that would balance environmental needs with the economic and social needs of Alaska natives. |
Environmental Law |
|
E. Miller | Mar. 17, 2022 |
21-35062
|
Friends of Animals v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Under the Endangered Species Act, a net conservation benefit can include an informational benefit that could aid in the conservation of a species. |
Environmental Law |
|
K. Lee | Mar. 7, 2022 |
C092086
|
Save the El Dorado Canal v. El Dorado Irrigation Dist.
Water pipeline's project description in the environmental impact report meets California Environmental Quality Act requirement when it is adequate, complete and made a good faith effort at full disclosure. |
Environmental Law |
|
A. Hoch | Feb. 17, 2022 |
C087102
|
League to Save Lake Tahoe Mountain Area v. City of Placer
Factual statements by members of the public may constitute substantial evidence supporting an argument of potential significant impact necessitating, under CEQA, a report discussion on existing air and water quality. |
Environmental Law |
|
H. Hull | Feb. 16, 2022 |
20-55660
|
Mountain Communities for Fire Safety v. Elliott
U.S. Forest Service's "Timber Stand Improvement" regulation unambiguously allows commercial thinning of forest timber regardless of size or age. |
Environmental Law |
|
K. Lee | Feb. 7, 2022 |
20-55859
|
Los Padres Forestwatch v. U.S. Forest Service
Absent evidence demonstrating the U.S. Forest Service applied technical expertise to conclude timber cutting project should be approved, the court was forced to conclude the decision was arbitrary and capricious. |
Environmental Law |
|
S. Stein | Feb. 7, 2022 |
A162045
|
Citizens' Committee to Complete the Refuge v. City of Newark
A development project was exempt from further California Environmental Quality Act review because no changes significantly increased the impacts on an endangered species. |
Environmental Law |
|
T. Brown | Jan. 31, 2022 |
H048088
|
Friends, Artists & Neighbors of Elkhorn Slough v. Cal. Coastal Com.
Granting a coastal development permit was improper when a required report discussing alternative and mitigating environmental measures did not precede the approval. |
Environmental Law |
|
P. Bamattre-Manoukian | Dec. 15, 2021 |
20-70272
|
Center for Community Action v. Federal Aviation Administration
Petitioners seeking review of a Federal Aviation Administration Final Environmental Assessment finding bear the burden of showing missteps on the part of the FAA. |
Environmental Law |
|
E. Siler | Nov. 19, 2021 |
20-55420
|
Amended Opinion: Inland Empire Waterkeeper v. Corona Clay
Because a failure to provide information about pollutant discharge violations could increase the risk of harm to recreational users of a nearby river, plaintiffs had standing to bring suit. |
Environmental Law |
|
A. Hurwitz | Nov. 8, 2021 |
C087688
|
Farmland Protection Alliance v. County of Yolo
A trial court did not have the authority under the California Environmental Quality Act to split a project's impact analysis across two types of environmental review documents. |
Environmental Law |
|
R. Robie | Nov. 4, 2021 |
G059709
|
Protect Tustin Ranch v. City of Tustin
Substantial evidence supported a city's finding that the size of a proposed construction project qualified for the infill exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act. |
Environmental Law |
|
L. Marks | Oct. 28, 2021 |
D077568
|
McCann v. City of San Diego
The City of San Diego erred when it did not consider whether new projects were consistent with its own Climate Action Plan. |
Environmental Law |
|
J. Haller | Oct. 12, 2021 |
19-35898
|
Upper Missouri Waterkeeper v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
A water quality variance regulation was not required to comply with the "highest attainable condition" from the outset, nor reach the base water quality standards by the end of the variance term. |
Environmental Law |
|
P. Watford | Oct. 7, 2021 |
20-16605
|
California River Watch v. City of Vacaville
A defendant can be held liable as a transporter of waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act even if it did not play a role in discarding the waste. |
Environmental Law |
|
P. Bumatay | Sep. 30, 2021 |
C088130
|
Sierra Watch v. County of Placer
An Environmental Impact Report that inadequately provides information about the regional setting fails to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act. |
Environmental Law |
|
C. Blease | Sep. 24, 2021 |
20-55420
|
Inland Empire Waterkeeper v. Corona Clay
Because a failure to provide information about pollutant discharge violations could increase the risk of harm to recreational users of a nearby river, plaintiffs had standing to bring suit. |
Environmental Law |
|
A. Hurwitz | Sep. 21, 2021 |
20-71554
|
Food & Water Watch v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA's permit to Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations must contain sufficient monitoring provisions to ensure wastewater discharge compliance. |
Environmental Law |
|
W. Fletcher | Sep. 17, 2021 |
19-71223
|
Association of Irritated Residents v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Because Environmental Protection Agency failed to provide reasoned explanation for approving state plan, rule was arbitrary and capricious. |
Environmental Law |
|
E. Miller | Aug. 27, 2021 |
20-35224
|
Native Village of Nuiqsut v. Bureau of Land Management
'Capable of repetition, yet evading review' exception to mootness did not apply where multitude of new circumstances rendered case moot. |
Environmental Law |
|
M. Smith | Aug. 25, 2021 |
B303494
|
Save our Access v. Watershed Conservation Authority
Parking deficits do not affect project's environmental review unless it has impact 'on the environment.' |
Environmental Law |
|
E. Grimes | Aug. 23, 2021 |
F081389
|
Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power v. County of Inyo
Adequate notice that California Environmental Quality Act exemption will be considered is required for issue exhaustion requirement to apply. |
Environmental Law |
|
D. Franson | Aug. 19, 2021 |
19-35469
|
Sackett v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Property that was adjacent to jurisdictional tributary and that, together with similarly situated wetlands complex, had significant nexus to Priest Lake, was regulable under Clean Water Act. |
Environmental Law |
|
M. Friedland | Aug. 17, 2021 |