CEQA Litigation

One CEQA Reform Bill Advances; One Dies

CA Sen. Darrell Steinberg's bill to "modernize" CEQA unanimously passed the senate environment subcommittee. While SB 731 has no opponents at this time, it is suspected of being a means to keep the Kings NBA team from leaving Sacramento for Seattle.

May 4, 2013 - Sacramento Bee

Peninsula Cities Lose Initial CEQA Lawsuit Against High Speed Rail Authority

It was the first of many lawsuits to hit the HSRA. Menlo Park and Atherton, joined later by Palo Alto - three adjoining cities on the San Mateo County/Santa Clara County border, among the wealthiest in the nation, sued in 2008 to reroute the train.

March 5, 2013 - San Jose Mercury News

CA HSR Litigation: One Down, Two to Go

The California High Speed Rail Authority settled its CEQA lawsuit with the City of Chowchilla, the first of three that need to be dealt with in the Merced to Fresno section in the Central Valley where construction of the project will initially begin

February 1, 2013 - The Fresno Bee

CA High Speed Rail Opponents Ask For Preliminary Injunction In Central Valley

With federal and state environmental clearance and with funds allocated, the main obstacle to laying track in the Fresno-Merced route is an environmental lawsuit to be be heard April, 2013. Two county farm bureaus ask that work cease until then.

October 8, 2012 - Merced Sun-Star

Can CA Gov. Jerry Brown Save High Speed Rail From CEQA?

Gov. Jerry Brown is asking the state legislature to alter the state's environmental law (CEQA) in order to begin construction of the high speed rail project in the Central Valley. It is aimed at heading off lawsuits intended to delay the project.

June 4, 2012 - San Jose Mercury News

Held Up by Environmental Litigation, Playa Vista Finally Gets Its Own Downtown

After a hard-won legal battle, Los Angeles' youngest coastal community can finally begin construction on its mixed-use downtown, report Roger Vincent and Martha Groves.

April 8, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

CEQA Lawsuit Delays Another Streetscape Improvement

The California Environmental Quality Act, a landmark 1970 environmental law now considered an obstacle to smart growth by some urban planners, has claimed another victim in a project that seeks to reduce car use while promoting biking and walking.

November 23, 2011 - Palo Alto On-line

New CA Attorney General Joins EJ Lawsuit On Diesel Truck Pollution

A warehouse and distribution center adjacent to a low-income community that would generate 1,500 additional daily diesel truck trips from the Ports of LA and Long Beach is the subject of an environment lawsuit that will be joined by AG Kamala Harris.

September 12, 2011 - Los Angeles Times

Another CEQA Lawsuit Prevents Streetscape Improvements

The improvements involve a lane reduction for a 3 1/2 block business district in Palo Alto known as California Avenue. The four-lane street is within a "pedestrian-transit oriented district" due to a Caltrain station at the end of the avenue.

April 25, 2011 - Palo Alto Online

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