california land use

Two Mitchell Chadwick Attorneys Chosen For 2017 Super Lawyers List

Mitchell Chadwick LLP Is Pleased To Announce That Two Of Its Attorneys Have Been Chosen For The 2017 Northern California Super Lawyers List G. Braiden Chadwick and Patrick G. Mitchell were again selected for the Northern California Super Lawyers List in the practice areas of Land Use and Zoning law. More information is available at […]

California Farmer Facing Almost $3 Million in Fines for Plowing Own Field

A California farmer is facing a $2.8 million fine and a trial in federal court this summer for failing to get a permit to plow his own field. John Duarte, of Duarte Nursery, bought 450 acres of land near Modesto in 2012, where he planned to grow wheat. While his wheat was planted, it was […]

Supreme Court Justices Ask Trump Administration to Weigh In on California Mining Prohibition

The U.S. Supreme Court is requesting that the Trump administration evaluate the extent to which states can prohibit mining activity on federal lands. Earlier this week, the Justices asked the acting solicitor general to weigh in on a case brought by a part-time prospector who hopes to knock down a specific California ban on a […]

California Supreme Court Strikes Down EIR for Failure to Consider Potential ESHA on the Project Site

In a recent decision, the California Supreme Court added to the complexity of CEQA review for projects in coastal areas. On March 30, 2017, the Supreme Court issued its holding in Banning Ranch Conservancy v. City of Newport Beach (S227473), which struck down an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared by the City of Newport Beach […]

California Farmers Upset Over Water Allocations

This week the Bureau of Reclamation announced the 2017 water allocations for California farmers and many groups are upset over the long-awaited announcement. According to the release, farmers south of the state’s main water hub would only receive 65 percent of their allotted water from the Central Valley Project. Meanwhile, other regions are receiving their […]

Environmentalists Use Spotted Owl To Foil Forest Service—Again

Last Thursday California federal judge John A. Mendez found that the U.S. Forest Service didn’t take a hard enough look at the alternatives to a timber project in California’s Mendocino National Forest. Citing the Forest Service’s lack of a “hard look” at the project alternatives to avoid impacts on the northern spotted owl, including one […]

President Trump’s Nominees for Interior and Energy Easily Approved By Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Secretary of the Interior nominee Ryan Zinke and Secretary of Energy nominee Rick Perry were approved by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, paving the way for their confirmation by the full Senate. The committee approved Zinke by a 16-6 vote, and Perry by a 16-7 vote. Angering the Democrats on the Committee, […]

Pipelines: Feds Issue New Guidelines

The federal Department of Transportation has issued new guidelines requiring pipeline operators to report accidents and spills more quickly.  The rules give specific time frames for accidents and cost-recovery provisions for new projects.  New Regulations HERE.  The new rules come a week after PHMSA announced new regulations regarding onshore hazardous liquid pipelines.

Mining Industry Prepares for Incoming Trump Administration

The mining industry is optimistic that the Trump administration will reduce regulatory burdens on mining and support efforts to open new mines. Several lawmakers have already introduced mining-related bills, and the American Exploration & Mining Association is working on a “wish list” of mining related asks for the incoming administration.  For example, the mining industry […]

Controversial: Obama creates 3 new national monuments, expands 2 others

Obama creates 3 new national monuments, expands 2 others In his last week, President Obama controversially announced the creation of three new national monuments and the expansion of two existing national monuments using the Antiquities Act of 1906. The Antiquities Act was passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by Theodore Roosevelt […]

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