On April 22, 2021, President Biden announced at the Leader’s Summit on Climate a target for the United States to achieve a 50 to 52 percent reduction from 2005 levels in economy-wide net greenhouse gas pollution by the year 2030. Notably, and without any evidence, the Biden Administration’s announcement states this goal will provide jobs […]
Almost immediately upon taking the oath of office, President Biden signed Executive Order No. 14008 (EO 14008 or EO). Among other actions, EO 14008 (available HERE) “paused” oil and natural gas development on federal public lands and in offshore waters of the United States. (See EO 14008 HERE). In response to EO 14008, fourteen states […]
Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland issued two Secretarial Orders to prioritize action on climate change and to revoke numerous Trump-administration Secretarial Orders that encouraged fossil fuel energy production and streamlined NEPA review for energy and infrastructure projects on DOI-managed land. On Friday, April 19, 2020, Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland […]
The First District Court of Appeal published its holding in the case Schmid v. City and County of San Francisco (2021) 60 Cal.App.5th 470 on February 1, 2021. This case involved various claims objecting to the City of San Francisco’s decision to remove a bronze sculpture, including claims pursuant to CEQA. The San Francisco Historic […]
The San Francisco Chronicle issued a positive article interviewing Ben Mossman, CEO of Rise Gold Corp., and discussing the Idaho Maryland Mine’s history and local supporters. Mitchell Chadwick is helping permit this historic mine in Nevada County. The mining project will bring over 300 high-paying jobs to the County, and have a very minimal impact […]
The latest attempt in California to ban fracking and, in general, oil and gas operations in the state recently failed when Senate Bill No. 467 died in the California Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. Senate Bill No. 467 sought to prohibit the issuance of permits for hydraulic fracturing, acid well stimulation treatment, steam flooding, […]
A January 2021 rule promulgated by the Trump administration that established procedures for the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) guidance document procedures was rescinded by the CEQ effective April 13, 2021. The rescinded rule had originally been issued by the CEQ in furtherance of Trump’s October 2019 executive order “Promoting the Rule of […]
The case cited below is a stark reminder to developers: make sure to hire experienced CEQA counsel before you embark on a development in California! On February 18, 2021, the California Second District Court of Appeal filed an unpublished opinion, Building a Better Redondo v. City of Redondo Beach (2021) Case No. B294328, 2021 WL […]
In April of 2021, the Willamette Riverkeeper and Columbia Riverkeeper, two environmental activist groups (“NGO”) filed a citizen suit in federal court against Zenith Energy Terminal Holdings, LLC (“Zenith”). The complaint alleges ongoing violations of the federal Clean Water Act (“CWA”) for pollutant discharges into waters of the United States, without a valid National Pollutant […]
Four state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife recently signed the Bank Enabling Instrument (“BEI”) for the Riverpark Mitigation Bank. Ecosystem Industrial Partners (“EIP”), the Bank Sponsor for Riverpark, hired Mitchell […]
