On April 7, 2021, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced the appointment of Mark Chatterton as the Deputy State Director of Energy and Minerals in California. (See https://www.blm.gov/press-release/bureau-land-management-welcomes-two-new-members-leadership-team-california.) In this new role, Chatterton will be responsible for oversight of oil, gas and geothermal development as well as hard rock mining for metallic and industrial […]
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established procedures for the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) guidance document procedures was rescinded by the CEQ effective April 13, 2021. The rescinded rule had originally been issued by the CEQ in furtherance of Trump’s October 2019 executive order “Promoting the Rule of […]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 On February 18, 2021, the California Second District Court of Appeal filed an unpublished opinion, Building a Better Redondo v. City of Redondo Beach (2021) Case No. B294328, 2021 WL […]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 […]
April 13, 2021 | Category:
NewsThe linked NOAA article focuses on nature-based solutions for flood protection and habitat restoration. Mitchell Chadwick clients are at the forefront of innovative solutions tackling both issues, including the Lookout Slough Project in the California Delta. Full article HERE. Information on the Lookout Slough project can be found HERE.
April 12, 2021 | Category:
NewsThe Dakota Access Pipeline, has shipped oil from North Dakota to Illinois for nearly four years, but has been operating without a valid federal easement since last summer when district court Judge James E. Boasberg invalidated the prior authorization for violating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) after a lawsuit by environmental activist group Earthjustice […]
April 2, 2021 | Category:
NewsPrivate Sector Investment Is Key for Ecological Restoration Ecological restoration is a huge climate and business opportunity in part because there is so much past damage, which thankfully can be fixed using current technology and methods. We have much work to do, as over half of our original wetlands in the lower 48 states have been […]
November 3, 2020 | Category:
NewsOn October 7, 2020, Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N-82-20 (“Executive Order”), which provided several measures to conserve the State’s biodiversity and to combat climate change. More specifically, the Executive Order directed the California Natural Resources Agency, in consultation with other state agencies, to establish the California Biodiversity Collaborative, to bring together governmental partners, California […]
