





A leading law firm focusing on California environmental and land use law
A leading law firm focusing on California environmental and land use law






A leading law firm focusing on California environmental and land use law
A leading law firm focusing on California environmental and land use law
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The Latest
California Legislature Relaxes CEQA Review for Transit-Oriented Housing Projects and Oil Drilling in Kern County
Chris Stiles
October 15, 2025
SB 79 SB 79 is intended to facilitate new high density housing developments near transit stops in an effort address the state’s housing shortages, reduce transportation costs and traffic congestion, a...
Fifth District Strikes Down SWRCB’s New Whole Effluent Toxicity Test as Applied to Federal Clean Water Act Permitting, But Upholds Toxicity Provisions’ Under CEQA and Porter-Cologne
Chris Stiles
October 15, 2025
In Camarillo Sanitary District v. State Water Resources Control Board (2025) 113 Cal.App.5th 407, the Fifth District Court of Appeal held that the State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRCB’s) new e...
CALIFORNIA ENACTS CEQA AMENDMENTS TO HELP FACILITATE HOUSING
Chris Stiles
July 29, 2025
On June 30, 2025, Governor Newsom signed into law two bills, AB 130 and SB 131, which are intended as a multifaceted approach to address the state’s housing crisis. Among other things, the bills amend...
DEVELOPER MUST BE JOINED AS A DEFENDANT ONCE NAMED IN A NOTICE OF EXEMPTION, EVEN IF IDENTIFIED AFTER INITIAL PROJECT APPROVAL
Chris Stiles
July 7, 2025
In Citizens for a Better Eureka v. City of Eureka (June 11, 2025, A170214) __Cal.App.5th__ , the First District Court of Appeal upheld the trial court’s dismissal of a CEQA challenge for failure to ti...
THIRD DISTRICT CLARIFIES LIMITS ON PERMIT CHECKLISTS UNDER THE PERMIT STREAMLINING ACT
Chris Stiles
July 7, 2025
In Old Golden Oaks LLC v. County of Amador (May 30, 2025, C09948) __Cal.App. ___, the Third District Court of Appeal struck down a vague “catch-all” provision in Amador County’s encroachment permit ch...
The Latest
California Legislature Relaxes CEQA Review for Transit-Oriented Housing Projects and Oil Drilling in Kern County
Chris Stiles
October 15, 2025
SB 79 SB 79 is intended to facilitate new high density housing developments near transit stops in an effort address the state’s housing shortages, reduce transportation costs and traffic congestion, a...
Fifth District Strikes Down SWRCB’s New Whole Effluent Toxicity Test as Applied to Federal Clean Water Act Permitting, But Upholds Toxicity Provisions’ Under CEQA and Porter-Cologne
Chris Stiles
October 15, 2025
In Camarillo Sanitary District v. State Water Resources Control Board (2025) 113 Cal.App.5th 407, the Fifth District Court of Appeal held that the State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRCB’s) new e...
CALIFORNIA ENACTS CEQA AMENDMENTS TO HELP FACILITATE HOUSING
Chris Stiles
July 29, 2025
On June 30, 2025, Governor Newsom signed into law two bills, AB 130 and SB 131, which are intended as a multifaceted approach to address the state’s housing crisis. Among other things, the bills amend...
DEVELOPER MUST BE JOINED AS A DEFENDANT ONCE NAMED IN A NOTICE OF EXEMPTION, EVEN IF IDENTIFIED AFTER INITIAL PROJECT APPROVAL
Chris Stiles
July 7, 2025
In Citizens for a Better Eureka v. City of Eureka (June 11, 2025, A170214) __Cal.App.5th__ , the First District Court of Appeal upheld the trial court’s dismissal of a CEQA challenge for failure to ti...
THIRD DISTRICT CLARIFIES LIMITS ON PERMIT CHECKLISTS UNDER THE PERMIT STREAMLINING ACT
Chris Stiles
July 7, 2025
In Old Golden Oaks LLC v. County of Amador (May 30, 2025, C09948) __Cal.App. ___, the Third District Court of Appeal struck down a vague “catch-all” provision in Amador County’s encroachment permit ch...