Climate Change

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By Leslie Z. Walker

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (“BAAQMD”) was scheduled to be the first air district in the state to adopt quantitative as well as qualitative thresholds of significance for greenhouse gas emissions in January of 2010, but instead has delayed the decision until April of 2010. According to BAAQMD, the delay is to “provide more time for staff to meet with local governments, further develop analysis tools, and conduct trainings on applying the CEQA Guidelines.”…
Continue Reading Bay Area Air Quality Management District Defers Adoption of Greenhouse Gas Thresholds

From the quick fix solutions for the Delta to CEQA analysis on mitigation deferral, impact fees and the feasibility of alternatives, to the scope of the Corps permitting authority, the following legislation, regulations, and cases from 2009 (listed first by type of document, then in chronological order) will have the most impact on water supply, water quality, and land use and entitlement practice (e.g., development) in California in the coming years. And remember, you read it here first!
Continue Reading 2009’s Top 10: Legislation, Regulations, & Cases

By Leslie Z. Walker

In the last weeks of 2009, the Natural Resources Agency adopted CEQA Guidelines Amendments for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions (“Amendments”), while the San Joaquin Valley Air Quality Management District (“SQAQMD”) became the first air district in the state to adopt thresholds of significance, which will likely face challenge from the California Attorney General.
Continue Reading Greenhouse Gas Guidelines and Thresholds: Science Required

Abbott & Kindermann’s Annual Land Use, Real Estate, and Environmental Law Update

Reserve your seat for one of three seminars taking place in 2010!

In January and February 2010 Abbott & Kindermann, LLP will present its annual complimentary educational program for clients and colleagues interested in current land use, environmental, and real estate issues affecting commercial and residential development, real estate acquisition, easements, leasing and property acquisition, and mining. In addition, the following hot topics for 2010 will be discussed:

Global Warming: CEQA Guidelines, Mandatory Reporting
Water Supply Legislation
CEQA Litigation: Alternative Analysis & Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies
Subdivision Map Extension
Interpreting Development Agreements
Endangered Species Act
Abbott & Kindermann, LLP will be presenting its annual program at three California locations: Sacramento, Modesto and Redding. Details for the seminars are below. We hope you can join us and look forward to seeing you there.

Modesto Conference

Date: Thursday, January 21, 2010
Location: Double Tree Hotel Modesto, 1150 Ninth Street
Registration: 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Program: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Redding Conference

Date: Thursday, January 28, 2010
Location: Hilton Garden Inn Redding , 5050 Bechelli Lane
Registration: 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Program: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sacramento Conference

Date: Friday, February 12, 2010
Location: Sacramento Hilton Arden West, 2200 Harvard Street
Registration: 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. with continental breakfast
Program: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
There is no charge for the programs and MCLE and AICP CM credits are available.

An RSVP will be required as space is limited. To reserve a spot, call our office at (916) 456-9595. When calling, please specify which conference you will be attending.
Continue Reading Reminder! Save the Date

Abbott & Kindermann’s Annual Land Use, Real Estate, and Environmental Law Update

Reserve your seat for one of three seminars taking place in 2010!

In January and February 2010 Abbott & Kindermann, LLP will presents its annual complimentary educational program for clients and colleagues interested in current land use, environmental, and real estate issues affecting commercial and residential development, real estate acquisition, easements, leasing and property acquisition, and mining. In addition, the following hot topics for 2010 will be discussed:

Global Warming: CEQA Guidelines, Mandatory Reporting
Water Supply Legislation
CEQA Litigation: Alternative Analysis & Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies
Subdivision Map Extension
Interpreting Development Agreements
Endangered Species Act

Abbott & Kindermann, LLP will be presenting its annual program at three California locations, Sacramento, Modesto and Redding. Details for the seminars are below. We hope you can join us and look forward to seeing you there.

Modesto Conference

Date: Thursday, January 21, 2010
Location: Double Tree Hotel Modesto, 1150 Ninth Street
Registration: 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Program: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Redding Conference

Date: Thursday, January 28, 2010
Location: Hilton Garden Inn Redding , 5050 Bechelli Lane
Registration: 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Program: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sacramento Conference

Date: Friday, February 12, 2010
Location: Sacramento Hilton Arden West, 2200 Harvard Street
Registration: 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. with continental breakfast
Program: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
There is no charge for the programs and MCLE and AICP CM credits are available.

An RSVP will be required as space is limited. To reserve a spot, call our office at (916) 456-9595. When calling, please specify which conference you will be attending.
Continue Reading Save the Date!

By Leslie Z. Walker

On July 3, 2009, the Natural Resources Agency issued a notice of proposed action (“Notice”) for the adoption of CEQA guidelines addressing the evaluation and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. Public Resources Code section 21083.05 requires that the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (“OPR”) “prepare, develop, and transmit to the Resources Agency guidelines for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions or the effects of greenhouse gas emissions,” by July 1, 2009. OPR transmitted these in April of 2009, ahead of schedule. See OPR Finalizes Proposed CEQA Guidelines and Transmits Them to Resources Agency. The Resources Agency has noticed its intent to adopt the guidelines, as proposed by the OPR. The Notice commenced the rulemaking process for the guidelines.
Continue Reading CEQA Guidelines on Greenhouse Gases One Step Closer to Law

By Leslie Z. Walker

More than three years after the State’s initial request, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“US EPA”) granted California’s request for a waiver to allow the state to enforce its greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emission standards for new motor vehicles.  The waiver, coincidentally granted as the nation’s largest automaker works its way through bankruptcy court, allows the regulations developed by the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) in response to Assembly Bill 1493 (Chapter 200, Statutes 2002) to take effect.  The regulations add four GHGs to California’s existing regulations and phase in emission standards for those gases.Continue Reading US EPA Grants California Waiver to of Clean Air Act Preemption to Enforce Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards

The House of Representatives voted on the American Clean Energy and Security Act, known as the Waxman-Markey or Cap and Trade bill. The House passed the bill by a vote of 219 to 212. The bill now moves to the Senate.

The information presented in this article should not be construed to be formal legal advice by …

By Leslie Z. Walker

The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454), known as the Waxman-Markey or Cap and Trade bill, today. Under the bill, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency would be required to promulgate regulations to cap and reduce Green House Gas emissions (“GHG”) annually, so that GHG emissions from capped sources are reduced by 3 percent (from 2005 levels) by 2012, 17 percent by 2020, and 42 percent by 2030. (H.R. 2454, § 703.) Sources able to meet and surpass their reduction requirements will be allowed to sell their excess reduction credits while sources unable to meet their targets may purchase offsets in order to obtain compliance. Abbott & Kindermann, LLP will keep you posted on the status of the bill.
Continue Reading House Slated to Vote on Climate Change Bill Today