LAND USE NEWS
Solar Energy Disputes Arise in the Mojave Desert—Colorado River Indian Tribes File Suit to Halt Blythe II Project95
San Diego City Council Approves Major Wastewater Recycling Project96
LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS
New Infrastructure Finance Law Creates New Mechanism for Public Water Agencies to Fund Water Management Facilities and Other Public Infrastructure99
REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS
U.S. Bureau of Land Management Rejects 200 Megawatt Solar Energy Project in Mojave Desert102
U.S. Department of Justice Releases Memorandum: ‘Policy Statement Regarding Marijuana Issues in Indian Country’103
RECENT FEDERAL DECISIONS
Circuit Court of Appeals:
D.C. Circuit Revives Alaska’s Challenge to the ‘Roadless Rule’105
Alaska v. U.S. Department of Agriculture, ___F.3d___, Case No. 13-5147 (D.C. Cir. Nov. 7, 2014).
Ninth Circuit Concludes in ‘Bison Hazing’ Case that Endangered Species Act’s 60-Day Notice Requirement Does Not Preclude Filing Non-ESA Claims before Notice Period Ends106
Alliance for the Wild Rockies v. U.S. Department of Agriculture, ___F.3d___, Case No. 13–35253 (9th Cir. Nov. 20, 2014).
Ninth Circuit Upholds U.S. Department of Transportation’s Approval of Port Expressway in the Face of NEPA and Clean Air Act Challenges108
Natural Resources Defense Council Inc. v. U.S. Department of Transportation, ___F.3d__, Case No. 12-56467 (9th Cir. 2014).
District Court:
District Court Holds Sale of Property for Secular Use Does Not Constitute ‘Religious Exercise’ under the Federal Religious Land Use Act110
California-Nevada Annual Conference of the Methodist Church v. City of San Francisco, ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. 11-cv-02338 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 24, 2014).
District Court Rules that U.S. Constitution Does Not Empower Federal Government to Regulate a Threatened Species Living Only within One State112
People for the Ethical Treatment of Property Owners v. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. 2:13-cv-00278-DB (D. Ut. Nov. 5, 2014).
RECENT CALIFORNIA DECISIONS
District Court of Appeal:
Fourth District Court Rejects Environmental Analysis of SANDAG’s 2050 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy114
Cleveland National Forest Foundation v. San Diego Association of Governments, ___CalApp.4th___, Case No. D063288 (4th Dist. Nov. 24, 2014).
Third District Court Holds Special CEQA Provision Regarding Sacramento Downtown Arena Project Survives Constitutional Challenge116
Saltonstall v. City of Sacramento, ___Cal.App.4th___, Case No. C077031 (3rd Dist. Nov. 20, 2014).
Third District Court Determines DTSC’s Procedure for Placing a Lien on Real Property Violates Due Process117
Van Horn v. California Department of Toxic Substances Control, ___Cal.App.4th___, Case No. C073173 (3rd Dist. Nov. 26, 2014).
