FEATURE ARTICLE
Addressing the California Department of Water Resources’ Draft Emergency Regulations on Groundwater Sustainability Plans by Rebecca R. A. Smith, Esq., Downey Brand, LLP, Sacramento, California223
REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS
Report Detailing Climate Change Impacts on Western Water Resources Released by U.S. Department of the Interior228
RECENT FEDERAL DECISIONS
Court of Appeals:
Ninth Circuit Remands Equal Protection/Fair Housing Act Claims Back to the District Court in Arizona Development—Rezoning Case230
Avenue 6E Investments, LLC v. City of Yuma, Arizona, ___F.3d___, Case No. 13-16159 (9th Cir. Mar. 25, 2016).
Ninth Circuit Finds Environmental Assessment—Not Environment Impact Statement—Sufficed Pursuant to NEPA to Add Commercial Operations to Airport231
City of Mukilteo v. U.S. Department of Transportation, ___F.3d___, Case No. 13-70385 (9th Cir. Mar. 4, 2016).
Ninth Circuit Upholds NEPA Analysis for Program that Drastically Cuts Domestic Sheep Grazing on National Forest Lands233
Idaho Wool Growers Association v. Vilsack, ___F.3d___, Case No. 14-35445 (9th Cir. Mar. 2, 2016).
D.C. Circuit Finds Plaintiffs Lacked Standing to Pursue ESA, Clean Water Act and National Environmental Policy Act Claims235
National Wildlife Federation v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ___F.3d___, Case No. 14-1701 (D.C. Cir. Mar. 14, 2016).
RECENT CALIFORNIA DECISIONS
Supreme Court:
California Supreme Court Holds Inadvertent Disclosure through Public Records Act Response of Privileged Documents Does Not Waive Privileges238
Ardon v. City of Los Angeles, ___Cal.4th___, Case No. S223876 (Cal. Mar. 17, 2016).
District Court of Appeal:
Fourth District Court Finds City Must Hold Special Election for Medical Marijuana Dispensary Initiative Regardless of Whether Initiative Would Impose General Tax240
California Cannabis Coalition et al. v. City of Upland, ___Cal.App.4th___, Case No. E063664 (4th Dist. Mar. 18, 2016).
Fourth District Court Rejects ‘Community Character’ Arguments as a Part of CEQA242
Preserve Poway v. City of Poway, 245 Cal.App.4th 560 (4th Dist. 2016).
Fourth District Court Finds City Ordinance Adding Ban on Mobile Marijuana Dispensaries to Previous General Ban Was Not a ‘Project’ under CEQA244
Union of Medical Marijuana Patients, Inc. v. City of Upland, ___Cal.App.4th___. Case No. D069293 (4th Dist. Mar. 25, 2016).
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE246
