SMW Defends Regulation of Oil Refinery Emissions
The court of appeal upholds the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s rule requiring refineries to reduce emissions of ammonia and particulate matter from fluidized catalytic cracking units. (Western States Petroleum Assn. v. SCAQMD, 136 Cal. App. 4th 1012 (2006).)
Exchange Agreements Open Door to Redevelopment of Oakland Army Base
The firm assists the Oakland Army Base Reuse Authority in negotiating series of land exchange and related agreements, authorized by legislation drafted by the firm (SB 674), that will enable the redevelopment of the former Army Base.
Settlement Protects Gateway to Lake Tahoe
On behalf of a coalition of environmental groups, the firm successfully challenges the approval by Placer County of the Martis Valley Community Plan. The Plan would have allowed massive urban development at a key gateway to Lake Tahoe. (Sierra Watch et al. v. Placer County.) Following the challenge, the firm negotiates a series of innovative […]
SMW Litigation Leads to Agricultural Mitigation Fee Ordinance
As a result of litigation filed by the firm challenging the expansion of the City of Stockton’s sphere of influence, the City agrees to require developers to pay one of the highest-ever per-acre agricultural mitigation fees. (Sierra Club v. San Joaquin County LAFCO (2006).)
SMW Litigation Stops Controversial Sports Complex Proposed in Rural Area
Photo Credit: Nancy LaScola In response to litigation by the firm on behalf of a local community group and Green Foothills, the City of San Jose rescinds its approval of a massive sports complex in the South Almaden Valley, a rural area that lacks public services to support the project. The complex is never built. […]
Court Invalidates Controversial Water Privatization Contract in Stockton
On behalf of the League of Women Voters of San Joaquin County, the Sierra Club, and a local community group, the firm prevails in a legal challenge to the City of Stockton’s approval of a $600 million contract to privatize all of its water utilities. After losing in two trials, the City terminates the contract. […]
SMW Helps El Segundo Combat Adverse Airport Impacts from LAX
The firm negotiates a global settlement of a dispute over the expansion of the Los Angeles International Airport, limiting the size of the expansion, mitigating its impacts on neighbors, and assisting in the development of a long-term regional strategy to satisfy aviation demand through other airports in the Los Angeles area. (El Segundo v. Los […]
SMW’s Defense of Affordable Housing
Photo Credit: Satellite Affordable Housing Associates The firm successfully defends a challenge to an affordable housing project for low-income seniors in Berkeley. (Bowman v. City of Berkeley, 122 Cal.App.4th 572 (2004).)
Successful Defense of Transbay Transit Center
Photo credit: Sergio Ruiz, Flickr, CC BY 2.0 The firm and the San Francisco City Attorney’s office in 2005 successfully defend the Transbay Joint Powers Agency against challenges to its CEQA/NEPA compliance for the Transit Center, Downtown Rail Extension, and associated redevelopment.
SMW Defends Ability Of NGOs to Enforce Clean Water Act
The firm obtains a ruling from the Ninth Circuit holding that an environmental organization gave adequate notice of its intent to sue under the Clean Water Act. (Waterkeepers Northern Cal. v. AG Industrial Manufacturing, Inc. (2004).)