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California Aqueduct

Stakeholders should stay informed as state and federal officials advance plans and policies for water conservation, water quality, and climate resilience in California.

By Mike Romey, Lucas Quass, Nolan Fargo, Cody Kermanian, and Samantha Yeager

Following consecutive years of heavy rainfall, California experienced record heat and dry conditions during the summer of 2024, which led parts of the state back into drought. Despite late 2024 storms in Northern California, January 2025 saw statewide precipitation fall below…

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Affected landowners may be able to avail themselves of certain protections under state and federal environmental laws.

By Aron Potash and Cody M. Kermanian

In the aftermath of the wildfires in the Los Angeles area in January 2025, a cleanup effort is underway to facilitate the safe return of residents to their homes in Altadena and Pacific Palisades. The federal government is leading the effort in coordination with various state and local agencies, and the government has reported significant progress…

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The landmark decision alters the NPDES permit landscape, shifting the focus to specific actions over general outcomes.

By Michael G. Romey, Benjamin D. Gibson, Lucas I. Quass, Phil Goldberg, and Cody M. Kermanian

On March 4, 2025, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in City and County of San Francisco v. Environmental Protection Agency, 145 S.Ct. 704 (2025), which held that while the Clean Water Act (CWA) authorizes the inclusion of narrative (non-numeric) criteria…

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Supremacy Clause and Dormant Commerce Clause claims against SB 253 and SB 261 were dismissed, while claims under the First Amendment proceed to discovery.

By Joshua Bledsoe, Nikki Buffa, Betty M. Huber, and Matthew Green

On February 3, 2025, in Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America et al. v. California Air Resources Board et al.,1 the US District Court for the Central District of California granted the state’s motion to dismiss the…

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Stakeholders should anticipate potential delays and market impacts amid the ongoing legal challenges and the Office of Administrative Law’s recent disapproval.

By Joshua Bledsoe, Winston Stromberg, Brian McCall, and Samantha Yeager

Environmental groups and a biofuel trade association are challenging the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB’s) November 2024 amendments to the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard Program (LCFS or the Program). The environmental groups allege that CARB violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in adopting the…

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CARB will not penalize reporting entities for incomplete Scope 1 and 2 emissions disclosures under SB 253, irritating lawmakers and raising the specter of oversight hearings.

By Joshua Bledsoe, Nikki Buffa, Betty M. Huber, and Matthew Green

On December 5, 2024, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) issued an Enforcement Notice for Senate Bill 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253),1 stating that CARB will not penalize in-scope entities for incomplete compliance…

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In-scope entities should keep preparing for compliance with Senate Bills 253 and 261 as the lawsuit proceeds past an initial summary judgment motion.

By Joshua Bledsoe, Betty Huber, Nicole Valco, and Matthew Green

On November 5, 2024, in Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America et al. v. California Air Resources Board et al.,1 the US District Court for the Central District of California denied plaintiffs’ summary judgment motion which sought to declare…

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Assembly Bill 98 imposes stringent design requirements applicable to new and expanded warehouse development as soon as January 1, 2026.

By Marc Campopiano, Joshua Bledsoe, Brian McCall, and John Detrich

On September 29, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 98 (AB 98) into law, marking a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for the logistics industry in California. AB 98 continues the trend of shifting regulation of logistics uses away from local jurisdictions to more regional…

California Aqueduct

We analyze the key CEQA cases from 2023 and their impact on development in California.

By Marc Campopiano, Jennifer Roy, Winston Stromberg, Kevin Homrighausen, and Natalie Rogers

In 2023, the California Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeal issued 53 published and unpublished California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) opinions.

As part of Latham’s annual CEQA webcast series, our Environment, Land & Resources lawyers reviewed each judicial opinion in 2023, highlighting key cases and their practical lessons…