Community Science Institute v. County of Imperial

GDB represented the operator of a sand and gravel mine in a CEQA lawsuit challenging the operator’s installation of a portable asphalt production facility. The petitioners claimed that the lead agency, the County of Imperial, should have required the mine operator to prepare an Environmental Impact Report instead of a Negative Declaration for the project, alleging that the project would have significant impacts on air quality, greenhouse gases, and biological resources.  At the trial court, GDB successfully defended both the County and the mine operator against these allegations. The petitioners appealed, but the Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court decision in favor of the County and mine operator. (Community Science Institute v. County of Imperial (June 21, 2019, D073676) [nonpub. opn.].)