ELR Citation: ELR 20311
No(s). S.F. No. 22766 (Cal. May 26, 1971)

Where the state legislature delegated responsibility for formulating and enforcing air pollution control standards to countywide pollution control districts and where district hearing board denied permit to public utility for construction of electrical generating unit on grounds that unit would violate applicable pollution control standards, the state Public Utilities Commission may not then grant utility license for immediate construction of that facility. Jurisdiction of the pollution control district and the Public Utilities Commission is concurrent in this area. The utility can seek redress from district board ruling only in court empowered to consider such matters de novo. Here, the Public Utilities Commission exceeded its statutory power in granting license one week after district hearing board denied permit.

Counsel for Orange County Air Pollution Control District:
Adrian Kuyper County Counsel
John F. Powell Deputy County Counsel
515 N. Sycamore
Santa Ana, CA 92702
(714) 833-3300

Counsel for the Public Utilities Commission:
Mary Moran Pajalich
Sheldon Rosenthal
James A. Blumberg
350 McAllister
San Francisco, CA 94101
(415) 557-0647

Counsel for Sierra Club, Amicus Curiae:
Bruce A. Beckman
Lloyd P. Derby
523 West 6th
Los Angeles, CA 90052
(213) 620-1240

Counsel for Los Angeles Air Pollution Control District, Amicus Curiae:
John Maher
David D. Mix
434 S. San Pedro
Los Angeles, CA 90052
(213) 629-4711

Wright, C.J., McComb, Tobriner, Mosk, Burke, and Sullivan, JJ., concur.