The court upholds the dismissal of local water agencies' claims that the Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau) was operating the Central Valley Project (CVP) in a manner that would at some point in the future violate the Vernalis salinity standard, a state standard with which the Bureau must comply in its ...

The court affirms a lower court decision that under California law, an insurance company need not provide coverage for the costs property owners incurred responding to suspected soil and groundwater pollution. A state agency ordered the property owners to test their property after they were suspecte...

The court holds that the state water control board did not err in ordering a water company to obtain a permit to pump groundwater from two wells near the North Fork Gualala River. The board has permitting jurisdiction over "subterranean streams flowing through known and definite channels." The board...

The court holds that while §11.122(b) of the Texas Water Code significantly restricts the issues that may be reviewed in a contested-case proceeding, it does not altogether preclude one when a proposed water rights amendment requests a change in use but does not seek to increase the amount of w...

The court reverses and remands a lower court decision denying petitions brought by members of a federal grand jury empanelled to investigate possible environmental crimes at the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant in Colorado. The petitions seek the release of certain documents and the lifting of thei...

The court holds that the sale of an oil and gas working interest, which is subject to an operating agreement, does not release the seller from any further obligations to the operator. Despite selling its working interest, the seller remains liable under the operating agreement unless released by the...

A court upholds a city's approval of a construction project for a big box retail store. A citizens group argues that the city violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by failing to comply with procedural requirements and by failing to include a study of certain adverse impacts and mi...

A court affirms a lower court decision that water districts have an obligation to provide treated water to a town for domestic and other needs but that the cost of treatment may be passed along to the consumer. The water districts' obligation to provide domestic water supply can be found in the lang...

A court reverses a lower court decision denying a petition challenging a city's approval of a construction project for a hotel, gas station, and convenience store complex. The city's reliance on an addendum to a mitigated negative declaration for the project, instead of independent environmental rev...

A court holds that the state legislature has not recognized an ocean boater's "right to a view" of the coastline as a factor in regulating development. Consequently, the California Coastal Commission erred in imposing special conditions on a developer's permit to build a residence and must rehear th...