Program Overview
Who Should Order
Attorneys, land use planners, real estate and environmental professionals, consultants, landowners, and governmental regulatory officials
Why You will Benefit from the Replay
This intensive virtual seminar focuses on the potential impact of the Trump Administration's NEPA rewrite on environmental review for projects in California. The re-write is likely to be the most significant change in the history of NEPA. We'll take a detailed look at the proposed changes and their interplay with CEQA from a variety of viewpoints.
You'll also hear about recent substantive and procedural CEQA changes as California continues to pursue its environmental policy goals in the face of a federal rollback.
A key part of the NEPA rewrite is streamlining for infrastructure projects. We'll address the interplay between environmental review and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), and with the regulatory structure for water utilities. Another key change involves analysis of cumulative impacts and we'll explore the implications for energy project development strategies. California is in the midst of a transition from Level of Service (LOS) to Vehicle Miles Traveled for transportation planning and you'll hear from a panel of experts on the implications of the rewrite on both planning and infrastructure project review.
This will be an interactive program so that you can contribute your own ideas and have your specific questions answered. We hope you will join us for what promises to be a very lively discussion!
~ Daniel P. Brunton, Esq. of Latham & Watkins and Josh Chatten-Brown, Esq. of Chatten-Brown, Carstens & Minteer, Program Co-Chairs
What You Will Learn
- The NEPA Re-Write and other federal developments
- Recent CEQA substantive and procedural developments
- Water infrastructure projects and the interplay between environmental review and SGMA
- Climate change and cumulative impacts analysis for energy and transportation projects
- Navigating record preparation in a post Golden Door Properties LLC v. Superior Court world
What Participants Said
- "Panelists represented a good range of fields and interests. Well moderated session."
- "I really appreciate the diversity of perspectives on the panels!"
- "Overall great group of speakers."
- "Good timing, questions. Will return next year."
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
8:30 am
Registration Opens
9:00 am
Introduction & Overview
Daniel P. Brunton, Esq.
, Program Co-Chair
Latham & Watkins / San Diego, CA
Josh Chatten-Brown, Esq.
, Program Co-Chair
Chatten-Brown, Carstens & Minteer / San Diego, CA
9:15 am
The NEPA Re-Write and Other Federal Developments
Exemptions and expedited review provisions including special treatment for large projects; potential impacts on other projects; interplay with substantive Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act changes such as the WOTUS definition; court challenges
Nicole Buffa, Esq.
Latham & Watkins / Costa Mesa, CA
Lisa T. Belenky, Esq.
, Senior Attorney
Center for Biological Diversity / Oakland, CA
10:30 am
Break
10:45 am
Recent CEQA Developments and the Interplay with NEPA
Substantive provisions: Update on key California Court cases; implementation of 2018 OPR CEQA Guidelines; provisions designed to facilitate California's response to climate change and the homeless crisis; prospects for legislative changes
Josh Chatten-Brown, Esq.
, Program Co-Chair
Chatten-Brown, Carstens & Minteer / San Diego, CA
Christopher Luke Stiles, Esq.
Remy Moose Manley / Sacramento, CA
Daniel P. Brunton, Esq.
, Program Co-Chair
Latham & Watkins / San Diego, CA
12:00 pm
Lunch (on your own)
1:15 pm
Water Infrastructure Projects
The interplay among the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), regulatory structure for water utilities, and NEPA/CEQA review: The resulting legal, technical, and environmental justice issues
Scott A. Morris, Esq.
Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard / Sacramento, CA
2:00 pm
Climate Change and Cumulative Impacts Analysis: Energy Infrastructure Projects
Renewable resource developer perspective on the impact of recent federal and state policy development on project development strategies
Elizabeth Klebaner, Esq.
Nossaman / Los Angeles, CA
2:45 pm
Break
3:00 pm
Climate Change and Cumulative Impacts Analysis (cont'd): Transportation Infrastructure Projects
Perspectives on the most effective transportation planning approaches for meeting California's greenhouse gas emission goals for the transportation sector
Heidi K. Vonblum, Esq.
, Environmental Policy Program Manager
City of San Diego / San Diego, CA
Christopher S. Burt, Esq.
, Deputy General Counsel
Port of San Diego / San Diego, CA
4:30 pm
CEQA Practice Tips for Building an Adequate Record
Is the Record Complete: The Role of Retention requirements and the Common Interest Doctrine
Kevin Patrick Sullivan, Esq.
Gatzke Dillon & Balance / Carlsbad, CA
Taiga Takahashi, Esq.
Latham & Watkins / San Diego, CA
5:00 pm
Evaluations & Adjourn
Faculty Bios
Daniel P. Brunton,
Program Co-Chair, is Of Counsel to Latham & Watkins. Daniel Brunton focuses his practice on environmental law, with an emphasis on helping developers obtain entitlements for large or controversial projects and defending those entitlements in court.
Josh Chatten-Brown,
Program Co-Chair, is a land use and environmental law attorney with Chatten-Brown, Carstens & Minteer. He represents environmental and community groups in NEPA and CEQA matters.
Lisa T. Belenky
is a Senior Attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. She works on protecting rare and endangered species and their habitats under state and federal law.
Nicole Buffa
is Of Counsel to Latham & Watkins. She rejoined Latham after serving eight years in the Obama Administration, most recently as Deputy Chief of Staff at the United States Department of the Interior.
Christopher S. Burt
is Deputy General Counsel for the Port of San Diego.
Elizabeth Klebaner
is a partner at Nossaman. She advises public agency and corporate clients on a variety of complex land use and environmental matters.
Scott A. Morris
is the managing shareholder for Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard. He focuses on natural resources, land use, and water law, representing both public and private clients.
Christopher Luke Stiles
is a partner at Remy Moose Manley. His practice focuses on land use and environmental law, with emphasis on CEQA, the State Planning and Zoning Law, the NEPA, the federal Endangered Species Act, the California Endangered Species Act, air and water quality, natural resources, wetlands, and related matters.
Kevin Patrick Sullivan
is a partner at Gatzke Dillon & Balance. He has served as the Assistant General Counsel for the Ontario International Airport, and has been a (contract) Assistant City Attorney of the City of San Marcos. He also has acted as outside counsel to the San Diego International Airport, City of San Jose, City of San Diego, San Diego Centre City Development Corporation, County of Imperial, City of Chula Vista, City of Indio, and City of El Centro.
Taiga Takahashi,
Latham & Watkins, provides legal counsel regarding administrative law and regulatory compliance issues.
Heidi K. Vonblum
is the Environmental Policy Program Manager in the City of San Diego's Planning Department. She previously served as a Deputy City Attorney in the Land Use Advisory and Litigation Units in the San Diego City Attorney's Office.
Continuing Education Credits
Live credits: Law Seminars International is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for 6.25 California MCLE, 6.0 AICP planner, and 6.0 ABCEP environmental professional credits. Upon request, we will help you apply for CLE credits in other states and other types of credits.
Ordering
Pricing
Audio podcasts and video replays, with course materials, are available for download or on a flash drive at the same price as live attendance. The course materials alone are available for $75. Replays will be available within five business days after the program or from the date we receive payment.
Cancellation
There is a $25 cancellation fee
Purchase a Replay
The web link option allows you to stream or download. The flash drive option includes both audio and video files. Both include materials.