CEQA/NEPA

Navigating Businesses through CEQA and NEPA

The environmental attorneys at Bick Law have experience navigating clients through the environmental impact review requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and its federal counterpart, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). We work directly with businesses to develop compliance strategies that minimize risks and challenges related to project approvals under CEQA and NEPA. Our goal is to ensure that our clients’ activities are consistent with these environmental statutes and other state and federal regulatory requirements so that their projects can move forward in a timely and cost-effective manner. When CEQA and NEPA disputes arise, our attorneys aggressively litigate these matters before state and federal courts.

CEQA and NEPA Requirements

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) are important and significant environmental laws designed to protect the environment and our natural resources. These laws require government agencies at the national, state and local levels to conduct an environmental assessment of a proposed project’s impact before the project receives approval. Environmental assessments under CEQA and NEPA are designed to inform government decision makers and the public about the potential significant environmental impacts of a proposed project and to identify ways to prevent and mitigate possible damages to the environment.

Our environmental attorneys review Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) and work with our clients to properly respond to the reviewing agency’s concerns and questions. We undertake a thorough analysis of EIRs and EISs to ensure that the agency’s analysis of a proposed project’s environmental effects and mitigation approaches are complete and accurate. When issues arise in connection with CEQA and NEPA environmental assessments, a California CEQA Attorney at our firm takes quick action to vigorously protect our clients’ rights in court. The window for filing a legal action in these types of matters is limited. For example, CEQA challenges are subject to strict filing deadlines, generally within thirty days of the filing of the Notice of Determination. Because of these strict filing limitations, our attorneys carefully monitor the process and advise our clients of important deadlines to ensure that their rights to pursue an action are fully preserved.

Bick Law understands the tremendous challenges businesses face when attempting to address the myriad of environmental laws and regulations impacting their development projects and business operations. Our lawyers work with clients to develop compliance strategies aimed at avoiding challenges under NEPA and CEQA. We assist clients in resolving the full range of issues that may arise throughout the CEQA and NEPA project assessment approval process.