Chevron U.S.A. v. County of Monterey

California Supreme Court Rules County Ordinance Limiting Oil & Gas Development Preempted by State Law

Monterey County Oilfield

Court Decision May Well Be Correct as a Matter of Law, But Represents Outdated & Unsound Public Policy

Last week, the California Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a local initiative measure that would have imposed severe restrictions on oil and gas development in Monterey County is preempted by state law and therefore invalid.  The decision came in the case of Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. County of Monterey.  The Supreme Court’s ruling was predictable, …

CONTINUE READING

Environmental Law Again Front-and-Center at California Supreme Court

Local Government’s Authority to Limit Oil & Gas Development To Be Argued Before Justices

For the first two decades of this century, and under the able leadership of former Chief Justices Ronald George and Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the California Supreme Court was quite active in interpreting and shaping California environmental law.  That trend had abated in the last few years–coincidentally or not during the height of the COVID epidemic–with only …

CONTINUE READING

TRENDING