Description: Challenge to California Geologic Energy Management Division’s approvals of the drilling of certain wells off the coast of Long Beach and in San Luis Obispo County for failure to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act.
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Center for Biological Diversity v. California Geologic Energy Management Division
Case Documents:
Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary 05/11/2023 Petition for Writ of Mandate Download Verified petition for writ of mandate filed. Lawsuit Alleged that CalGEM Failed to Conduct Adequate Environmental Review for Drilling Permits. Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) filed a lawsuit in California Superior Court to vacate the California Geologic Energy Management Division’s (CalGEM’s) approvals of the drilling of certain oil wells off the coast of Long Beach and steam injection wells in San Luis Obispo County until CalGEM complies with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Public Resources Code. CBD alleged that CalGEM improperly relied on environmental analyses conducted many years ago before information emerged regarding certain significant harms of drilling, including information about climate change harms. CBD alleged that the wells at issue in this case were part of a “broader pattern and practice of inadequate CEQA review,” which CBD has challenged in a separate lawsuit that does not seek to invalidate specific permits.