Description: Challenge to the Forest Conservation Initiative Amendment to the San Diego County general plan.
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Sierra Club v. County of San Diego
Case Documents:
Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary 01/13/2017 Petition for Writ of Mandate Download Petition for writ of mandate filed. Sierra Club filed a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) challenge to the Forest Conservation Initiative Amendment to the San Diego County general plan. Like the local environmental organizations, Sierra Club contended that the County had relied on unlawfully adopted guidance in its analysis of greenhouse gas impacts, instead of on greenhouse gas thresholds established in a Climate Action Plan. A 2011 update to the general plan included a mitigation measure requiring preparation of a Climate Action Plan with greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and deadlines. Sierra Club alleged that the County’s approval of the Amendment violated CEQA because it was allowing new development without having implemented the required mitigation measure. Sierra Club noted that it had filed a lawsuit in 2016 challenging the greenhouse gas guidance and the prospective adoption of general plan amendments.