Mountain Lion Coalition v. Fish & Game Commission

The California Fish and Game Commission, et al., appeal from an order amending a peremptory writ of mandate directing them to comply with requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.) (CEQA) in connection with the promulgation of regulations governing the sport hunting of California mountain lions.

In 1987 the commission adopted regulations that, for the first time in 16 years, allowed the sport hunting of mountain lions. The Mountain Lion Coalition and other organizations (collectively respondents) successfully petitioned the superior court for a peremptory writ of mandate suspending the hunt and requiring appellants to fulfill their obligations under CEQA. Specifically, appellants were directed that if they intended to authorize a mountain lion hunt, they would have to prepare and circulate an environmental impact document (EID) containing a legally sufficient analysis of the cumulative impact associated with conducting such a hunt. This appeal reviews the superior court’s decision to suspend appellants’ adoption of a regulation in 1988 authorizing a mountain lion hunt because the environmental documentation circulated…