Sierra Club v. Contra Costa County

Plaintiffs Sierra Club, Mount Diablo Audubon Society, and Greenbelt Alliance appeal from a judgment denying them a writ of mandate in either of two consolidated actions. Plaintiff organizations challenged defendant Contra Costa County’s (County) approval of a specific plan for development of the Bethel Island area of the Sacramento River delta and the County’s certification of a final environmental impact report (EIR), as well as additional County actions taken in an effort to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The California State Lands Commission also sought a writ of mandate for essentially the same purpose. The matters were consolidated and eventually both petitions denied. Only plaintiff environmental organizations appeal from that judgment. Real parties in interest are owners and prospective developers of property within the confines of the specific plan area.

In 1986 County began working on an update of its general plan. About a year later the County undertook studies preparatory to a specific plan for the Bethel Island area which includes approximately 6,500 acres. Geographically the area encompassed by the plan consists of Bethel Island…