NRDC

This case involves construction of a container terminal for the China Shipping Holding Co. (China Shipping), which we reference as the China Shipping project, or Project. The China Shipping project is the subject of a lease/permit entered into between China Shipping and the City of Los Angeles (City) on May 8, 2001. The Project contemplates three phases of construction for which the Port of Los Angeles granted a coastal development permit on October 10, 2001.

The China Shipping project was challenged by filing of a petition for writ of mandate in the Los Angeles County Superior Court asserting that the Project was violative of the California Environmental Quality Act (Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq. (CEQA)). The challengers are two nonprofit environmental groups, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., and Coalition for Clean Air, Inc., and two homeowners associations, the San Pedro and Peninsula Homeowners’ Coalition and San Pedro Peninsula Homeowners United, Inc. (collectively appellants). Appellants appeal from denial of their petition contending that the City violated CEQA by failing to prepare a separate environmental impact report (EIR) addressing all…