Santa Clarita Organization v. County of Los Angeles

In Santa Clarita Organization for Planning the Environment v. County of Los Angeles (2003) 106 Cal.App.4th 715 [ 131 Cal.Rptr.2d 186 ] (Scope I), we held that the water service portion of an environmental impact report (EIR) must analyze the actual amount of water that will be available for a project. In Scope I, the EIR for the West Creek residential subdivision did not comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.). It relied on contractual entitlements to water. Because this water is not of the “wet” variety, it has been called “paper water.”

After remand, the County of Los Angeles (County) revised and recertified the West Creek EIR. Santa Clarita Organization for Planning the Environment (SCOPE) again challenges the water services portion of the EIR. This time, SCOPE focuses on the EIR’s analysis of a water transfer agreement and remediation costs for perchlorate contamination of water wells. The trial court denied SCOPE’S petition for writ of administrative mandate.

After the trial court denied SCOPE’S petition, our Supreme Court decided Vineyard Area Citizens for Responsible Growth, Inc. v. City of Rancho Cordova…