National Parks & Conservation Ass'n v. County of Riverside

In 1992, the board of supervisors for the respondent County of Riverside (the County) approved a landfill project proposed by real parties in interest Kaiser Steel Resources, Inc., Kaiser Eagle Mountain, Inc., and Mine Reclamation Corporation (MRC) (sometimes collectively Kaiser/MRC), and also approved the environmental impact report (EIR) prepared to analyze that project, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). (Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.) Appellants herein, National Parks and Conservation Association et al. (the Association) brought a petition for writ of mandate challenging the certification of the EIR and the various approvals issued by the County related to the landfill project, including the approval of the development agreement. (Code. Civ. Proc., §§ 1085, 1094.5.) The matter was transferred to the Superior Court of San Diego County and, after briefing and hearing, the trial court agreed with a number of the Association’s challenges to the EIR, but found two particular challenges unmeritorious.

The Association appeals the judgment granting the writ of mandate, contending that the trial court erroneously ruled against it that certain…