Citizens for East Shore Parks v. State Lands Commission

Defendant and respondent State Lands Commission (Lands Commission) approved a 30-year lease allowing real party in interest and respondent Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (Chevron) to continue operating a marine *554 terminal in San Francisco Bay waters, near the company’s refinery in Richmond, California. Plaintiffs and appellants Citizens for East Shore Parks and Daniel P. Doellstedt contend that in approving the lease, the Lands Commission failed to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA; Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.) and also violated the public trust doctrine. The trial court denied their petition for writ of mandate and complaint for declaratory relief. We affirm.

I. Background

The Long Wharf marine terminal and nearby Richmond refinery have been in existence since 1902. Standard Oil, Chevron’s predecessor, bought the refinery and began operating it and the terminal in 1905.

The marine terminal is a T-shaped, concrete docking structure approximately 3,440 feet long. Ships can dock at four deep-water outer berths and several inner berths. Ships off-load crude oil at the terminal for processing at the refinery and take on refined products which they…