Surfrider Foundation v. California Regional Water Quality Control Board
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Irion, J.
Surfrider Foundation (Surfrider) appeals from the trial court’s denial of its petition for a writ of mandamus challenging the approval of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Diego Region (the Regional Board), for a desalination facility that Poseidon Resources (Channelside), LLC (Poseidon), plans to build on the coast in Carlsbad, California. Surfrider contends that in issuing the NPDES permit the Regional Board failed to comply with the requirements of Water Code section 13142.5, subdivision (b) (section 13142.5(b)), 1 which provides that “[f]or each new or expanded coastal poweiplant or other industrial installation using seawater for cooling, heating, or industrial processing, the best available site, design, technology, and mitigation measures feasible shall be used to minimize the intake and mortality of all forms of marine life.” (Ibid.) We reject Surfrider’s arguments and conclude that the Regional Board complied with section 13142.5(b). Accordingly, we affirm the judgment.