Environmental and Land Use Litigation

Mr. Mauriello has litigated environmental and land use cases in state and federal courts throughout California under various California statutes, including the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), the California Endangered Species Act, the Planning and Zoning Law, the Integrated Waste Management Act, the Cameron-Unruh Beach, Park, Recreational, and Historical Facilities Bond Act of 1964, and the Air Toxic Hotspots Act; under various California common law claims such as the public trust doctrine, nuisance, trespass, and boundary issues under various state and local statutes and ordinances; and under various federal statutes such as the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”), the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Federal Highways Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act.

Mr. Mauriello’s environmental and land use practice has focused largely though not exclusively on the representation of environmental and citizens’ groups, using citizen suits and judicial review of agency actions as a tool to enforce our environmental laws and to strive for preservation and wise stewardship of the natural and human environment. Although the focus of these cases has been court litigation, these cases often involve legal advocacy over the life cycle of a project, including providing comments and testimony before administrative agencies, developing the administrative record, arguing administrative appeals, litigating cases in the trial courts, and appellate court review.

In addition to numerous individuals and businesses, a sampling of associational clients in land use and environmental matters includes:

• Sierra Club
• Center for Biological Diversity
• Preserve South Bay
• Sierra Land Use Group
• Spirit of the Sage Council
• San Francisco Bay Institute
• North Hills Phoenix Association
• Environmental Health Coalition
• Save Our Forests and Ranchlands

Mr. Mauriello currently is a member of the Legal Conservation Committee of the Sierra Club, Angeles Chapter, as well as a Litigation Coordinator for that Chapter.

Mr. Mauriello has published articles on environmental law issues. In addition, from 2001 through 2003, he lectured in environmental and land use litigation at California State University, East Bay (formerly Cal State University, Hayward).

• Sample Land Use and Environmental Cases Handled by the Firm