Legal Alerts Aug 20, 2019
California Supreme Court Clarifies CEQA’s Most Fundamental Question: What is a “Project?”
Union of Medical Marijuana Patients, Inc. v. City of San Diego
Sarah E. Owsowitz
Of Counsel
sarah.owsowitz@bbklaw.com
Location(s)
Walnut Creek
2001 North Main St.,
Suite 390
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
view Directions
Office (925) 977-3300
Fax (925) 977-1870
At a Glance
Sarah serves on the Association of Environmental Professionals Statewide Legislative Committee advising on CEQA legislation.
Sarah has successfully defended against challenges to the adequacy of environmental impact reports and site plans.
She is a recipient of the Daily Journal’s Environmental California Lawyer Attorney of the Year Award in 2017 and Northern California Super Lawyers Magazine selected her as a “Northern California Super Lawyer” for Land Use Law in 2013-2018.
Sarah E. Owsowitz’s practice focuses on California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) advice and litigation, with a particular concentration on large-scale commercial, industrial and residential developments, water projects, as well as those projects with significant cultural resource issues. Sarah represents both public and private clients in administrative proceedings and litigation involving CEQA, as well as state and local planning and zoning laws. She is of counsel in Best Best & Krieger LLP’s Environmental Law & Natural Resources practice group.
She is the author of multiple CEQA and land use-related articles and lectures regularly on topics that include current trends in CEQA case law, statutes and guidelines, tribal cultural resources, CEQA and cannabis regulation, administrative records, and the preparation and defense of water supply analyses in CEQA documents.
Sarah serves on the Association of Environmental Professionals Statewide Legislative Committee advising on CEQA legislation, and the California Special District Association’s Legal Advisory Working Group. She is a recipient of the Daily Journal’s Environmental California Lawyer Attorney of the Year Award in 2017. Northern California Super Lawyers Magazine selected her as a “Northern California Super Lawyer” for Land Use Law in 2013-2018, as a “Northern California Rising Star” for Land Use Law from 2009 to 2012, and placed her on the “Top Women Attorneys in Northern California” list in 2014, 2015 and 2016. She was also included in Super Lawyers Business Edition for her work in environmental law in 2015.
Prior to joining BB&K, Sarah was with Cox Castle & Nicholson and Morrison & Foerster. Before that, for nearly 7 years, she served as a deputy city attorney for the City and County of San Francisco.
Education
- University of Minnesota, J.D.
- University of Minnesota, M.P.
- University of Chicago, B.A..
Admissions
- California
Legal Alerts Jan 15, 2019
Comprehensive Update to the State CEQA Guidelines
Approved by California Natural Resources Agency
Legal Alerts Jan 11, 2019
California Supreme Court Addresses Standard of Review for EIRs and Air Quality Impact Analyses
Decision in Sierra Club v. County of Fresno Case
Legal Alerts Aug 27, 2018
Court Upholds Approval of Superstore Zoning Ordinance
California Appellate Court Supports the Broad Use of CEQA Addenda
Legal Alerts Dec 01, 2017
Proposed “Comprehensive Update” to the State CEQA Guidelines Released
California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research Proposal Also Addresses SB 743
Legal Alerts Aug 03, 2017
CEQA Not Preempted in State-Owned Rail Project
California Supreme Court Decision Could Impact High-Speed Rail Project
Legal Alerts Jul 14, 2017
Lead Agencies Need Not (Necessarily) Consider Governor’s Executive Orders When Analyzing Emissions
California Supreme Court Finding Serves as a Key Victory for Public Agencies
Legal Alerts Jun 21, 2017
CEQA Review of Cannabis Regulations
Comment Period Opens on Draft Program Environmental Impact Report of MCRSA and AUMA
Legal Alerts Nov 10, 2016
Evaluating a Project’s “Exacerbation” on Existing Environmental Hazards
Substantial Evidence Proving “Exacerbation” Required, California Appellate Court Says
Legal Alerts Sep 26, 2016
New Legislation Seeks to Expedite CEQA Administrative Record Process
Provides Opportunity to Streamline Litigation
Legal Alerts Sep 20, 2016
California Supreme Court Clarifies CEQA’s Subsequent Review Rules and Standard of Review
Decision Issued After Years of Uncertainty
Legal Alerts Aug 29, 2016
Legislature Passes Pair of Significant New Climate Change Bills
Gov. Brown Expected to Sign Laws that Will Have CEQA Implications
Legal Alerts Aug 18, 2016
Air Quality District’s CEQA Thresholds Limited
California Appellate Court Weighs in Following State Supreme Court Decision
Legal Alerts May 11, 2016
Sweeping Six-Case Win for Water District
Court Upholds Public-Private Groundwater Conservation and Recovery Project That Will Serve Customers Throughout Southern California
Legal Alerts Mar 03, 2015
California Supreme Court Makes Critical CEQA Ruling Regarding Categorical Exemptions
Court Clarifies the Unusual Circumstances Exception
- “[PRESENTATION] Planning Legislative Update,” BBKnowledge, Aug. 1, 2016
- “CEQA Takes Closer Look at Native American Cultural Resources,” BBKnowledge, Aug. 12, 2015
- “New CEQA Requirements Take Effect July 1,” CSDA Blog, July 8, 2015
- “OPR Speaks to the Impact of Proposed New CEQA Guidelines,” BBKnowledge, Sept. 16, 2014
- “California Reacts to Losing the Tesla Battery Factory Project – Is the Lack of CEQA Reform To Blame?,” BBKnowledge, Sept. 8, 2014
- “Governor Changes His Mind on CEQA Reform,” BBKnowledge, Aug. 18, 2014
- “Decision: Voter-Sponsored Local Land Use Initiatives Not Subject to Environmental Review,” BBKnowledge, Aug. 11, 2014
- “California Economic Development Leaders Urge Peer Review of New CEQA Guidelines,” BBKnowledge, July 31, 2014
- “Santa Barbara County Plans for Utility-Scale Solar Projects on Farmland,” California Energy Markets, July 25, 2014
- “CEQA to Give Cities More Control Over Transit Projects,” BBKnowledge, July 15, 2014
- “State Trying to Use Defeat to Stymie High-Speed Rail Foes,” Daily Journal, Oct. 9, 2013
