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California v. Norton Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: The court held that the federal government’s suspension of offshore oil leases is a “federal agency activity” subject to California’s consistency review under the Coastal Zone Management Act. The government also improperly relied on a NEPA categorical exclusion without documenting its decision or considering extraordinary circumstances.
Legal Significance: The case affirmed states’ rights under the CZMA to review federal actions affecting their coastal zones, even for activities antecedent to formal development plans. It also reinforced that agencies must create a contemporaneous record when invoking a NEPA categorical exclusion, especially when extraordinary circumstances may exist.
California v. Norton Law School Study Guide
Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.
Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
The U.S. government granted suspensions for thirty-six offshore oil and gas leases off the California coast, preventing them from expiring. These leases, issued between 1968 and 1984, had never been subject to state review, as most predated both the 1990 amendments to the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) and the approval of California’s Coastal Management Program. The suspensions were necessary to extend the life of the leases, which had not yet begun production. California asserted its right under the CZMA to review the suspensions for consistency with its coastal program. The federal government refused, arguing the suspensions themselves did not affect the coastal zone and that review would occur later at the exploration or production plan stage. The government also declined to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), claiming the suspensions fell under a categorical exclusion (CE). California, joined by environmental groups, sued to enjoin the suspensions pending CZMA consistency review and NEPA compliance. The district court ruled for California on both claims.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Did the federal government’s decision to grant suspensions for offshore oil leases constitute a “Federal agency activity” subject to state consistency review under the Coastal Zone Management Act, and was its reliance on a National Environmental Policy Act categorical exclusion without a documented explanation arbitrary and capricious?
Yes. The court affirmed the district court’s decision. The lease suspensions constitute Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,
IRAC Legal Analysis
Complete IRAC Analysis for Higher Grades
IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
Did the federal government’s decision to grant suspensions for offshore oil leases constitute a “Federal agency activity” subject to state consistency review under the Coastal Zone Management Act, and was its reliance on a National Environmental Policy Act categorical exclusion without a documented explanation arbitrary and capricious?
Conclusion
This decision solidifies a state's authority under the CZMA to review foundational Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolor
Legal Rule
Under the Coastal Zone Management Act, a federal agency activity, such as Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerc
Legal Analysis
The court first addressed the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) claim. It Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- The federal government’s suspension of an offshore oil lease is a