California took a significant step in streamlining the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process with the passage of SB 149, a law that allows the California Governor to certify certain infrastructure projects for judicial fast-tracking.  The law requires courts to decide CEQA challenges to certified projects within 270 days to the “extent feasible.”

A recent Yolo County Superior Court ruling in favor of the Sites Reservoir project, the first project to receive SB 149 certification, served as a test case on the effectiveness of the law.  This decision marks the first time a CEQA process has been streamlined under SB 149.  It is a positive indicator of the efficacy of the law that the Yolo County Superior Court decided the CEQA challenge well before the expiration of the 270-day time period. Only time will tell if other streamlined infrastructure projects will also be decided expeditiously or if a timely decision will not be “feasible.”