Environmental Law Hanford, CA

California is known as one of the most regulated states for environmental protection. While this is for the entire community’s benefit, it can result in legal hiccups and challenges for individuals and businesses. Facing fines or lawsuits relating to environmental law can be costly and devastating to the entity responsible and the rest of the affected population. At Griswold LaSalle Cobb Dowd and Gin LLP, our full-service firm is prepared to help you navigate environmental law challenges whether you are a farmer, business, or individual.

Our team has over 200 years of combined experience serving our community, and the Central Valley environmental law attorneys based in Hanford will bring that experience and a commitment to collaboration to the table to help you resolve your environmental law problems.

The Importance of Environmental Law

Environmental law can present frustrating challenges, and the regulations in place can provide seemingly pointless red tape. However, environmental protections are critical to human health and well-being, as they protect our environment and ecosystem. When we fail to implement and comply with practices meant to protect our environment, the cascade effect can disrupt factors like water and soil quality, having lasting consequences for the local ecosystem, including human populations.

So, while we recognize the importance of care and caution in the way we use our natural resources, navigating this is often easier said than done. Working with an environmental lawyer can help you do this effectively in a way that allows you to continue your projects and meet your goals with minimal disruptions while ensuring the least possible environmental disruption. When we discuss how this is done, there are three primary environmental law considerations.

Common Environmental Law Legislation and Agencies

Many people may be uncertain about whether their particular problem is related to environmental law or a different field, leading them to question what kind of lawyer to contact. While you can call us knowing our firm handles all kinds of law, you may also consider what kind of legislation your problem relates to. Some of the common laws and regulations and agencies our environmental lawyer may work with include those related to:

• California Environmental Quality Act: Established over five decades ago, this act requires state and local agencies to assess and disclose the possible significant environmental impacts for proposed endeavors, including the adoption of all reasonable or feasible mitigation measures.
• Clean Air Act: A federal piece of legislation that establishes national standards for air pollutants
• Clean Water Act: Like the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act set national standards for water contaminants and pollution levels, as well as monitoring and enforcement guidelines
• California Environmental Protection Agency
• California Air Resources Board
• State Water Resources Control Board
• Department of Toxic Substance Control

The above laws or agencies may be involved in your environmental law case, or you may be looking for someone to come in and help you anticipate problems. An environmental lawyer can also help you ensure you are in compliance with all relevant statutes and legislation of municipal, state, and federal agencies.

Air Quality Concerns in Environmental Law

Air quality is a critical component of a healthy community. The California Air Resources Board provides standards for acceptable levels of common pollutants. The current standards and include:

• Particulate matter
• Ozone
• Nitrogen Dioxide
• Sulfate
• Carbon Monoxide
• Sulfur Dioxide
• Visibility reducing particles
• Lead
• Hydrogen Sulfide
• Vinyl Chloride

This list is based on the potential environmental and health effects, which can be extensive.

As a business or agency, you may be responsible for monitoring the air quality and taking protective measures for guests or employees when necessary. If you violate these requirements, you may face personal injury claims for individuals who suffered and more significant municipal or community lawsuits.

Environmental Law and Wildfires

The scope of wildfires in California has dramatically increased in the last several years. This is, in part, due to a combination of ‘ideal’ weather conditions, but complications in recent efforts to fight them suggest that water management plays a part. Additionally, wildfires may significantly contribute to carbon emissions and hurt the state’s climate goals.

From an air quality standpoint, we all remember the haze that overtook the area following wildfires. The smoke from these fires can be incredibly toxic due to the indiscriminate burning that includes carcinogenic and dangerous materials. These factors contribute to the types of environmental legislation we will likely see in upcoming years. This legislation will likely affect the standards and criteria for individuals and businesses.

Water Quality and Sustainability

Effective and sustainable water management is a staple of environmental law. Our firm does a lot of work to help clients effectively and safely manage the water on their property. Water pollution is often a major environmental law concern due to the health effects of dirty water on the human population and the rest of the environment. Heavily polluted water can travel to affect and contaminate land outside of the initially affected area, making it a concern for the larger California community.

However, many Central Valley residents also understand the importance of effective groundwater management. Consistent groundwater over-extraction in the San Joaquin Valley has led to significant issues with groundwater supply and land integrity. Recent reports state that the portions of the San Joaquin Valley has seen land sinking nearly a foot per year for over a decade. This has placed a heavy strain on agriculture in the area, requiring costly repairs and putting some production sites at risk of closing their facilities in the long term.

Environmental Law Includes Effective Waste Management Practices

Safe and effective waste disposal is deeply connected to water and air quality. Reckless or unsafe waste management practices may lead to unsafe drinking water or poor air quality, which can have lasting health effects and increase mortality rates in the affected areas. In addition to harming the community, this can leave the responsible parties vulnerable to penalties, sanctions, and lawsuits.

Waste is often divided into two classifications:

• Solid waste, such as unused materials from households, industrial sites, or farms
• Hazardous waste poses a threat to the population or environment, including those that are corrosive, flammable, toxic, or otherwise reactive

Local governments are charged with the enforcement of safe waste disposal. As of 2022, CalRecycle is responsible for statewide oversight of jurisdictional compliance and enforcement of these practices. At Griswold LaSalle Cobb Dowd & Gin LLP, we often help agricultural businesses effectively manage waste that may include fertilizers and pesticides. An ineffective waste management strategy can result in more significant water and air pollution situations for the entire community.

The Role of an Environmental Law Attorney

Our environmental lawyers in Hanford, CA, are experienced in the policies and applications of environmental law. While helping you navigate problems may be part of what we do, working with an attorney can also be proactive. You may work with us to help you avoid problems and cut through the red tape that may delay critical components of your business.

Permits and Licensing

Running any kind of business may require you to obtain countless permits or licenses, whether due to water rights, hazardous materials, or processes that may affect air quality. The application process can be time-intensive and costly, and having an environmental law attorney in Hanford, CA, can help keep your business on the right track by helping avoid unnecessary delays due to mistakes, missed deadlines, or simply learning about the process.

An environmental lawyer can help you manage the process upfront to ensure you have the necessary reviews, testing, and documentation to get you approved quickly. If you encounter setbacks, they can help you determine what is needed to correct the issue, appeal the denial, or advocate for your best interests.

Land Use

Land use and environmental law often overlap when it comes to zoning laws. The common zoning designations in Hanford include commercial use, residential, mixed-use, office use, agricultural, or conservation. These zoning regulations are meant to protect the overall health and safety of the residents and environment, but they may cause additional delays or challenges.

California agriculture is primarily composed of smaller farms. Many of these are family businesses and operate on fewer than 100 acres, meaning they may also have a residential home on this land, subjecting it to a specific kind of zoning law. However, if the owners decide to change their daily operations to include or exclude specific processes, they may be out of compliance with the type of land use for which the parcel is approved.

An agriculture attorney can help you determine how you are able to use the land based on its current zoning designation and support you through the site plan review process. If you encounter challenges in the process, they may also work with the city or county planning departments to determine if a variance is available for your land’s use.

Wetland Protection

California wetlands are frequently discussed regarding environmental protection. They stay in a middle ground due to their aquatic and terrestrial characteristics, putting them in their own category. These can sometimes be difficult to identify due to their varying nature. Wetlands often form along shallow margins of a body of water. They may have night groundwater levels or shallow surface water, which may include marshes, wet meadows, ponds, and other shallow bodies of water.

Wetlands provide a diverse and unique ecosystem that sustains various wildlife species, including many types of birds, otters, bears, deer, and fish. In addition to wildlife support, some wetlands can act as shoreline stabilization and a natural barrier that helps shield coastal communities from the elements. However, these areas are threatened by irresponsible groundwater extraction practices, filling to accommodate new developments, and climate change.

Proactive Supports

The environmental protection requirements are often stringent and unforgiving. However, a skilled attorney may be able to help you anticipate potential problems and develop a plan to avoid or mitigate their damage. Consulting with an attorney can save a considerable amount of headache and cost in the long run, as well as make licensing and renewal processes run more smoothly.

Why You Should Choose Griswold LaSalle Cobb Dowd & Gin LLP for Your Handford, CA, Environmental Law Needs

Griswold LaSalle Cobb Dowd & Gin, LLP offers a wide variety of legal services, including environmental and agricultural law. When you work with us, you are investing in a relationship with a full-service firm experienced in many other types of law that can meet your legal needs throughout your life as you develop a business, get married, or develop a succession plan.

This diverse professional portfolio means that even after we help you with your environmental law case, we can help you with other legal needs, allowing you to return and work with a legal team that already knows you.

Our Commitment to Community

Our firm has been deeply embedded in the Hanford community for nearly 80 years and continues working out of an office in downtown Hanford. We believe investing in our community is just as important as investing in ourselves. This is one of the many reasons we offer scholarships to Central Valley students who want to pursue paralegal certificates and provide fundraising and support for those in need through our Griswold LaSalle Community Foundation.

We Value Accessibility

Our firm deeply believes that clear communication is important to effective legal representation. We also acknowledge that more than a quarter of California residents speak Spanish. Among those, individuals may have varying degrees of proficiency in English, making it essential for us to offer bilingual Spanish and English services to our clients.

We understand that Californians have busy lives. Sometimes, you may need to bring your children to a meeting, or you may be unable to get by our office to sign paperwork in person. When these things come up, we strive to work with you, whether that is by having crayons and a coloring book to entertain little ones or meeting you in the community to get a signature. Our goal is to make your life easier.

The Benefits of a Local Attorney

One of the many things that distinguishes us from other law firms is that all ten of our attorneys live locally. This gives us an intimate and clear understanding of the issues that may make your case unique and allows us to provide more individualized recommendations and guidance.

Additionally, our team is familiar with the local courthouse and municipal staff. Regarding some of the more bureaucratic processes, efficiency is as much who you know as knowing how to do things. Working with us allows you to benefit from our pre-established relationships in these vital agencies.

When Environmental and Agricultural Law Overlap

Water is a central focus for environmental law. While some regulations that focus on protecting water quality may place some additional strain on farmers when it comes to managing problems like animal waste or chemical runoff from fertilizers, a clean water supply often works in their best interest.

Therefore, farmers can often benefit from working with an environmental lawyer to help them advocate for their water and soil quality needs and sustainable practices that can protect the longevity and productivity of their land.

With Griswold LaSalle Cobb Dowd & Gin LLP, we have attorneys with focused experience in agricultural and environmental law, ensuring your case is handled with consideration for both when necessary.

Call an Environmental Law Attorney Today

You can technically manage most pieces of a Hanford, CA, business without an attorney. However, you risk missing critical pieces of information or failing to comply with mandatory guidelines that may leave you with significant sanctions, fines, or lawsuits. Whether you have an active situation in need of legal advice or you are trying to prevent an issue, it can be incredibly helpful to have an already established relationship with a firm to consult on future plans or help with litigation issues.

At Griswold LaSalle Cobb Dowd & Gin, we want all of our clients to feel heard, valued, and respected. You can contact us online at any time to request a case consultation or call us at 559-702-0808. We offer virtual meetings if scheduling does not permit an in-person meeting at our Hanford office. Do not wait for a problem to get environmental law guidance. Call us today.