State Court Rejects All Legal Challenges by Voices for Rural Living,
Upholds Caltrans Environmental Studies for Shingle Springs Rancheria Interchange Project
Court also bars VRL's attempted further lawsuit and injunctions pending appeal, clearing way for Caltrans to begin necessary preparations for interchange construction
Shingle Springs, CA - In a sweeping decision from the bench, Sacramento Superior Court Judge Lloyd Connelly upheld and accepted Caltrans' environmental review of the Shingle Springs Rancheria interchange project in a final ruling in favor of Caltrans and the Shingle Springs Band against the community group Voices for Rural Living (VRL).
With his ruling, Judge Connelly rejected all legal arguments by VRL, which challenged two Caltrans environmental studies prepared for the interchange project. This particular ruling rejected VRL’s challenges to a court-mandated Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) providing an exhaustive examination of potential project-related air quality impacts and related mitigation measures and smaller hotel and casino alternatives.
Judge Connelly also sustained demurrers, which contested the legal sufficiency of VRL's new lawsuit against the interchange project. This means that, absent VRL succeeding in an appeal, that new lawsuit may not proceed. Finally, Judge Connelly rejected VRL’s requests for an injunction against the project until the appeals process is finished.
The judge’s ruling clears the way for Caltrans and the Shingle Springs Band to begin preparations for construction of a $45 million interchange project that will provide commercial access to the Shingle Springs Rancheria from Highway 50.
“We couldn’t be more satisfied with Judge Connelly’s decision,” stated Nicholas Fonseca, Chairman of the Shingle Springs Rancheria. “Caltrans did a tremendous job not only with its original Environmental Impact Report, but also with its Supplemental EIR. Obviously, the judge is quite satisfied as well. We look forward to the court’s final ruling and finally moving forward with this project.”
Chairman Fonseca added: “Once again, VRL has been defeated in court clearly showing that their only tactic is to try and delay our project as long as they can with these erroneous charges being made in the courts. We hope that VRL will now see the light and get on board and support the project like the Board of Supervisors and the residents of El Dorado County do.”
