California Courts of Appeal recently issued two cases addressing the strict statute of limitations applicable to agency action under CEQA.

Citizens for a Responsible Caltrans Decision v. Department of Transportation –  (March 24, 2020, D074374) __ Cal.5th__

The Fourth District in Citizens for a Responsible Caltrans Decision v. Department of Transportation overturned a lower court’s dismissal of a citizen group’s challenge to an exemption issued by California Department of Transportation (“Caltrans”) for a highway interchange project in San Diego, finding that the Petitioner had pled facts sufficient to allow the lower court to find that the action was timely, and finding as a matter of first impression that the Project was not exempt from CEQA.  This case is a good reminder that courts will strictly scrutinize agency action that appears designed to deceive the public, even if well-intended.