Melissa Poole assists clients on a variety of environmental, water, and land use matters, including CEQA and NEPA compliance, water rights, and issues arising under CERCLA, RCRA, the ESA, and other environmental statutes. She has performed various duties with respect to property acquisitions and development, and has advised clients with regard to compliance with the Clean Water Act and Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, including NPDES permitting and wetlands regulations. Ms. Poole has advised public agency clients on issues arising under the Political Reform Act, the Brown Act, and Gov. Code Section 1090. She also has experience litigating a broad variety of environmental issues before California and federal courts.
Prior to joining Nossaman she was an intern for the State Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee.
Representative Work
Castaic Lake Water Agency. Assisted in representing the Castaic Lake Water Agency and three other water entities in their groundwater contamination lawsuit against the Whittaker Corporation. A settlement agreement has been signed by all parties that will provide an estimated $100 million dollars for clean up.
The Newhall Land & Farming Company. Assisting client in development of defensible hydrology, surface water quality permitting, Section 401 certification, and CEQA impacts analysis that demonstrates compliance with all pertinent surface water quality requirements and regulations. Also providing advice and counsel with respect to construction stormwater compliance issues, and assisting Newhall in its construction and operational programs for surface water quality protection.
Centex Homes. Assisted client with various land use entitlement issues for projects throughout the Central Valley, Los Angeles/Ventura and Southern California Coast Divisions. Representation included due diligence analysis and working with local and state jurisdictions to secure entitlements and permits.
Paramount Farming Company/Roll International. Providing due diligence and legal analysis regarding various water rights issues. Providing advice regarding compliance with issues arising under the Political Reform Act and Government Code section 1090.
The Building Industry Association of Southern California. Providing strategic advice and water quality counsel and regulatory work associated with the renewal of General NPDES Permits for stormwater discharges from public storm drain systems in the County of Ventura, south Orange County, northern San Diego County and incorporated cities therein.
Orange County Great Park Corporation. Assisting client in developing strategy and approach to create defensible hydrology, surface, water quality and biological (including endangered species and wetlands) CEQA documentation and project design features demonstrating compliance with all pertinent surface water quality and endangered species and wetlands requirements and regulations for the MCAS El Toro, Great Park, including development of water quality trading and wetlands mitigation banking programs.
Coalition for a Sustainable Delta. Collaborating with client team to develop a strategy to address significant contributors to ecosystem decline in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Assisting client with implementation of strategy including through participation in regulation and legal proceedings.
Woodside Natural Gas Inc. Represented client with CEQA, NEPA and entitlement issues regarding a proposed liquefied natural gas project in the Pacific Ocean 27 miles west of Los Angeles. The project includes the transportation of LNG from Australia to California, regassification onboard specially designed tankers and delivery of natural gas to the existing Southern California natural gas pipeline distribution system.
Olivenhain Municipal Water District. Counseling client with respect to dispute with regional water supplier regarding potential water transfers. Participating in regulatory proceedings, settlement negotiations and implementation of litigation strategy.
The Russ Group. Assisting client with various land use entitlement issues, including CEQA compliance, for a commercial project in El Centro.
Professional Affiliations
Water Education Foundation, William R. Gianelli Water Leaders Class member
Awards & Honors
Named a Southern California "Rising Star" in 2007-2009 by
Los Angeles magazine.
Education
J.D., University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, 2004
B.A., California State University, Fresno, 2001
summa cum laude
Admitted
California
United States District Court, Central District of California
United States District Court, Eastern District of California
United States District Court, Southern District of California