Robert C. Horton

Robert Horton assists both public agency and private clients on a variety of land use and environmental matters, including CEQA and NEPA compliance; Incidental Take Permits and section 7 consultation under the Endangered Species Act, section 404 dredge-and-fill permits; section 401 certification, and NPDES permits; and securing a variety of local land use permits.

Mr. Horton not only assists clients in regulatory compliance and securing land use entitlements, he also has experience litigating issues arising under CEQA, NEPA, the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and Telecommunication Act in both state and federal court, and both at the trial- and appellate-court levels.

Mr. Horton regularly comments on news, events, and policies affecting endangered species issues in California and throughout the United States on the Firm's Endangered Species Law & Policy blog.

Representative Work

CEQA Litigation.  Defending the Environmental Impact Report for the Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority's light rail project linking Culver City with Santa Monica.

CEQA and NEPA Compliance.  Advise client regarding legal adequacy of the combined EIR/EIS for the multi-billion dollar I-710 Transit Corridor project.

National Association of Home Builders.  Representing client in Clean Air Act citizen suit challenging the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District's Indirect Source Rule; drafted model legislative language for state and local voluntary green building laws.

Centex Homes.  Assisting client with various land use entitlement issues for projects in Santa Barbara County and the Inland Empire.  Representation includes crafting strategies for streamlined CEQA review, advising client on compliance with the Western Riverside Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan, and negotiation and drafting operating memoranda of understanding regarding development agreements.

Mission Pacific Land Company.  Negotiated with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Fish and Game, and local resource conservation district and drafted biological conservation easement to preserve on-site mitigation area in perpetuity.

First Industrial Realty Trust.  Assisted client with entitlements due diligence and processing, environmental permitting and green building regulations for its extensive holdings in the Inland Empire.

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.  Drafted comments on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed rule designating critical habitat for the Peninsular Bighorn Sheep.

City of Ventura.  Representation of client before the California Water Quality Control Board – Los Angeles Region in NPDES permit renewal and Petition for Review before the California State Water Resources Control Board and in Clean Water Act litigation in federal district court.

Commercial Litigation.  Litigation of claims brought under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and claims for patent and trademark infringement in federal district and appellate courts as well as the U.S. Supreme Court.