Richardson Grove project federal lawsuit dismissed

Opponents of widening a stretch of U.S. Highway 101 through Richardson Grove State Park announced Friday that they’ve dropped their lawsuit against Caltrans after the state agency agreed to rescind its approval of the project’s federal environmental review.

While Caltrans confirmed Friday that, in order to advance the project, it is still conducting an additional environmental review to comply with a separate state court order, plaintiffs celebrated the agency’s legal move.

“I don’t want to say that it’s over and done completely, but it’s definitely good news,” Environmental Protection Information Center Executive Director Natalynne DeLapp said. “... The trees were put into a state park to be protected. It’s good to know that little piece of ancient forest is going to be protected into perpetuity as was intended.”

In a statement released Friday afternoon, Caltrans said it “made its decision to withdraw its (Finding of No Significant Impact) on Nov. 17, following the Oct. 21 entry of the state court writ.”

“Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed the action after Caltrans informed them of this decision and after being served with Caltrans’ motion to dismiss,” the statement reads... (To read the entire article, please click HERE)