David M. Ivester
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View David M. Ivester’s publications Law PracticeDavid Ivester focuses on land use, environmental, and natural resource law. He has represented landowners, developers, public entities, energy companies and various other businesses on a wide variety of environmental, land use, land title and water quality issues before federal, state and local regulatory agencies and state and federal trial and appellate courts. David has frequently lectured and written about environmental and land use regulation. David regularly represents clients in federal, state, and local regulatory agencies on land use, environmental review, wetlands, endangered species, water quality, and natural resource issues. He has broad experience with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, California Department of Fish and Game, State Water Resources Control Board and the Regional Water Quality Control Boards, California Coastal Commission, California Energy Commission, San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and cities and counties. David’s litigation experience includes federal and state suits involving the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Federal Flood Insurance Act, Rivers and Harbors Act, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), California Endangered Species Act, Fish and Game Code, Porter-Cologne Act, Permit Streamlining Act, and regulatory takings under the U.S. Constitution.
Prior ExperiencePartner, Stoel Rives LLP and Washburn, Briscoe & McCarthy, San Francisco, California (1983-2005); attorney, Charles Bond PLC, San Francisco, California (1980-82); attorney, Wilhelm, Thompson, Wentholt & Gibbs, Redwood City, California (1978-80); law clerk, Justice Margaret J. Morris, California Court of Appeals, San Bernardino, California (1977-78).
Representative CasesTrials and AppealsCenter for Biological Diversity v. Kempthorne. Federal District Court. David served as California counsel to the American Petroleum Institute, Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, National Mining Association, National Association of Manufacturers, and American Iron and Steel Institute in a citizen suit challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to list the polar bear as threatened, rather than endangered, under the federal Endangered Species Act and limit the extent to which the Service would consider the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on global climate change. Concerned Citizens Coalition of Stockton v. City of Stockton. California Superior Court. David represented a city in litigation attacking the city’s transfer of operation and maintenance of its water, stormwater, and wastewater facilities to a private firm on the grounds that the city failed to review the environmental effects of the transfer under CEQA. United States v. Frederic Cline. Federal District Court. David represented a farmer in Sonoma County, California in administrative enforcement proceedings by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a criminal investigation and civil enforcement action by the U.S. Attorney and Justice Department concerning alleged violations of the Clean Water Act and Rivers and Harbors Act. Careful Objective Development for Monterey County v. County of Monterey. California Superior Court and Court of Appeal. David represented a citizens group in litigation that successfully challenged a county’s approval of a private airport based on the county’s violation of CEQA and local zoning ordinances. James City County v. EPA, 12 F.3d 1330 (4th Cir. 1993). U.S. Supreme Court. David appeared as amicus curiae on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders in support of a petition for certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court in an action relating to the Clean Water Act. State Water Resources Control Board v. Office of Administrative Law, 12 Cal. App. 4th 697 (1993). California Superior Court and Court of Appeal. David represented the Bay Planning Coalition, a nonprofit corporation, in administrative proceedings before the Regional Water Quality Control Board, the State Water Resources Control Board, and the Office of Administrative Law and in litigation in California trial and appellate courts that successfully challenged wetland regulations issued by the state and regional boards in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act. City of Fremont v. Mok Nursery. California Superior Court. David has testified at deposition and trial as an expert on federal and state regulation of wetlands. Cargill, Incorporated v. United States, 660 F. Supp. 183 (N.D. Cal. 1987). Federal District Court and Court of Appeals. David represented Cargill (formerly Leslie Salt Co.) in extensive litigation concerning the extent of the authority of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to regulate waters and wetlands under section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Cashman v. City of Cotati. Federal District Court. David represented several mobile-home-park owners in litigation challenging a city’s rent control ordinance on the grounds that it effects a “regulatory taking” of property without just compensation in violation of the U.S. Constitution. Orsi v. City of Salinas, 219 Cal. App. 3d 1576 (1990). California Court of Appeal. David represented a developer in appellate court in litigation under the Permit Streamlining Act against the City of Salinas, California that successfully required the City to issue a land use permit as the City had failed to consider the permit in a timely fashion. Coho Salmon v. Pacific Lumber Company. Federal District Court. David represented Pacific Lumber Company in a citizen suit alleging that logging operations on thousands of acres of forest take threatened coho salmon in violation of the Endangered Species Act. Administrative MattersDublin Ranch. David represented the developer of a 1,715-acre master-planned community in Dublin, California, with respect to environmental review under NEPA and CEQA, determining the extent of jurisdictional wetlands and streams, and obtaining federal, state, and local permits associated with waters and wetlands, water quality, and wildlife, including federal and state endangered species. Pastoria Energy Facility. David represented an energy company with respect to development of a 750-megawatt merchant-class electrical generating facility in Kern County, California, helping obtain federal, state, and local permits concerning energy facility certification, waters and wetlands, air quality, and wildlife, including federal and state endangered species. Pleasanton Municipal Golf Course. David represented a city in its development of a municipal golf course in Pleasanton, California, helping determine the extent of jurisdictional waters and wetlands and obtain federal and state permits associated with waters and wetlands, water quality, and wildlife, including federal and state endangered species. Flying Cloud Casino. David represented a tribe with respect to environmental review and approval of a gaming facility on tribal lands. Listing of Endangered Species. David represented landowners and trade organizations with respect to various federal and state proposals to list species as endangered or threatened or designate lands as critical habitat, including an effort resulting in reduction of the area designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as critical habitat for the Bay Checkerspot Butterfly in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Vaca Valley Business Park. David represented Chevron Land and Development Company, developer of a 450-acre business park in Vacaville, California, with respect to environmental review under NEPA and CEQA, determining the extent of jurisdictional wetlands, and obtaining federal, state, and local permits associated with waters and wetlands, water quality, and wildlife, including federal and state endangered species. Ladera Project. David represented Rancho Mission Viejo, developer of a 2,390-acre master-planned community in Orange County, California, with respect to determining the extent of jurisdictional wetlands and obtaining federal, state, and local permits associated with waters and wetlands, water quality, and wildlife, including federal and state endangered species. The Preserve at Sunridge. David represented AKT Development Corporation, developer of a 530-acre master-planned community in Rancho Cordova, California, in administrative proceedings with federal, state, and local agencies with respect to environmental review under NEPA and CEQA and obtaining federal, state, and local permits associated with surface waters and wetlands, water quality, and wildlife, including federal and state endangered species. East Cypress Corridor Project. David represented KB Home, DR Horton, and Bethel Island LLC, developers of a 1,255-acre master-planned community in Oakley, California, in administrative proceedings with federal, state, and local agencies with respect to environmental review under NEPA and CEQA and obtaining federal, state, and local permits associated with surface waters and wetlands, water quality, water supply, and wildlife, including federal and state endangered species Professional Activities / MembershipsMember, Advisory Board, California Land Use Law and Policy Reporter (1992-present); member, Advisory Board, California Environmental Law and Regulatory Reporter (1991); member, Environmental Issues Committee and Legal Action Committee, California Building Industry Association (1993-2005); member, Water Quality Task Force, California Building Industry Association (1993-present); alternate member, Board of Directors, Bay Planning Coalition (1982-present); chairman, Wetland and Endangered Species Committee, Bay Planning Coalition (1989-2006); member, Board of Directors, Center for Natural Lands Management (2004-present); member, American Bar Association Section on Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law (1983-present). PublicationsArticle, “Renewable Energy: Streamlining Review Under NEPA and the ESA,” TRENDS, Vol. 42, No. 2, ABA Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, November/December 2010. Article, “The Supreme Court Draws a Line,” National Wetlands Newsletter, Environmental Law Institute (Mar.-Apr. 2001); “Environmental Quality – Endangered Species,” The California Municipal Law Handbook, League of California Cities (1997); “Digging Is Not Dumping: Federal Court Invalidates Regulations Restricting Excavation in Wetlands,” Environmental Law News (Environmental Law Section of State Bar of California) (winter 1996); “Babbitt v. Sweet Home Chapter of Communities: When Is Habitat Modification a Take?” Resource (Natural Resources Subsection of Real Property Law Section of State Bar of California) (spring 1996); “The Endangered Species Act Prohibits Habitat Modification–Sometimes: Babbitt v. Sweet Home Chapter of Communities for a Greater Oregon,” California Land Use Law and Policy Reporter (July 1995); “Wetland Policy: Federal and State Reforms Move Ahead,” California Land Use and Policy Reporter (Nov. & Dec. 1993); “Listing of Species Has Broad Implications,” Environmental Law, San Francisco Daily Journal (May 27, 1993); contributor, Kostka & Zischke, Practice Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEB 1993); “Endangered Species: On the Edge of Habitat–and the Law,” California Land Use and Policy Reporter (Jan. 1993); “Guide to Wetlands Regulation,” Land Use Forum (CEB) (spring 1992); “Defining Wetlands–A Balance of Policy, Practicality and Science,” Seventh Symposium on Coastal and Ocean Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Long Beach, California (July 8-12, 1991); “Other Federal Laws and Regulations Protecting Wildlife,” Developer’s Guide to Endangered Species Regulation (Homebuilder Press, National Association of Home Builders, 1996); Note, “The Constitutional Right to Know,” Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly (1977). Lectures and Presentations“Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement?,” CLE International Third Annual NEPA Conference, San Francisco, California (Mar. 2007); “NEPA in a Nutshell,” CLE International 13th Annual California Wetlands Conference, Sacramento, California ( Jan. 2007); “Wetlands and Endangered Species Regulation in California,” Lorman Education Services, Seminar on Zoning and Land Use in California, Redding, California (Apr. 2006); “Federal and State Regulatory Hurdles: Water Quality, Wildlife, and Air Quality,” Lorman Education Services, Seminar on Zoning and Land Use in California, San Francisco, California (June 2004); “Wetlands Regulation: Recent Developments,” State Bar of California, Environmental Law Section, Hot Environmental Legal Issues on the California Central Coast, Santa Barbara, California (July 2002); “Wetlands and Wildlife Regulation: Recent Developments,” Lorman Education Services, California Zoning and Land Use Seminar, San Francisco, California (Oct. 2001); panelist, “Environmental Concerns in Real Estate Transactions,” online seminar, law.com (Jan-Feb. 2001); “The Year in Review: 1999-2000 Developments in Wetlands Law,” CLE International California Wetlands Conference, San Francisco, California (Sept. 2000); 1999 Fall Wetlands and Endangered Species Workshop, Association of Environmental Professionals, Oakland, California (Sept. 1999); “Update on Federal and State Endangered Species Legislation,” Conference on Recent Water Law and Policy, Water Education Foundation, San Francisco, California (July 1997); “California Environmental Quality Act and Environmental Planning,” Course on Private Development, Business Management and Urban Planning, San Jose State University, San Jose, California (Apr. 1997); “Federal and State Endangered Species Programs at the Crossroads,” State Bar of California, Environmental Law Section, Fifth Annual Environmental Law Institute at Yosemite, Yosemite National Park, California (Oct. 1996); “Wetlands Update: Vernal Pools, Mitigation Banking and Other Concerns,” Conference on California Land Use Law, CLE International, Sacramento, California (June 1996); “Getting Water Projects Through the 404 Process,” Conference on Recent Water Law and Policy, Water Education Foundation, San Francisco, California (July 1995); “Impact of the Endangered Species Act and Wetland Regulation: The Takings Question of the ’90s?” Conference on Regulatory Takings: Government Regulation vs. Private Property Rights, CLE International, San Francisco, California (Mar. 1995); “Ecosystem Management and Property Rights,” 1995 Annual Conference, California Licensed Foresters Association, Sacramento, California (Mar. 1995); “Endangered Species: What’s New,” 20th Annual Edison Electric Institute Biologists’ Task Force Workshop, Monterey, California (Sept. 1994); “The New Federal and State Wetlands Mitigation Banking Policies,” Wetland Mitigation Banking in California: A Statewide Conference, University of California, Davis Extension, Davis, California (July 1994); “Wetland Policy: Federal and State Reforms,” 23rd Annual Conference on Environmental Law, American Bar Association Section on Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law, Keystone, Colorado (Mar. 1994); “Balancing Development with Environmental Concerns: How to Procure Project Permits,” Conference on California Land Use Law, CLE International, San Francisco, California (Nov. 1992); “Perspectives on Policies for Regional Growth Management,” Midyear Real Estate Forecast Conference, Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics, University of California, and California Building Industry Association, San Francisco, California (Apr. 1991); chair, Seminar on Wetlands and Real Estate Development, Urban Land Institute, Orlando Florida (Nov. 1990); “Wetlands Regulation,” Seminar on Realistic Real Estate: Proposition 65 and Other Emerging Trends and Issues, California Building Industry Foundation, Los Angeles, California (Jan. 1989); “Wetlands, Vernal Pools, and Endangered Species,” Building Industry Association of Northern California, Santa Rosa, California (Dec. 1988). |
ContactDirect: (415) 402-2702 Practice AreasLand Use & Natural Resources, Land Title, Environmental Law, Litigation EducationJ.D., Hastings College of the Law, University of California, San Francisco, 1977; Note and Comment Editor, Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly (1976-1977); B.G.S., University of Michigan, 1974 AdmissionsState Bar of California, United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth and District of Columbia Circuits, United States Court of Federal Claims, United States District Court, Northern and Eastern Districts of California |