Ms. Rubalcava is a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office. She advises clients planning major industrial development projects on compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), with a particular emphasis on facilities with significant air and toxic emissions and water quality issues. She also has been involved in legal actions challenging the sufficiency of CEQA documents such as Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs), as well as the failure of regulatory agencies to prepare such documents. Ms. Rubalcava’s projects include major infrastructure projects, power plants, solid waste disposal facilities, petroleum pipelines, gasoline refineries, marine terminals and manufacturing facilities. These projects are often highly controversial and present unusually challenging permitting and compliance issues including environmental justice concerns. She advised the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority on environmental issues associated with the Alameda Corridor project, one of the largest infrastructure projects in the United States.
Ms. Rubalcava is a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office. She advises clients planning major industrial development projects on compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), with a particular emphasis on facilities with significant air and toxic emissions and water quality issues. She also has been involved in legal actions challenging the sufficiency of CEQA documents such as Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs), as well as the failure of regulatory agencies to prepare such documents. Ms. Rubalcava’s projects include major infrastructure projects, power plants, solid waste disposal facilities, petroleum pipelines, gasoline refineries, marine terminals and manufacturing facilities. These projects are often highly controversial and present unusually challenging permitting and compliance issues including environmental justice concerns. She advised the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority on environmental issues associated with the Alameda Corridor project, one of the largest infrastructure projects in the United States.
Sharon also represents existing businesses and trade associations on environmental compliance issues. She has extensive experience with the promulgation of environmental rules and regulations, compliance counseling, permitting, emissions trading, variances, appeals and enforcement actions. She has represented trade associations and companies in environmental matters before the Environmental Protection Agency, the South Coast Air Quality Management District and other air pollution control districts.
In the water quality arena, Ms. Rubalcava frequently represents clients before the State Water Resources Control Board and the Regional Water Quality Control Boards on permitting (NPDES and waste discharge requirements) and enforcement matters. She has assisted clients in obtaining solid waste facilities permits from the California Integrated Waste Management Board.
Sharon is a past chair of the American Bar Association’s Air Quality Subcommittee of the Section on Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law. She is a former president of the City of Los Angeles, Board of Information Technology Commissioners. Sharon was appointed by Mayor James Hahn to the City of Los Angeles’ no Net Increase Task Force, which was tasked with identifying ways to reduce emissions from goods movement activities at the Port of Los Angeles. In addition, Sharon has been recognized as a leader in the field of environmental law in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business from 2005-2009 and The International Who’s Who of Environment Lawyers in 2008 and 2009. She is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America.
Sharon received both her J.D. and B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1975 and 1968, respectively.