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CRPE Cases

Save Our Shafter v. Kern County:
Protecting Shafter from the Vanderham Dairy

The Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment is representing a group of Shafter residents, Save Our Shafter (SOS), in opposing a 2,800-cow mega-dairy project to be located less than two miles from their homes and the local elementary school. CRPE assisted SOS in preparing comments before the Board of Supervisors in the matter, and when the Board of Supervisors ignored their constituents, CRPE took the fight to Superior Court. The case alleges that Kern County violated the California Environmental Quality Act in approving the Conditional Use Permit for the project and in certifying the Environmental Impact Report. The violations include (1) failure to adequately analyze direct and cumulative fly impacts from the mega-dairy and the many surrounding dairies, and (2) failure to disclose information necessary to meaningfully compare alternative locations with the proposed project site. Judge Roger Randall ruled for SOS on July 31, 2003, and sent the project back to the County to study fly impacts and alternatives to the dairy location.

During the litigation, CRPE had to secure a restraining order against dairy owner Vanderham to stop him from harassing Shafter residents opposed to the dairy.