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In County of Butte v. Dep’t of Wat. Resources (2022) 13 Cal.5th 612, issued on August 1, 2022, the California Supreme Court carved out a role for the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) even where the project is largely governed by a federal proceeding.  The case arose in connection with the relicensing of the Oroville Dam by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”).  The Federal Power Act (“FPA”) (16 U.S.C. § 791, et seq.) delegates to FERC the authority to license hydroelectric dams; the FPA has “a significant preemptive sweep.”  Despite a comprehensive federal process for licensing dams, the Supreme Court held that state agency review under CEQA was not entirely preempted.  As significant as the ruling itself is the strident dissent, penned by outgoing Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye.