Megan V. Unger
Associate
Megan (pronounced Mēgan) Unger is dedicated to helping her public and private sector clients navigate complex environmental, land use, and regulatory issues.
She utilizes her knowledge of both state and federal environmental law to meet the needs of her clients in the forever-changing regulatory field. Megan’s enthusiasm and passion for environmental law aid her in assisting clients with a wide range of legal issues, including compliance with various environmental regulations.
Megan is a frequent contributor to CEQA Chronicles, a firm blog that provides timely information and analysis concerning key developments in environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
While attending University of California, Hastings College of the Law, Megan served as a Sack Teaching Fellow for Torts and a Teaching Assistant for Legal Research and Writing courses. Under the Hastings Law Journal, she was an Articles Editor and Diversity Committee member. Megan was also a mentor to first-year students through the UC Hastings Women’s Law Society.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- Bar Association of San Francisco, Barristers Environmental, Land Use and Real Estate Section, Member, 2022-present
- Association of Environmental Professionals, 2021-present
- Women in Environment, Bay Area Mentoring Program, 2021-present
- Conference of California Public Utility Counsel
- UC Hastings Environmental Law Society (HELA) Mentor, 2021-present
- UC Hastings Alumni Bar Passage Mentor, 2021
- UC Hastings Women’s Law Society, Student Mentor, 2018-2020
- Biden for President, Campaign Volunteer, 2020
- Hastings Law Journal, Articles Editor and Diversity Committee member
Honors & Rankings
- Order of the Coif
- UC Hastings Honor Society, 2017-2020
- CALI Awards for Highest Score in Legal Research & Writing, American Indian Law, and Criminal Law
- Witkin Awards for Highest Grade in Torts and Food Justice
- Dean’s Recognition for Professional Development, University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 2018
- Program Scholar Award, Environmental Studies, Loyola Marymount University, 2014
- Dean’s List, Loyola Marymount University, 2010-2014
Land Use and CEQA
- Assisting in representing Norway-based aquaculture corporation in connection with redevelopment of contaminated pulp mill site in Northern California to construct large state-of-the-art on-shore aquaculture facility to raise Atlantic Salmon.
- Assisting in representing the University of California in development of the Long Range Development Plan for the University of California, Santa Cruz.
- Assisting in representing large utility in Northern California in connection with entitlements for large-scale vegetation removal and management along high-power utility lines for purposes of fire prevention.
- Successfully opposed approvals for a gun and ammunition shop in historic downtown Torrance on behalf of a community member in the City of Torrance.
- Assisted in a successful appeal in a CEQA challenge to an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared in support of water rights proceedings before the State Water Resources Control Board. In line with our appeal, the EIR was upheld in full.
- Assisted in representing the largest municipal utility in the United States in an action challenging CEQA exemptions for the condemnation of three solid waste landfills and appurtenant water rights in the Owens Valley. We prevailed at trial and on appeal.
- Assisted in the successful defense against a challenge to the county’s urgency ordinance that was adopted to prohibit groundwater pumping for unlawful cannabis cultivation. The writ petition asserted claims under the California constitution, reasonable use doctrine, and Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
- Assisting in advising a city on the redevelopment of the Navy’s former Point Molate Fuel Depot, including the review and negotiation of all entitlements (development agreement, zoning and general plan amendments, subdivision map, and design review) and CEQA compliance for a 276-acre mixed-use development project involving residential, commercial, civic, parks and open space, and transportation uses.
- Assisting in advising the client on all aspects of permitting and replacement of a 123-mile oil pipeline, including CEQA and NEPA review, state and federal endangered species and clean water act compliance, and tribal and historical resources. The project is one of the only major infrastructure projects in California actively proceeding under the federal FAST-41 program.
- Contributed to successfully defending against a motion for attorneys’ fees arising out of a denial of a Petition for Writ of Mandate on behalf of a sand mining company.
- Assisted in the representation of a Muslim community group in connection with CEQA compliance and litigation arising out of an application to construct a religious and community center in San Martin, California.
- Assisted in counseling a waste management company regarding the regulation enforcement histories of sites similar to their own.
- Assisted in compiling and tracking housing-related legislation.
- Representing a private club seeking entitlements to divert surface water from an on-site stream in order to reduce the need for municipal water supply.
Renewable Energy
- Assisted in advising a developer on regulatory strategies under NEPA and CEQA for the development of thermal-solar power plants in California and Nevada with a planned output of 750 megawatts.
Utilities
- Assists in representing investor-owned utilities and independent natural gas and electric service providers in utility general rate cases and other CPUC proceedings addressing utility rates and costs borne by market participants.
Blogs
9 related items-
March 15, 2023Second District Rejects CEQA and Coastal Act Challenge to Senior Facility in Pacific Palisades Area of Los Angeles
CEQA Chronicles -
February 1, 2023Petitioner Required To Post Bond For Costs Incurred As A Result Of Delay In Carrying Out Affordable Housing Project In Livermore
CEQA Chronicles -
October 24, 2022Residential Development Project Consistent with Specific Plan Found Exempt from Further CEQA Review
CEQA Chronicles -
April 26, 2022New NEPA Rule Restores Demanding Environmental Review Practices for Major Federal Projects
CEQA Chronicles -
April 20, 2022BAAQMD Modifies its CEQA Thresholds for Evaluating the Significance of Climate Impacts from Land Use Projects and Plans
CEQA Chronicles -
December 20, 2021California Enacts More Than Two Dozen Laws This Year to Combat Housing Crisis
CEQA Chronicles -
July 26, 2021First District Court of Appeal Finds CEQA Claim Time-Barred Due to Insufficient Tolling Agreement
CEQA Chronicles -
May 14, 2021In First Published Opinion Interpreting SB 35, Court of Appeal Rejects City of Berkeley’s Attempts to Avoid Application of the Law and Orders Streamlined Approval of Mixed-Use Infill Project
CEQA Chronicles -
April 19, 2021California Supreme Court Grants Review of Third District’s Preemption Decision
CEQA Chronicles
Publications
8 related items-
December 2022Eight Circuit Finds States Lacked Article III Standing to Challenge Biden Administration’s Carbon Cost Metric
Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 3, Number 3 -
July 2022U.S. EPA And Department of Justice Announce the Return of The Use of Supplemental Environmental Projects
Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 2, Number 10 -
May 24, 2022AWWEE Hosts Event Discussing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and its Funding Opportunities
Downey Brand Infrastructure Publication -
February 2022Great Lakes, Coastal Beaches, and Certain Coastal Waters Further Protected by New Federal Pipeline Rule
Environmental, Energy, & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 2, Number 5 -
June 2021U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Dismisses City of New York Global Climate Change Lawsuit Against Multiple Multinational Oil Companies
Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 1, Number 9 -
February 2021U.S. EPA Publishes the Clean Air Act Cost-Benefit Rule Amidst Opposition and the End of the Trump Administration
Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 1, Number 5 -
2019Barriers to Fully Informed Decisions on Whether to Breastfeed or Formula Feed in the United States
Hastings Women’s Law Journal, Volume 31, Number 2 -
July 11, 2019Will the Wave of PFAS Litigation Sweep Through California?
Daily Journal
Megan was born and raised in the Bay Area and spends her time outside of the office playing with her Whippet puppy, attending Oakland Roots soccer games, listening to podcasts, playing soccer in an indoor women’s league, and traveling.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- Bar Association of San Francisco, Barristers Environmental, Land Use and Real Estate Section, Member, 2022-present
- Association of Environmental Professionals, 2021-present
- Women in Environment, Bay Area Mentoring Program, 2021-present
- Conference of California Public Utility Counsel
- UC Hastings Environmental Law Society (HELA) Mentor, 2021-present
- UC Hastings Alumni Bar Passage Mentor, 2021
- UC Hastings Women’s Law Society, Student Mentor, 2018-2020
- Biden for President, Campaign Volunteer, 2020
- Hastings Law Journal, Articles Editor and Diversity Committee member
Honors & Rankings
- Order of the Coif
- UC Hastings Honor Society, 2017-2020
- CALI Awards for Highest Score in Legal Research & Writing, American Indian Law, and Criminal Law
- Witkin Awards for Highest Grade in Torts and Food Justice
- Dean’s Recognition for Professional Development, University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 2018
- Program Scholar Award, Environmental Studies, Loyola Marymount University, 2014
- Dean’s List, Loyola Marymount University, 2010-2014