Orland being sued

This story first appeared on this Web site Tuesday evening

Orland received word Tuesday that it is being sued.

A petition dated Feb. 26 was received in the mail announcing that Friends of Orland and Gregory Appel have filed an action in Glenn County Superior Court against the city for its approval of the Crystal Geyser Water Co. sparkling mineral water bottling plant on County Road 200.

A letter from William Kopper, attorney for the group, claims the city is in "violation of the California Environmental Quality Act."

Opponents of the project, which included Save Our Water Resources, argued in public meetings that an environment impact report is needed before the proposed project should go forward.

City Council members disagreed and voted unanimously to accept Crystal Geyser's application on Feb. 1.

The petition identifies the Friends of Orland as "Orland citizens, taxpayers and property owners, working, living or regularly traveling in or close in geographical proximity to the Crystal Geyser Bottling Plant and Warehouse." Individual members are not identified.

Others named in the suit are Crystal Geyser and property owners Robert Silveria and Nancy Villalobos.

The lawsuit asks the city to set aside its approval of the Crystal Geyser application and to require an "environmental review."

It also states that Friends and Appel are interested in making sure the City Council proceeds "in the manner required by law," decisions are "neither arbitrary nor capricious," which they claim to be the case.

Joanne Overton of Save Our Water Resources said, "Good for them. That's what we wanted."

She declined to say whether the group will take action against the city as well.

Crystal Geyser representatives could not be reached for comment.

Contact Lydia Harris at 934-6800 or lharris@tcnpress.com.