Alene Taber represents clients before planning commissions, city councils, administrative hearing boards and local agency formation commissions on land development and environmental matters. She has experience litigating in federal and state court, water and air quality cases, CEQA/NEPA cases, disapprovals of development projects, defending challenges to development projects, and land use-related constitutional and civil rights claims. Alene also advises land developers and government agencies on CEQA/NEPA compliance and obtaining entitlements and other approvals, companies that have air quality compliance issues, landowners with groundwater/soil contamination issues, land developers on fees and other exactions, citizen groups regarding sober living homes, and land developers on SB 375 (Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008) and greenhouse gas emissions issues.

Previously, Alene worked for the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) for more than 12 years. She was responsible for managing the permitting and enforcement of certain facilities, overseeing the CEQA and socioeconomic analysis to support SCAQMD rulemaking activities, and managing the development of air quality rules including those affecting port facilities, petroleum facilities, aerospace, printing operations, spray painting, asbestos abatement, composting, and construction sites. She has experience with trading markets (RECLAIM), Title V permitting, public notification under AB 2588,indirect source regulations, and global warming issues.

Alene also served as a city planner with the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and the City of Carson. While with SCAG, she worked on transportation and air quality issues. Additionally, she processed land use entitlements and subdivision maps, drafted CEQA documents, and wrote several ordinances regulating parking, truck maneuvering, and commercial facilities.

Alene has taught air pollution issues in land use planning for the University of California, Irvine, Extension Program and is a certified Land Use Planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners as well as a LEED Green Associate.

Bar Admissions

• California
• District of Columbia

Education
J.D., magna cum laude, Whittier Law School (2001)
B.A., Washington University School of Law (1984)

• American Planning Association/American Institute of Certified Planners
• Association of Environmental Professionals
• Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce
• American Bar Association (Natural Resources & Environmental Section; and Air Quality Committee)

• Super Lawyers, Rising Star (2005)