Save Noyo Headlands Document Repository — Catalogue

New Section! Future Visions and Possibilities for the Headlands/Former Mill Site

Archive includes documents, maps, and minutes of meetings concerning the future development of the former Georgia Pacific mill site on the Fort Bragg Headlands.

Overall Development Planning 2004-2022. Includes 2004 City of Fort Bragg Georgia Pacific Mill Site Reuse Study, and other subsequent studies and proposals.
OU-E — Central Mill Pond and Former Estuary. Includes Arcadis detailed planning from 2010-2011

Lawsuits and Court Cases

Superior Court of Mendocino County Cases

City of Fort Bragg v. Mendocino Railway Superior Court of Mendocino County, filed October 28, 2021, "seeking judicial declaration regarding the validity of the Mendocino Railway's status as a public utility." Trial scheduled for September 2025
Eminent Domain Cases

Mendocino Railway v. John Meyer et al. , filed December 22, 2020, seeking to take by eminent domain, 20 acres on Highway 20, west of Willits. Denied June 1 2023. "Plaintiff MR has failed to meet its burden of establishing that it can acquire Meyer's real property by eminent domain pursuant to constitutional and statutory powers." Currently under appeal.

NEW 2/16 RESPONDENT'S ANSWER TO AMERICAN SHORT LINE AND REGIONAL RAILROAD ASSOCIATION'S AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF, filed February 7, 2025.
NEW 2/16 APPELLANT'S ANSWER TO BRIEF OF AMICUS CURIAE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION, filed February 7, 2025.

Mendocino Railway v. Lorena Shea Superior Court of Mendocino County, filed November 16, 2020, seeking to take by eminent domain a single family residence and property at 476 Alger Street, Fort Bragg. Granted without opposition, July 7, 2021
Mendocino Railway vs. Georgia-Pacific LLC, et al. , filed August 11, 2021, seeking to take by eminent domain the southern 270 acres of the Georgia Pacific Mill Site and 70 acres along Pudding Creek. Granted without opposition, November 17, 2021

Federal District Court for Northern California and 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

City of Fort Bragg v. Mendocino Railway, Removed from Mendocino County Superior Court to Federal District Court by Mendocino Railway, seeking a ruling that the State Court's jurisdiction was preempted by Mendocino Railway's claimed status as a federally regulated railroad. Remanded to Mendocino County Superior Court May 11, 2023
Mendocino Railway vs. Ainsworth et al., filed August 9, 2022 in Federal District Court for Northern California, California, seeking "a declaration and injunction to the effect that, as a federally regulated railroad subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the STB under ICCTA and the Supremacy Clause, the Commission’s and City’s efforts to subject the railroad to state and local land-use permitting and oversight of its rail-related activities are federally preempted." Dismissed by Judge Jon Tiger, May 12, 2023

Mendocino Railway vs. Ainsworth et al, filed June 8, 2023 in United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, San Francisco, California, appealing Judge Tiger's dismissal in Federal District Court. Dismissal affirmed August 29, 2024.

Sierra Northern Railway and Mendocino Railway v. City of Fort Bragg, filed in Federal District Court of Northern California, August 7, 2024. Alleges City of Fort BRAGG responsibility for dioxin and furan contamination in Pond 8 from City runoff.

State of California Agencies and Entities with Jurisdiction

Department of Toxic Substances Control, the controlling authority concerning pollution cleanup and toxic residues remaining from Georgia Pacific and prior owners' mill operations.

Land Use Covenants (Restrictions)

California Coastal Commission "plans and regulates the use of land and water in the coastal zone," in Fort Bragg, west of Highway 1. Archive includes communications asserting Coastal Commission jurisdiction over mill href="site development"
California Public Utilities Commission regulates privately owned public utilities in the state of California, including common carriers. Archive includes decisions and communications concerning Mendocino Railway's status as a public utility under California law.

United States Federal Government Agencies with Jurisdiction

Federal Railroad Authority and the Surface Transportation Board regulate railroads connected to the federal rail system, rail lines and railroad track right-of-ways