Michelle Ouellette

Partner

Riverside
3750 University Avenue, Suite 400
P.O. Box 1028

TEL: (951) 826-8373
Michelle.Ouellette@bbklaw.com

General Bio
Endangered Species Litigation

Environmental Law & Natural Resources Practice

Michelle Ouellette is a partner and currently chair of the Natural Resources Practice Group at the law firm of Best Best & Krieger LLP.

Ms. Ouellette represents municipal, district and private clients in environmental issues arising under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”), the state and federal Endangered Species Acts, wetlands regulations, and solid waste reuse and disposal. Ms. Ouellette assists public and private agency clients in all aspects of CEQA and NEPA compliance, including the preparation and review of addenda, negative declarations, environmental impact reports and environmental impact statements.  She also has extensive CEQA and NEPA litigation experience and successfully defended the Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement prepared for the Long-term Stephens’ kangaroo rat Habitat Conservation Plan.

Ms. Ouellette represents clients in endangered species matters involving listing, Section 7 consultation and habitat conservation planning, including the City of Ontario, Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency, Coachella Valley Association of Governments, County of Riverside, High Pointe Development, Lauth Properties and the March Joint Powers Authority. She has assisted with consultation and conservation matters involving the Stephens’ kangaroo rat, San Bernardino kangaroo rat, Delhi Sands Flower-Loving Fly, Quino Checkerspot Butterfly and Peninsula Bighorn Sheep. 

Ms. Ouellette represents the County of Riverside in the development of the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (“MSHCP”), its Implementing Agreement and its Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement.  The MSHCP is one of the largest conservation plan in the United States.

Ms. Ouellette teaches courses in environmental law at the University of California, Riverside. She has authored articles and frequently lectures on CEQA and the Endangered Species Acts.  Ms. Ouellette is the 2005 President of the Riverside County Bar Association.

Ms. Ouellette joined Best Best & Krieger LLP in 1989 as a first year associate.  She graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1980, with honors, and received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Southern California in 1989.

Bar & Court Admissions

• California, 1989

Education

• JD, University of Southern California Law School
• BA, University of California, Santa Cruz