COBB — Friends of Cobb Mountain recently reorganized itself in order to continue its mission to protect the environment of Cobb and its residents using money acquired from a settlement.
Chairman Hamilton Hess said the group was recently recognized as a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization, which required the group to dissolve and recreate itself.
The group dissolved in July and received its 501(c)3 status in early September.
Following the settlement of a lawsuit against the county in May, the group sent out a letter dated June 18, 2012 addressed to “Cobb Mountain Resident” that stated the group was receiving repayment of attorney”s fees and would return contributions received by community members who supported the group.
The letter stated $1,800 would be provided to Cobb residents living in watersheds that may be affected by geothermal wells and development.
The letter also stated Bottle Rock Power provided $150,000 to the group, which would be used “solely and exclusively” to protect the environment of Cobb and its residents from pollution, earthquakes, traffic and other impacts of commercial activities in the area.
The suit was filed in May 2011 and petitioned the court to reverse decisions made by the Board of Supervisors regarding a Bottle Rock Power expansion project.
The supervisors denied the group”s appeal of the Lake County Planning Commission”s December 2010 certification of the environmental impact report for the project.
The group alleged the county”s approval of the project violated requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act.
A tentative agreement was reached in March to settle the case and the group formally entered into a settlement agreement on the matter in May.
The group incorporated in February 1975 and aimed to preserve the “scenic beauty and recreational environment” of Cobb Mountain and Lake County and to “combat deterioration of such area threatened by air pollution” and other forms of pollution, according to its articles of incorporation.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14. Follow on Twitter: @KevinNHume.
