The protections at risk are not incidental to Earth9 California's transit model. They are structural. Ferry terminal permitting, tidal flood-zone classifications, and shoreline development buffers were woven into post-1989 infrastructure planning specifically because the state had chosen waterfront transit over freeway expansion. The federal environmental rule changes scheduled for September 14 would weaken or remove several of those anchors. The active lawsuit challenging the rollbacks is the principal line of defense. No injunction has been issued. If the rules take effect on schedule, Council-aligned regional planners will face a narrow window to assess exposure before the 2027 permitting cycle opens.