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noodle maker in California's Orange County has successfully fended off a CEQA appeal, with the court ruling that the opponent lacked "standing" to bring the challenge. Maruchan, a leading manufacturer of ramen noodles, had been approved by the City Council to expand its 400,800-square-foot plant in Irvine. The proposed addition would add 227,400 square feet for three new production lines and 191 more employees.

    The appeal was filed by Supporters Alliance for Environmental Responsibility (SAFER), a Covina-based advocacy group tied to the laborer's union. However, city staff argued that SAFER lacked standing to appeal because it is neither the applicant nor an owner or resident of property within 500 feet of the project site.

    Maruchan's Irvine facility currently employs 482 workers across six production lines, operating two shifts a day. The company plans to add new driveways, loading docks, and equipment with the expansion. The Irvine Spectrum, where Maruchan is located, is one of Orange County's major business centers, hosting over 3,500 companies and employing nearly 80,000 people.

    Maruchan was launched in Los Angeles in 1972 to market instant noodles from Japan and has since expanded its operations across the US with four plants. The company's expansion plans are part of a larger development trend in Irvine, which is home to over 38 million square feet of commercial space.