What projects are subject to CEQA?

What projects are subject to CEQA?

All projects undertaken by a public agency are subject to CEQA. This includes projects undertaken by any state or local agency, any special district (e.g., a school district), and any public college or university. CEQA applies to discretionary projects undertaken by private parties.

What is not a project under CEQA?

The court disagreed, based on section 21065 of the statute, which defines a “project” as “an activity which may cause either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.” A zoning ordinance is not a project subject to CEQA unless it meets this …

What criteria are used to determine if an activity is a project under CEQA?

CEQA defines a “project” as an activity that (1) is a discretionary action by a governmental agency and (2) will either have a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect impact on the environment. (Pub.

Is it a project under CEQA?

The CEQA Guidelines define a project under CEQA as “the whole of the action” that may result either directly or indirectly in physical changes to the environment. This broad definition is intended to provide the maximum protection of the environment.

Does CEQA apply to single family homes?

On Monday March 2, the California Supreme Court upheld the use of a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemption for a large single-family residence. The holding has broad implications for home builders and developers.

What is a negative declaration CEQA?

A Negative Declaration (ND) is a written statement by the Lead Agency briefly describing the reasons why a proposed project, that is not exempt from CEQA, will not have a significant effect on the environment and, therefore, does not require the preparation of an EIR. ( State CEQA Guidelines § 15371)

Who prepares CEQA documents?

In March 2019, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR), State Clearinghouse Unit (SCH) launched CEQA Submit and the updated version of CEQAnet. Together, the two online platforms serve as the new way to submit and publish Environmental Documents and Notices.

What requires an EIR?

Preparation of an EIR is required when a Lead Agency determines that a proposed project would have one or more significant impacts on the environment based on a preliminary review of the project (State CEQA Guidelines § 15060) or completion of an Initial Study (State CEQA Guidelines § 15063).

What is CEQA Piecemealing?

CEQA generally prohibits an agency from “chopping up” a large project into many little ones, each of which might have individually minimal environmental consequences, but collectively may have significant environmental impacts. This “chopping up” of a large project is known as “piecemealing.”

What is a statutory exemption CEQA?

Statutory exemptions are projects specifically excluded from CEQA consideration as defined by the State Legislature. These exemptions are delineated in PRC § 21080 et seq.

Who prepares an EIR?

The lead agency shall prepare a final EIR before approving the project. The contents of a final EIR are specified in 14 CCR Section 15132 of the CEQA Guidelines. Lead agencies may provide an opportunity for review of the final EIR by the public or by commenting agencies before approving the project.