2. Overview: CEQA EIR Process
Prepare Initial Study Public Meeting on Draft EIR
(optional)
Prepare/Distribute Prepare Final EIR Including
Notice of Preparation (30 days) Response to Comments
Review of Responses by
Scoping Meeting
Commenting Agencies
Prepare Draft EIR Public Hearings/Decision
Public and Agency Review
of Draft EIR (45 days) File Notice of Determination
= Opportunities for Public/Agency Input
3. EIR Process Highlights
Notice of Preparation (NOP) review for 30 days
Scoping meeting is required for qualifying projects
Public scoping meeting is not required, but is
commonplace
Notice of Completion (NOC) and Notice of
Availability (NOA) to start minimum 45-day Draft
EIR public review
Public hearing on Draft EIR is discretionary
4. EIR Process Highlights
Proposed responses to comments sent to
responding public agencies at least 10 days before
certification
Public hearing is not required by CEQA, but often
held for other project review reasons
EIR certification, project approval, CEQA findings,
MMRP, statement of overriding considerations (if
needed)
File Notice of Determination (NOD)
5. Environmental Impact Reports
Project EIR
Subsequent EIR
Supplement to an EIR
Master EIR and Focused EIR
Program EIR
Others (Staged, Redevelopment, Base
Reuse, General Plan)
Addendum to an EIR
6. Notice of Preparation (NOP)
Include: Description, location, and
a discussion of the probable
environmental effects.
EIR can be initiated while
waiting for comments from
responsible agencies.
Responsible agencies and
public have 30 days to review and
comment on an NOP.
Their concerns need to be
addressed in the EIR.
EIR cannot be released for
public review until 30 days after
distribution of the NOP.
7. NOP Procedures
Send to State Clearinghouse, Responsible
Agencies, Trustee Agencies and involved
Federal Agencies
Send to jurisdictions, individuals and
groups with an interest in the project
Use certified mail or other method to
confirm delivery
30 days run from date of receipt
(not postage date)
8. Scoping Meeting
Required for statewide, regional and area
wide projects as defined in CCR §15206
Not a public scoping meeting (no public
notice requirements unless person
requests notice, but good to invite
interested public)
Notice to Responsible, Trustee Agencies
and persons requesting notice (PRC
§21083.9; CCR §15082 )
9. Contents of an EIR
Table of contents
Format may vary
Summary
Project description Each element must be
Environmental setting covered
Consideration and discussion of
impacts
State where each is
Significance Thresholds
Significant effects
discussed
Mitigation measures
Alternatives
Cumulative impacts
Significant irreversible changes
Growth inducing impacts
Effects found not to be significant
Organizations and persons
consulted
10. Contents of an EIR (cont.)
Table of contents
Summary
brief summary of proposed action
each significant effect and mitigation
alternatives comparison
areas of controversy
issues to be resolved
11. Contents of an EIR (cont.)
Project Description
regional map with location
precise location/boundaries on a map
statement of objectives
project characteristics
intended uses of the EIR
agencies using EIR
list of permits and approvals
list of environmental review/consultation needs
12. Contents of an EIR (cont.)
Environmental Setting
Description of physical environmental conditions
at the time of the NOP, or when environmental
analysis is commenced, if no NOP
Baseline for environmental analysis, which is
normally the setting at time of NOP
Regional setting and rare or unique resources
13. Contents of an EIR (cont.)
Significant environmental effects
thresholds of significance
direct and indirect, short- and long-term, all phases
effect of bringing people/development to an area
Significant effects that cannot be avoided
Irreversible environmental changes
Growth-inducing impacts
foster economic or population growth
remove obstacles to population growth
14. Contents of an EIR (cont.)
Alternatives offer environmental advantage
Avoid or lessen at least one significant impact
Feasible alternatives
“capable of being accomplished in a successful
manner within a reasonable period of time,
taking into account economic, environmental,
social, and technological factors.”
A range of reasonable alternatives
Environmentally superior alternative
Can identify alternatives found to be infeasible
15. Contents of an EIR (cont.)
Effects found not to be significant
Organizations and persons consulted
List of preparers
In Final EIR:
comments on draft EIR,
list of commenters,
responses to environmental points raised
revisions to EIR text (embedded in responses, in
an errata chapter, or track changes in full text
discretionary)
16. Typical EIR Impact Analysis
Issues
Air quality Cultural Resources
Biology Traffic
Hydrology/Water quality Recreation
Climate Change/GHG Agriculture
Seismic safety
Energy
Noise
Geology/Soils Aesthetics
Community Character Hazardous materials
Land Use & Planning
Public Services
17. Project Alternatives
Shall focus on alternatives to the project
or its locations which are capable of
avoiding or substantially lessening any
significant effects of the proposed project,
even if these alternatives would impede to
some degree the attainment of the project
objectives
18. How Many Alternatives?
Rule of Reason
Mandatory - No Project Alternative
Typical Alternatives:
Reduced size/intensity
Revised design to mitigate impacts
Alternative locations
19. Notice of Availability
Public Notice of Availability (NOA)
Mailed to those previously requesting notice
and,
General circulation newspaper or,
Posting in the project area or,
Direct mailing to owners/occupants of
contiguous parcels
20. Final EIR
Text revisions to Draft EIR
Responses to comments
Must be good-faith, reasoned analysis
Must respond to significant environmental points
Discuss any alternatives suggested during public review
No separate review period for Final EIR
Written response to commenting public agencies
At least 10 days prior to certification
Explain rationale behind responses (use
substantial evidence, refer to Draft EIR coverage)
21. Court Case:
The People vs. County of Kern
…where comments from responsible experts
or sister agencies disclose new or
conflicting data or opinions that cause
concern that the agency may not have
fully evaluated the project and its
alternatives, these comments may not
simply be ignored. There must be good
faith, reasoned analysis in response.
22. Notice of Completion (NOC)
Brief description of
project
Location
Address where
environmental
document is available
Period during which
comments will be
received
Notice of hearings
(if one is scheduled)
23. Decision Process
Consider and Certify EIR
Approve Project
Make Findings
Adopt Mitigation, Monitoring Program
Adopt Statement of Overriding Considerations
(if necessary)
24. Findings for a Decision
Findings needed for approval of Project
Only 3 possible findings:
(a)(1) Changes or alterations have been required that
avoid or substantially lessen significant effects
(a)(2) Such changes or alterations are within the
responsibility and jurisdiction of another public agency,
and such changes have been adopted or can and should
be adopted by that agency
(a)(3) Specific economic, legal, social, technological, or
other considerations make mitigation/alternatives
infeasible
(CCR § 15091)
25. Hints for Findings
Finding must be made for each significant effect
Suggested format
Impact:
Finding:
Facts:
Facts explain rationale behind the finding
MMRP need not be in EIR, but adopted with project
approval
Mitigation measures become conditions of approval
26. Statement of Overriding
Considerations
Statement needed for approval of project with
remaining significant effects
Reasons to approve a project where significant impacts
are not avoided or substantially lessened
Supported by substantial evidence in the record
Reasons can be economic, legal, social, technological or
other, including region-wide or statewide environmental
benefits (2010 revisions)
(CCR § 15093)
27. Notice of Determination (NOD)
Within 5 working days after project approval
Posted with the county clerk for at least 30
days
Filed with State Clearinghouse for at least
30 days
DFG Fee required at time of filing
Starts 30 day Statute of Limitations (180
days if not filed and posted)
Required for ND/MND and EIR
(CCR §15094)
28. Notice of Determination (NOD)
Project description
Location
Date of approval
Determination whether will have a
significant effect on the
environment
That ND/MND or EIR was
prepared/certified
pursuant to CEQA
Whether mitigation measures are
a condition and whether
Statement of Overriding
Considerations was adopted
Address of where ND/MND or EIR
and certification can be examined
29. Fish and Game Filing Fees
FGC § 711.4
To file a NOD w/ County Clerk or State
Clearinghouse
EIR and ND/MND: (adjusted annually) County
clerk fee $50 (no fee for Clearinghouse)
“No effect on fish and wildlife” avoids the fee,
but narrowly defined
Contact regional DFG office
New regulations clarifying the process are
expected
Project is not vested or final until fee is paid