Difference between revisions of "Agencies that are lead applicants in CEQA"

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*[[CEQA and the Central Coast]]
 
*[[CEQA and the Central Coast]]
 
*[[California Coastal Commission]]
 
*[[California Coastal Commission]]
*[[Agencies that are lead applicants in CEQA]]
 
 
*[[Hydrology and Water Quality Components of Central Coast CEQA Documents]]
 
*[[Hydrology and Water Quality Components of Central Coast CEQA Documents]]
  
 
==Disclaimer==
 
==Disclaimer==
 
This page may contain students's work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.
 
This page may contain students's work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.

Revision as of 21:43, 3 April 2013

  • The lead agency is a public agency that is responsible for carrying out its own project, or is responsible for overseeing a private project. It is the agency responsible for determining the type of analysis required by CEQA. The precise definition in the text of CEQA is:
Lead agency means the public agency which has the principal responsibility for carrying out or approving a project which may have a significant effect upon the environment.

[2] [3]

Lead Agency Procedures

  • Each public agency must adopt guidelines, criteria and specific procedures consistent with CEQA statute and guidelines. The implemented procedures should contain at least provisions for:
  1. Identifying activites that are exempt from CEQA, including:
    1. Provisions for evaluating a proposed activity to determine if there will be a significant effect on the environment.
    2. Projects or permits for which the public agency has only ministerial authority (some examples presumed to be ministerial include issuance of building permits, issuance of business licences, approval of final subdivision maps, approval of individual utility service connections, although each agency should identify ministerial actions) [1].
    3. Specific activities the agency has found to be categorically exempt as established by CEQA Guidlines.
  2. Conducting initial studies.
  3. Preparing negative declarations.
  4. Preparing draft and final EIRs.
  5. Consulting with and obtaining comments from other public agencies and the public.
  6. Assuring adequate opportunity and time for public review and comment on Draft EIR or Negative Declaration.
  7. Evaluating and responding to comments received on environmental documents.
  8. Assigning responsibility for determining the adequacy of an EIR or Negative Declaration.
  9. Reviewing and considering environmental documents by the person or decision-making body who will approve or disapprove a project.
  10. Filing documents required or authorized by CEQA and these Guidlines.
  11. Providing adequate comments on environmental documents which are submitted to the agency for review.
  12. Assigning responsibility for specific functions to particular unit of the public agency.
  13. Providing time periods for performing functions under CEQA.

[2]. [3].

Responsible Agencies

  • Lead agencies have principal responsibility for carrying out or approving a project. A Responsible Agency may have some authority over some aspect of a project, but relies on the lead agency's environmental document on aspects of the project which requires its approval. The responsible agency makes its own determination on the feasibility of mitigation measures or alternatives for each significant environmental effects identified in the EIR. The Responsible Agency must make one or more of three findings:
  1. Changes have been incorporated to avoid or substantially lessen the identified significant environmental effect.
  2. The changes are within the jurisdiction of another agency and the changes have been or should be adopted by that other agency.
  3. Specific considerations which make infeasible the alternatives identified in the final EIR.


[4]. [5].

Trustee Agencies

  • Once a lead agency determines an initial study is required, it must consult with all trustee agencies responsible for resources affected by the project. Some trustee agencies are California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Parks and Recreation, State Lands Commission regarding trust lands and riverbeds and University of California regarding UC Reserves. Trustee agencies must be responsible for management of the resources for the public trust. If an initial study fins a project would have a significant environmental effect on a resource, the lead agency must provide any proposed negative declaration to the trustee agency.

Top 50 Lead Agencies in Monterey County by CEQA documents submitted (Jan 2003 - Jan 2012)

Wikitable6.png Wikitable abbrev.png

Lead Agencies and EIAs

  • Monterey County

Monterey County was the lead agency submitting the most number of environmental impact reports (EIRs), with 34 issued in the last 10 years (Jan 1 2003 - Jan 1 2013). Projects could be divided roughly between community plan updates and combined development permit / subdivision applications. Other projects include construction of a crude oil pipeline, expansion of a youth camp, and a granite quarry. [6]

Lead Agencies and Exemptions

  • California Department of Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation granted the most number of exemptions in the last 10 years. 234 exemptions were issued between Jan 1 2003 - Jan 1 2013, out of 287 total documents.

Lead Agencies and Negative Determinations

References

  1. CEQA Guidelines
  2. CEQA Guidelines
  3. [http://www.sccoplanning.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=p-c2euotaVY%3D&tabid=983 California Environmental Quality Act Statute and Guidelines 2012]
  4. Responsible Agency Findings
  5. Remy et al. 1996. Guide to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
  6. [1] CeqaNet Database]

Links

Responsible Agency Findings [http://www.sccoplanning.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=p-c2euotaVY%3D&tabid=983 California Environmental Quality Act Statute and Guidelines 2012] CEQA Guidelines [4] [5]

Disclaimer

This page may contain students's work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.