What is the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)?
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Pub. Res. Code 21000 et seq.) is a state law that requires environmental analysis for projects subject to City approval to determine if it will have a significant environmental impact. CEQA applies to “projects” proposed to be undertaken or requiring approval by State and local government agencies. “Projects” are activities that require discretionary City approval and have the potential to result in a significant impact.
CEQA, enacted in 1970, requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) when there is a fair argument that a proposed project may result in significant environmental impacts. The primary purposes of an EIR are to ensure that significant environmental impacts are identified along with feasible measures to mitigate or avoid those impacts; that project alternatives and cumulative effects are analyzed; and that the public and involved agencies have been engaged throughout the process in order to foster informed decision-making based on objective findings of the environmental consequences of a project.
