Why does CEQA apply to the proposed runway extension project?
CEQA only applies to projects that require discretionary approval by a government agency. A discretionary approval is one that requires the use of judgment on the part of a decision-maker or decision-making body. For this project, the Marin County Board of Supervisors has a choice to either approve or deny the proposed runway extension or an alternative to it. The reason the County has responsibility for this decision is that it has jurisdiction over land use in the unincorporated areas of Marin County that include Gnoss Field and is also responsible for the operation and management of Gnoss Field. CEQA does not apply to ministerial (non-discretionary) projects. A project requiring only ministerial approval simply involves a comparison of a project with specific set of standards and checking for compliance. The proposed Gnoss Field runway extension does not fit this circumstance.
