The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) recently released a preliminary list of topics and possible changes for inclusion in the 2014 update to the State CEQA Guidelines. The topics being considered can be found on OPR’s website.
Specifically, OPR is seeking the following input: “1. Are these topics appropriate for the CEQA Guidelines Update? 2. Are there any important topics that we missed and that should be addressed? 3. If you have not already provided specific suggested language, do you have any that we should consider?”
A few topics of potential interest include:
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alternative methods to the Level of Service standard for determining a project’s traffic impacts,
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clarification concerning designation of a lead agency by agreement,
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explanation for applying regulatory standards to determine the significance of an impact,
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clarification of requirements regarding findings on project alternatives and feasibility, and
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guidance for determining whether a project is “within the scope” of a program EIR.
Should your agency wish to submit input to OPR on the proposed updates to the State CEQA Guidelines, send comments by 5:00 p.m. on February 14 either electronically to CEQA.Guidelines@ceres.ca.gov, or by mail or hand delivery to:
Christopher Calfee, Senior Counsel
Governor’s Office of Planning and Research
1400 Tenth Street
Sacramento, California 95814
