CEQA was enacted in 1970 to promote informed decisions and actions regarding projects and programs that may affect the environment.
Seeking to evaluate and disclose potential environmental impacts, CEQA requires an environmental review process for public and private projects that necessitate discretionary approval from a governmental agency, as well as activities undertaken or financed by a governmental entity. The ability to exercise judgment makes the project “discretionary.”
In short, CEQA serves to:
- Disclose any significant environmental effects of a proposed discretionary project through the preparation of an initial study, negative declaration, mitigated negative declaration, or environmental impact reports (EIR).
- Prevent or minimize damage to the environment through development of project alternatives, mitigation measures, and mitigation monitoring. Disclose the decision-making process used to approve discretionary projects through findings and statements of overriding consideration. Enhance public participation in the environmental review process through scoping meetings, public notice, public review, hearings, and the judicial process.
- Improve interagency coordination through early consultations, scoping meetings, notices of preparation, and State Clearinghouse review.
