Description:

This workshop provides an applied overview of the California Environmental Quality Act, with an emphasis on the process and technical requirements of an environmental impact assessment. The course will begin with a brief background on environmental impact assessment in the U.S. and of CEQA's regulatory context, followed by an overview of various approaches used in scoping and preparing environmental impact assessments under CEQA. Students will examine the documents required under CEQA and the roles of key players involved. Students will also determine the adequacy of CEQA documents as they relate to environmental settings, impact assessment, mitigation development, significance thresholds, and data sources. Lastly, the course will include a discussion of the documents and processes for projects regulated by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 

After completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand and participate in CEQA evaluations
- Integrate CEQA environmental review into project approval processes
- Explain the environmental impact assessment requirements of CEQA
- Effectively review and comment on CEQA documents
- Identify and work with the various players in resolving CEQA issues

Registration: (*reduced tuition is available to employees of Native American tribes, government agencies, and nonprofits; students; and NAEP members). If you are having trouble registering online, please call Northwest Environmental Training Center at 425-270-3274, ext 103.

Please wait to receive a course confirmation email, roughly one month prior to the class, before making any travel arrangements.

Intended Audience:

This course is designed for professionals seeking a greater understanding of CEQA in order to form publicly acceptable and legally defensible conclusions. Environmental professionals, planners, engineers, consultants, public officials, decision-makers, and others responsible for interpreting the adequacy of environmental impact reports and studies required under CEQA will benefit from this course, as will members of citizens organizations who want to gain an in-depth understanding of the CEQA process and develop technical skills in the reviewing of CEQA documents.

Continuing Education Units: 1.30 CEUs

More Information

Course Topics

Review of CEQA Basics • History of CEQA • Walk-through of CEQA process • How/when NEPA fits in CEQA Documents - hands-on examination and discussion • Initial study and environmental assessment • Negative Declarations, Mitigated Negative Declarations, and Exemptions • Draft Environmental Impact Reports • Final Environmental Impact Reports • The CEQA findings • Relevant NEPA documents Overview of the Analytical Process for Environmental Impact Assessment • Identifying: setting, impacts, mitigation, alternatives California Land Use Regulations and Other Common Permits - and their relationship to CEQA (and NEPA) • General plan • Zoning • Other entitlements Common Environmental Impact Review Deficiencies

CEQA's Environmental Impact Assessment Process • Identifying the project under CEQA • Scoping • Determining significance • Screening • Public review of the draft EIR • Preparation of the final EIR • EIR certification, findings, and project approval under CEQA • Post-decision monitoring • CEQA time limits • Summary of major differences between CEQA & NEPA processes • Citizens' remedies Key Players and their Roles in the CEQA Process • Public agencies • Environmental consultants and other experts • Political players • The public • Interacting with the players • Successful project management strategies Critical Review of CEQA Documents • Reviewing documents for content and regulatory compliance • Identifying deficiencies in environmental impact documents • Lessons learned from CEQA case law

 

About the Instructor

Richard Grassetti

Richard Grassetti is an environmental planner with over 32 years experience in environmental impact analysis and regulatory compliance. He is a recognized expert in the CEQA process, and has served as an expert witness on CEQA and planning issues in California. Through his firm, Grassetti Environmental Consulting (GECo), he manages the preparation of CEQA and NEPA documents, as well as the numerous local agency planning and permitting documents. In addition to his consulting practice, Mr. Grassetti serves as adjunct faculty in environmental studies at California State University, East Bay. He has presented numerous papers on environmental impact assessment at statewide and international conferences.

What to Bring

Please bring a pen or pencil, and notepad if you would like to take notes (you may also choose to take notes in your book). Lunch will be on your own, but drinks and snacks will be provided throughout the day.

Billing Information

In order to guarantee a space in a course, the tuition must be paid in full TWO WEEKS before the first day of the course by either check or credit card. State and government agencies paying with a purchase order are allowed payment under the two-week time frame if a copy of the purchase order is received by NWETC.

If You Need to Cancel

Cancellations*

• With 31 or more days notice, we will offer a 100% refund or credit towards a future course. The credit is good for one year and may be applied to any course.
• With 30-8 days notice, we will offer a course credit towards a future course. The credit is good for one year and may be applied to any course.
• With fewer than 8 days notice, there is no course credit available

*Please note that attendee replacement is welcome at any time

Disability Accommodations

Disability Accommodations:

To request disability accommodations, please contact us at info@nwetc.org or 425-270-3274 at least 30 days prior to the event.