| 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 |
