Environmental Review Guide

Printer Version

What Is Environmental Review?

Environmental review is the evaluation process that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA, pronounced SEEQUA) requires public agencies to conduct before taking action to approve a project. Environmental review is a set of procedures used to identify a project's potential impacts, develop ways to reduce those impacts, and report the results of the analysis to the public.

Passed into law in 1970, CEQA sets statewide policies that require both state and local agencies to consider the environmental consequences of decisions that involve changes to the environment. The purposes of CEQA are to:

1. Provide information about the environmental effects of projects.

2. Identify ways that environmental damage can be avoided or reduced.

3. Prevent significant environmental damage through mitigation measures or alternatives.

4. Disclose the reasons why a project was approved despite significant environmental impacts.

What Happens During Environmental Review?

County staff members who are experienced in the process will conduct the environmental review of your project. You will be kept up-to-date on the progress of the review, and notified immediately if major issues or questions arise.

The first step in the process is to conduct an Initial Study. The Initial Study is a preliminary analysis of a project intended to provide information about the project's possible environmental effects. Initial Study preparers will complete an Initial Study Checklist as part of the process. The Initial Study Checklist includes categories of physical damage, such as air quality and noise impacts, and provides a preliminary summary of potential for environmental damage in each area.

If the Initial Study shows that the project might have significant environmental impacts, the staff member assigned to the project will work with you to find ways to reduce these impacts. If all of the identified impacts can be reduced to a level that is not significant, then a Negative Declaration will be prepared.

The term "Negative Declaration" is sometimes misunderstood. A Negative Declaration is a statement that a project will not create significant environmental harm, or that environmental damage has been mitigated to a less-than-significant level. A Negative Declaration (ND) is issued after an Initial Study has been prepared. It is a "positive" statement.

When an Initial Study shows that a project might significantly damage the environment, CEQA requires that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) be prepared. An EIR is an informational document to be used by the public and by decision-makers when making choices about projects. In an EIR, environmental impacts are identified; methods for reducing or avoiding damage are identified; and project alternatives are developed which seek to reduce or avoid environmental damage.

What Can I Do To Help?

There are several things that you can do to help speed up the processing of your permit. Here are some suggestions to consider.

1. Before you buy a piece of property, know the development limitations of the property. Examine the County Land Use Element and Land Use Ordinance, and check out the availability of resources to serve the property. You may want to schedule an appointment with a Planner or Environmental Specialist to discuss the property.

2. Before you design a project, check with the County Planning and Engineering Departments, and the Environmental Health Division so that you can address the issues that those departments may raise in the beginning.

3. If your project is large or controversial, request a pre-application meeting or site visit with the Planning Department before you submit your application.

4. For controversial projects, try to address the concerns of agency staff, local advisory committees and other members of the public early in the review process.

5. Fill out the Environmental Description form as completely as possible. Make sure that your project description is complete.

6. When more information is requested, please submit it to us at your earliest convenience so that we can finish our review.

What Is The "Environment"?

When it comes to the environmental review process required by state law, the environment includes the physical conditions that could be changed by a project, including land, air, water, minerals, plants, animals, noise, and objects of historical or visual significance. The"environment" includes both natural and man-made conditions.

For More Information

Staff members in the Environmental Division of the County Department of Planning and Building are available to answer any questions about the environmental review process. We can be reached at (805) 781-5600, or you may write to: