CEQA Process

For the most recent Summary Listing of Environmental (CEQA) Documents, users will want to review our Courtesy Notices, which will then link directly to the referenced CEQA documents on our PermitSLO Portal. 

The public can access individual CEQA documents using our PermitSLO Portal Search function.  From there any user or member of the public can search by reference / project number (DRC or SUB number), date range, or Assessors Parcel Number. 

Not necessarily. An agency is permitted to approve projects which cause significant environmental damage. However, the agency must make findings which clearly explain the circumstances surrounding the project analysis and the approval. Then, the agency must explain their decision to approve the project, despite expected environmental damage, by adopting a Statement of Overriding Considerations. This type of statement points out the reasons why a project's benefits outweigh its environmental costs.

The term "significant impact" means substantial adverse damage to the physical environment. An initial study is prepared to assess a project's potential for causing environmental damage. The initial study will use the state's CEQA implementation guidelines which contain a list of the types of projects which generally cause environmental damage. Examples of projects on the state's list are any which: substantially pollute water supply; use prime farmland for non-agricultural purposes; or cause substantial flooding, erosion or siltation.

The CEQA analysis relies upon independent judgment to decide whether a project may have the potential to cause substantial environmental harm. The CEQA process also evaluates local circumstances not considered by the state when developing its impact list. Sometimes, significant impacts are identified which can be eliminated or significantly reduced using various strategies. In these cases, impact reduction strategies (mitigation measures) will be recommended rather than stating that expected damage is potentially significant.

If significant impacts are expected, an environmental impact report (EIR) will be required. During that process, damage will be assessed and quantified so that scientifically based findings of significant impact can be accurately reported.

Certain types of projects are exempt from environmental review. Examples of exempt project include minor additions to existing buildings, construction of a single-family residence, and minor grading for a driveway or sidewalk. Sometimes projects that would otherwise be exempt are subject to environmental review due to special circumstances. Examples of such circumstances include projects that are located within a floodplain, contain special habitat, or involve historic structures.

The term negative declaration is sometimes misunderstood. A negative declaration is a document which states that a project will not cause any significant environmental impacts. A mitigated negative declaration is a document which states that any significant environmental impacts that may otherwise have been caused by a project have been reduced to less than significant levels by identification of and adherence to mitigation measures.

An environmental impacts report (EIR) is a document that informs the public and decision-makers of any significant environmental impacts that may be caused by the project. Mitigation measures are identified to reduce any potential significant environmental impacts to a less than significant level and project alternatives are developed to further reduce or avoid any potential significant environmental impacts. In cases where potential significant environmental impacts cannot be reduced to less than significant levels, the hearing body tasked with making a decision on the project may choose to adopt a statement of overriding considerations, meaning that the net benefit of the project is greater than the net negatives caused by any significant environmental impacts.

Anyone who disagrees with an environmental determination can appeal that determination.

Public projects are initiated by a state or local agency. A private project is initiated by an individual, company, landowner, developer, or other entity which needs public agency approval before completing a project. Public and private projects are treated the same way by CEQA.

Sometimes, more than one agency has the responsibility for approving portions of the same project. For example, the County might approve a subdivision for a housing project. Later, the Coastal Commission may need to approve a coastal permit for the project. Both approvals are projects which may require environmental review. When the applicant or agency knows in advance that additional approvals are required, it is possible to combine the environmental reviews into a single document.

CEQA encourages all agencies with approving authority over any part of a project to work together so that environmental reviews take the least amount of time possible to prepare. In the best cases, the County will be able to address the concerns and issues of other agencies in our environmental document.

In some instances, more than one document may need to be prepared. Some reasons for this are:

• The applicant is not yet able to provide construction details; therefore, the various agencies can't review all parts of the project when the first environmental review occurs;
• Advances in science and technology, or the availability of new information, make the initial document inadequate for additional use;
• Some agencies are unable to participate in the initial environmental review process; or
• The applicant has made major changes to the original proposal.