BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 209 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 4, 2011 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Felipe Fuentes, Chair AB 209 (Ammiano) - As Amended: March 31, 2011 Policy Committee: Natural ResourcesVote:9-0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: No SUMMARY This bill requires a lead agency preparing an environmental impact report (EIR) or negative declaration under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to include a description of how the draft EIR or draft negative declaration can be provided in an electronic format. FISCAL EFFECT Negligible state costs. COMMENTS 1)Rationale . The author contends this bill will save lead agencies substantial amounts of paper, reducing costs associated with making EIRs available to the public. 2)Background. CEQA obligates public officials to consider the environmental effects of their decisions. The lead agency that proposes to approve a project must conduct an initial study to determine if the project may have significant, adverse environmental effects. If not, the lead agency issues a negative declaration and, after a 30-day review period, proceeds with its review and decision. If the lead agency finds minor effects that can be mitigated, it issues a mitigated negative declaration and then proceeds. If the lead agency finds that the effects of the project may be significant, it prepares an environmental impact report (EIR), a document that shows public officials how to avoid or mitigate the project's environmental effects. AB 209 Page 2 Preparing the EIR begins when the lead agency sends notice of preparation to other public agencies, soliciting advice on the EIR's scope. If the project is of statewide, regional, or area-wide significance, the lead agency holds a scoping meeting with the other agencies. The lead agency circulates its draft EIR and invites public comments during a 45-day review period. After this public review, the lead agency issues a final EIR that responds to the comments that it received. After certifying the final EIR, the lead agency allows the project to proceed. 3)Support . Association of California Water Agencies. 4)There is no registered opposition to this bill. Analysis Prepared by : Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081