California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 2417


Introduced by Assembly Member Nazarian

February 21, 2014


An act to amend Section 21000 of the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2417, as introduced, Nazarian. Environmental quality.

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA makes various legislative findings regarding environmental quality.

This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those legislative findings.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P2    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 21000 of the Public Resources Code is
2amended to read:

3

21000.  

begin insert(a)end insertbegin insertend insert The Legislature finds and declaresbegin delete as followsend deletebegin insert the
4followingend insert
:

begin delete

5(a)

end delete

6begin insert(1)end insert The maintenance of a quality environment for the people of
7this state now and in the future is a matter of statewide concern.

begin delete

8(b)

end delete

9begin insert(2)end insert It is necessary to provide a high-quality environment that at
10all times is healthful and pleasing to the senses and intellect of
11begin delete manend deletebegin insert peopleend insert.

begin delete

12(c)

end delete

13begin insert(3)end insert There is a need to understand the relationship between the
14maintenance of high-quality ecological systems and the general
15welfare of the people of the state, including their enjoyment of the
16natural resources of the state.

begin delete

17(d) The capacity of the environment is limited, and it is the
18intent of the Legislature that the government of the state take
19immediate steps to identify any critical thresholds for the health
20and safety of the people of the state and take all coordinated actions
21necessary to prevent such thresholds being reached.

end delete
begin delete

22(e)

end delete

23begin insert(4)end insert Every citizen has a responsibility to contribute to the
24preservation and enhancement of the environment.

begin delete

25(f)

end delete

26begin insert(5)end insert The interrelationship of policies and practices in the
27management of natural resources and waste disposal requires
28systematic and concerted efforts by public and private interests to
29enhance environmental quality and to control environmental
30pollution.

begin delete

31(g)

end delete

32begin insert(b)end insertbegin insertend insertbegin insert(1)end insertbegin insertend insertIt is the intent of the Legislature that all agencies of the
33state governmentbegin delete whichend deletebegin insert thatend insert regulate activities of private
34individuals, corporations, and public agenciesbegin delete whichend deletebegin insert thatend insert are found
35to affect the quality of the environment, shall regulatebegin delete suchend deletebegin insert thoseend insert
36 activities so that major consideration is given to preventing
37environmental damage, while providing a decent home and
38satisfying living environment for every Californian.

begin insert

P3    1(2) The capacity of the environment is limited, and it is the intent
2of the Legislature that the government of the state take immediate
3steps to identify critical thresholds for the health and safety of the
4people of the state and take all coordinated actions necessary to
5prevent those thresholds from being reached.

end insert


O

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