SB 166, as introduced, Gaines. California Environmental Quality Act.
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 (EIR) 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 and states the intent of the Legislature in enacting CEQA.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 21000 of the Public Resources Code is
2amended to read:
The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
4(a) The maintenance of a quality environment for the people of
5this state now and in the future is a matter of statewide concern.
6(b) It is necessary to provide a high-quality environment that at
7all times is healthful and pleasing to the senses and intellect of
8man.
9(c) There is a need to understand the relationship between the
10maintenance of high-quality ecological systems and the general
11welfare of the people of the state, including their enjoyment of the
12natural resources of the state.
13(d) The capacity of
the environment is limited, and it is the
14intent of the Legislature that the government of the state take
15immediate steps to identify any critical thresholds for the health
16and safety of the people of the state and take all coordinated actions
17necessary to preventbegin delete suchend deletebegin insert thoseend insert thresholdsbegin insert fromend insert being reached.
18(e) Every citizen has a responsibility to contribute to the
19preservation and enhancement of the environment.
20(f) The interrelationship of policies and practices in the
21management of natural resources and waste disposal requires
22systematic and concerted efforts by public and private
interests to
23enhance environmental quality and to control environmental
24pollution.
25(g) It is the intent of the Legislature that all agencies of the state
26governmentbegin delete whichend deletebegin insert thatend insert
regulate activities of private individuals,
27corporations, and public agenciesbegin delete whichend deletebegin insert thatend insert are found to affect
28the quality of the environment, shall regulatebegin delete suchend deletebegin insert thoseend insert activities
29so that major consideration is given to preventing environmental
30damage, while providing a decent home and satisfying living
31environment for every Californian.
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