BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 348
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Date of Hearing: July 8, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
SB 348
(Galgiani) - As Amended April 6, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable:
No
SUMMARY:
This bill extends the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) exemption for the closure of a railroad grade crossing
found to present a threat to public safety and ordered by the
SB 348
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Public Utilities Commission (PUC) from January 1, 2016 to
January 1, 2019. Additionally, this bill requires a state or
local agency claiming the exemption to file notice with the
Office of Planning and Research (OPR).
FISCAL EFFECT:
Negligible state costs.
COMMENT:
1)Rationale. The PUC has broad and exclusive power to regulate
railroad crossings. In 2012, the PUC sponsored AB 1665
(Galgiani, Chapter 721), to establish the existing unsafe
grade crossing closure CEQA exemption. To date, this
exemption has not been applied. However, a pending railroad
crossing project in Glendale may qualify for, and require, the
exemption. This bill extends the limited exemption for three
years to accommodate the Glendale project as well as other
future projects to protect public safety.
2)Background. CEQA requires lead agencies with the principal
responsibility for carrying out or approving a proposed
project to prepare a negative declaration, mitigated negative
declaration, or environmental impact report (EIR) for this
action, unless the project is exempt from CEQA. CEQA includes
various statutory exemptions, as well as additional
categorical exemptions in the CEQA guidelines.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
SB 348
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