Senate Bill No. 584

Introduced by Senator Nguyen

February 26, 2015

An act to amend Section 21061 of the Public Resources Code, relating to the environment.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 584, as introduced, Nguyen. California Environmental Quality Act.

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared by contract, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report, as defined, on a project 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.

This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to the definition of “environmental impact report.”

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

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

SECTION 1.  

Section 21061 of the Public Resources Code is
amended to read:

21061.  

begin insert (a) end insert begin insert   end insert “Environmental impact report” means a detailed
statement setting forth the matters specified in Sections 21100 and
begin delete 21100.1; provided that end delete begin insert 21100.1. The end insert information or data begin delete which end delete
begin insert that end insert is relevant to begin delete such a end delete begin insert the end insert statement and is a matter of public
begin delete record end delete begin insert record, end insert or is generally available to the public need not be
repeated in its entirety in begin delete such end delete begin insert the end insert statement, but may be
specifically cited as the source for conclusions stated begin delete therein; and
provided further that such end delete begin insert in the statement. The end insert information or
data shall be briefly described begin delete , that its end delete begin insert in the statement. The end insert
relationship begin insert between the information or data end insert to the environmental
impact report shall be indicated begin delete , and that the end delete begin insert in the statement. The end insert
source begin delete thereof end delete begin insert of the information and data end insert shall be reasonably
available for inspection at a public place or public building. An
environmental impact report also includes any comments begin delete which end delete
begin insert that end insert are obtained pursuant to Section 21104 or 21153, or begin delete which end delete
begin insert that end insert are required to be obtained pursuant to this division.

begin delete

An

end delete

begin insert (b) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert An end insert environmental impact report is an informational document
begin delete which end delete begin insert that end insert , when its preparation is required by this division, shall
be considered by every public agency begin delete prior to end delete begin insert before end insert its approval
or disapproval of a project. The purpose of an environmental
impact report is to provide public agencies and the public in general
with detailed information about the effect begin delete which end delete begin insert that end insert a proposed
project is likely to have on the begin delete environment; end delete begin insert environment, end insert to list
ways in which the significant effects of begin delete such a end delete begin insert the proposed end insert project
might be begin delete minimized; end delete begin insert minimized, end insert and to indicate alternatives to
begin delete such a end delete begin insert the proposed end insert project.

begin delete

In

end delete

begin insert (c) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert In end insert order to facilitate the use of environmental impact reports,
public agencies shall require that begin delete such end delete begin insert the end insert reports contain an index
or table of contents and a summary. Failure to include begin delete such end delete begin insert the end insert
index, table of contents, or summary shall not constitute a cause
of action pursuant to Section 21167.