BILL NUMBER: AB 2848	CHAPTERED  09/11/00

	CHAPTER   387
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 11, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 8, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 25, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 25, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 7, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 26, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 18, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Firebaugh

                        MARCH 2, 2000

   An act to amend Section 21083.7 of the Public Resources Code,
relating to environmental impact reports, and declaring the urgency
thereof, to take effect immediately.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2848, Firebaugh.   Environmental impact reports.
   (1) Existing law provides that if a project requires both an
environmental impact report prepared pursuant to the California
Environmental Quality Act and an environmental impact statement
prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969,
the lead agency, whenever possible, shall use the statement as the
report.  In that situation, existing law requires the lead agency
that will substitute the statement for the report to consult, as soon
as possible, with the federal agency required to prepare the
statement.
   This bill would also require the lead agency to notify the federal
agency required to prepare the statement of any scoping meeting for
the proposed project.
   (2) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately
as an urgency statute.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 21083.7 of the Public Resources Code is amended
to read:
   21083.7.  (a) In the event that a project requires both an
environmental impact report prepared pursuant to the requirements of
this division and an environmental impact statement prepared pursuant
to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, the lead agency shall, whenever possible, use the environmental
impact statement as such environmental impact report as provided in
Section 21083.5.
   (b) In order to implement this section, each lead agency to which
this section is applicable shall do both of the following, as soon as
possible:
   (1) Consult with the federal agency required to prepare such
environmental impact statement.
   (2) Notify the federal agency required to prepare the
environmental impact statement regarding any scoping meeting for the
proposed project.
  SEC. 2.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because a
local agency or school district has the authority to levy service
charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or
level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section
17556 of the Government Code.
  SEC. 2.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the
meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate
effect.  The facts constituting the necessity are:
   In order to expedite the process by which the environmental
quality of the projects is assessed as soon as possible, it is
necessary that this measure take effect immediately.