BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       



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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                  AB 1581|
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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  AB 1581
          Author:   Torres (D)
          Amended:  6/23/10 in Senate
          Vote:     21

           
           SENATE ENV. QUALITY COMMITTEE  :  6-1, 6/28/10
          AYES:  Simitian, Corbett, Hancock, Lowenthal, Pavley,  
            Strickland
          NOES:  Runner
           
          SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE  :  Senate Rule 28.8

           ASSEMBLY FLOOR  :  Not relevant


           SUBJECT  :    California Environmental Quality Act:  notice:   
          scoping

           SOURCE  :     Author


           DIGEST  :    This bill requires a lead agency to provide a  
          scoping meeting notice to other entities not required to  
          receive the notice pursuant to the California Environmental  
          Quality Act but that have failed a written request for the  
          notice.

           ANALYSIS  :    

          Existing law, under the California Environmental Quality  
          Act (CEQA):

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          1.Requires lead agencies with the principal responsibility  
            for carrying out or approving a proposed project to  
            prepare a negative declaration, mitigated declaration, or  
            environmental impact report (EIR) for this action, unless  
            the project is exempt from CEQA (CEQA includes various  
            statutory exemptions, as well as categorical exemptions  
            in the CEQA guidelines).  (Public Resources Code 21000).

          2.Requires a lead agency to call at least one scoping  
            meeting for a proposed project that may affect highways  
            or other facilities under Department of Transportation  
            (Caltrans) jurisdiction, if requested by Caltrans, or for  
            a project of statewide, regional, or areawide  
            significance.  (21083.9).  Notice of at least one  
            scoping meeting must be provided to the following:

             A.    A county or city that borders on the county or  
                city within which the project is located, unless  
                otherwise designated annually by agreement.

             B.    A responsible agency.

             C.    A public agency that has jurisdiction by law with  
                respect to the project.

             D.    A transportation planning agency and public  
                agencies having transportation facilities within the  
                jurisdiction.

             E.    An organization or individual who has filed a  
                written request for notice.

          This bill requires a scoping meeting notice to also be  
          provided to any entity that has filed a written request for  
          the notice and is not otherwise required to receive notice.

           Comments

           Under CEQA, a scoping meeting notice must be provided to  
          certain public agencies.  An organization or individual may  
          file a written request to receive the notice, but there is  
          no provision allowing an entity to receive a scoping  
          meeting notice upon request if that entity is not otherwise  
          required to receive notice - such as a special district or  







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          nearby city that does not border the county or city within  
          which the project is located.  This bill provides an  
          opportunity for these entities to file a written request to  
          receive the scoping meeting notice. 
           
           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  Yes    
          Local:  Yes

          TSM:cm  8/17/10   Senate Floor Analyses 

                       SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  NONE RECEIVED

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