BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 209
                                                                  Page 1

          Date of Hearing:  April 25, 2011

                       ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
                                Wesley Chesbro, Chair
                    AB 209 (Ammiano) - As Amended:  March 31, 2011
           
          SUBJECT  :  Environment: CEQA:  lead agency:  documents

           SUMMARY  :  Requires a lead agency that is preparing an 
          environmental impact report (EIR) or negative declaration (ND) 
          to include in the public notice regarding the preparation of the 
          document a description of how the draft EIR or ND can be 
          provided in an electronic format.

           EXISTING LAW  :

          1)Requires state and local agencies, pursuant to California 
            Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), to identify the significant 
            environmental impacts of discretionary projects and to avoid 
            or mitigate those impacts, if feasible.

          2)Requires a lead agency carrying out or approving a proposed 
            discretionary project to prepare an environmental document, 
            such as an EIR or ND.

          3)Requires a lead state agency that is preparing an EIR or ND to 
            provide public notice of that fact within a reasonable period 
            of time prior to certification of the EIR or ND.  Requires the 
            notice to specify information regarding the draft EIR or ND, 
            including the address where copies of the draft EIR or ND are 
            available for review.

           THIS BILL  :  Requires that the lead agency's public notice 
          regarding the preparation of the EIR or ND include a description 
          of how the draft EIR or ND can be provided in an electronic 
          format.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  Unknown

           COMMENTS  :  Many of CEQA's requirements were enacted long before 
          computer and internet use became common.  The state has 
          gradually incorporated the use of electronic information in the 
          CEQA process.  For example, since April 2003, the State 
          Clearinghouse within the Governor's Office of Planning and 
          Research, which coordinates the state-level review of 








                                                                  AB 209
                                                                  Page 2

          environmental documents pursuant to CEQA, has distributed EIRs 
          in CD-ROM format for state agency review and comment.  Based on 
          positive survey results and the cost savings to local and state 
          agencies-CD-ROMs eliminate much of the printing and distribution 
          costs associated with EIRs-the State Clearinghouse now offers 
          most other environmental documents in electronic format.  

          The bill would require a lead agency to provide the public with 
          a description of how to obtain a draft EIR or ND in electronic 
          format.  According to the author, this requirement would reduce 
          the use of paper since EIRs can be upward of several thousand 
          pages.   The author and the committee may wish to consider an 
          amendment  that also requires the lead agency to include in the 
          notice an internet address to the EIR or ND if the document is 
          available on the internet.



           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :

           Support 
           
          Association of California Water Agencies

           Opposition 
           
          None on file
           

          Analysis Prepared by  :  Mario DeBernardo / NAT. RES. / (916) 
          319-2092