BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 209
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 4, 2011

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                   AB 209 (Ammiano) - As Amended:  March 31, 2011 

          Policy Committee:                              Natural 
          ResourcesVote:9-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program: 
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires a lead agency preparing an environmental 
          impact report (EIR) or negative declaration under the California 
          Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to include a description of how 
          the draft EIR or draft negative declaration can be provided in 
          an electronic format.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Negligible state costs.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale  .  The author contends this bill will save lead 
            agencies substantial amounts of paper, reducing costs 
            associated with making EIRs available to the public. 

           2)Background.   CEQA obligates public officials to consider the 
            environmental effects of their decisions.  The lead agency 
            that proposes to approve a project must conduct an initial 
            study to determine if the project may have significant, 
            adverse environmental effects.  If not, the lead agency issues 
            a negative declaration and, after a 30-day review period, 
            proceeds with its review and decision.  If the lead agency 
            finds minor effects that can be mitigated, it issues a 
            mitigated negative declaration and then proceeds.  If the lead 
            agency finds that the effects of the project may be 
            significant, it prepares an environmental impact report (EIR), 
            a document that shows public officials how to avoid or 
            mitigate the project's environmental effects.  









                                                                  AB 209
                                                                  Page  2

            Preparing the EIR begins when the lead agency sends notice of 
            preparation to other public agencies, soliciting advice on the 
            EIR's scope.  If the project is of statewide, regional, or 
            area-wide significance, the lead agency holds a scoping 
            meeting with the other agencies.  The lead agency circulates 
            its draft EIR and invites public comments during a 45-day 
            review period. 

            After this public review, the lead agency issues a final EIR 
            that responds to the comments that it received.  After 
            certifying the final EIR, the lead agency allows the project 
            to proceed.

           3)Support  .  Association of California Water Agencies.

           4)There is no registered opposition to this bill.  

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081