BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 2669
                                                                  Page 1

          Date of Hearing:  May 7, 2012

                       ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
                                Wesley Chesbro, Chair
            AB 2669 (Natural Resources Committee) - As Introduced:  March 
                                       5, 2012
           
          SUBJECT  :  California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

           SUMMARY  :  Repeals obsolete and/or duplicative provisions from 
          CEQA.

           EXISTING LAW  requires lead agencies with the principal 
          responsibility for carrying out or approving a proposed project 
          to prepare a negative declaration, mitigated negative 
          declaration, or environmental impact report (EIR) for this 
          action, unless the project is exempt from CEQA 

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  Non-fiscal

           COMMENTS  :
           
           CEQA provides a process for evaluating the environmental effects 
          of applicable projects undertaken or approved by public 
          agencies.  If a project is not exempt from CEQA, an initial 
          study is prepared to determine whether the project may have a 
          significant effect on the environment.  If the initial study 
          shows that there would not be a significant effect on the 
          environment, the lead agency must prepare a negative 
          declaration.  If the initial study shows that the project may 
          have a significant effect on the environment, the lead agency 
          must prepare an EIR.  
           
          Generally, an EIR must accurately describe the proposed project, 
          identify and analyze each significant environmental impact 
          expected to result from the proposed project, identify 
          mitigation measures to reduce those impacts to the extent 
          feasible, and evaluate a range of reasonable alternatives to the 
          proposed project.  Prior to approving any project that has 
          received environmental review an agency must make certain 
          findings.  If mitigation measures are required or incorporated 
          into a project, the agency must adopt a reporting or monitoring 
          program to ensure compliance with those measures.

          This committee bill is a vehicle for non-controversial 








                                                                  AB 2669
                                                                  Page 2

          amendments to the CEQA statutes.  The bill repeals obsolete 
          and/or duplicative provisions.
           
          REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :

           Support 
           
          Association of Environmental Professionals

           Opposition 
           
          None on file

           Analysis Prepared by  :  Lawrence Lingbloom / NAT. RES. / (916) 
          319-2092