A Summary of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

(California Public Resources Code, Sections 21000 – 21178, and Title 14 CCR, Section 753, and Chapter 3, Sections 15000 – 15387)

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is California’s broadest environmental law.  CEQA helps to guide the Department during issuance of permits and approval of projects. Courts have interpreted CEQA to afford the fullest protection of the environment within the reasonable scope of the statutes. CEQA applies to all discretionary projects proposed to be conducted or approved by a California public agency, including private projects requiring discretionary government approval.

The purpose of CEQA is to:

  • Disclose to the public the significant environmental effects of a proposed discretionary project, through the preparation of an Initial Study (IS), Negative Declaration (ND), or Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
  • Prevent or minimize damage to the environment through development of project alternatives, mitigation measures, and mitigation monitoring.
  • Disclose to the public the agency decision making process utilized to approve discretionary projects through findings and statements of overriding consideration.
  • Enhance public participation in the environmental review process through scoping meetings, public notice, public review, hearings, and the judicial process. 
  • Improve interagency coordination through early consultations, scoping meetings, notices of preparation, and State Clearinghouse review. 

For more information, please visit CEQA Procedures for Internal CDFW Actions

Section 21092.3 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

The notices required pursuant to Sections 21080.4 and 21092 for an environmental impact report shall be posted in the office and on the internet website of the county clerk of each county in which the project will be located and shall remain posted for a period of 30 days. The notice required pursuant to Section 21092 for a negative declaration shall be so posted for a period of 20 days, unless otherwise required by law to be posted for 30 days. The county clerk shall post the notices within 24 hours of receipt.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Online Postings

Please click the project title to access the document.

Date
Filed		 Fish/Game
Receipt #		 Lead Agency Type of
Document		 Project Title
11/03/2022 41-11032022-001 City of San Bruno  Notice of Exemption  Adoption of Local Amendments to the 2022 California Energy Code and 2022 California Green Building Code
11/04/2022 41-11042022-0001 City of East Palo Alto  Environmental Impact Report Woodland Park Euclid Improvements 
11/07/2022 41-11072022-0001 City of Pacifica  Negative Declaration  State Route 1 Traffic Operational Systems Improvement Project
11/07/2022 41-11072022-0002 Planning and Building Department  Notice of Exemption  Legalize Improvements to Existing Propane Facility
11/10/2022 41-11102022-0001 City of East Palo Alto  Notice of Exemption Change of Organization, Reorganization, or Outside Service Agreement 
11/10/2022 41-11102022-0002 Midpeninsula Regional OSD Environmental Impact Report Redwood Cabin Removal Project
11/16/2022 41-11162022-0001 City of Redwood City  Environmental Impact Report Harbor View Project
11/17/2022 41-11172022-0001 City of East Palo Alto  Environmental Impact Report Woodland Park Euclid Improvements
11/18/2022 41-11182022-0001 Town of Hillsborough Notice of Exemption  1950 Ralston Ave. 
11/21/2022 41-11212022-0001 City of San Carlos  Negative Declaration  405 Industrial Road Life Science Project
11/22/2022 41-11222022-0001 City of Burlingame Environmental Impact Report  777 Airport Boulevard-Office/R&D Project
11/22/2022 41-11222022-0002 City of San Bruno Notice of Exemption  2021-22 Street Reconstruction Project
11/22/2022 41-11222022-0003 City of San Bruno  Notice of Exemption  Pavement Evaluation Services for the 2021-22 Street Reconstruction Proj-Design Phase
11/22/2022 41-11222022-0004 City of San Bruno  Notice of Exemption  2022-23-Slurry Seal Project
11/22/2022 41-11222022-0005 City of Burlingame, Planning Division  Notice of Exemption  1669/1699 Old Bayshore Highway and 810/821 Malcolm Road Project 
11/23/2022 41-11232022-0001 San Mateo Resource Conservation District Notice of Exemption  San Gregorio Creek Habitat Enhancement Phase III
11/23/2022 41-11232022-0002 City of South San Francisco  Notice of Exemption  P20-0057: DR20-0026
11/23/2022 41-11232022-0003 City of South San Francisco  Notice of Exemption  P20-0093: DR22-0026
11/23/2022 41-11232022-0004 City of South San Francisco  Notice of Exemption P22-0081:DR22-0023
11/23/2022 41-11232022-0005 City of South San Francisco  Notice of Exemption  P22-0110 DR22-0033
11/23/2022 41-11232022-0006 City of South San Francisco  Notice of Exemption  P22-0102: SIGNS22-0020
11/28/2022 41-11282022-0001 City of South San Francisco  Notice of Exemption  P21-0128; UP22-0002,DR22-0006,TDM22-0001
11/28/2022 41-11282022-0002 City of South San Francisco  Notice of Exemption  P22-0121: DR22-0037 & SIGNS22-0024
11/28/2022 41-11282022-0003 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Notice of Exemption  La Honda Creek Parking and Trailhead Access Feasibility Study-C Sites Amenities & Short-Term Measures
11/29/2022 41-11292022-0001 City of San Mateo  Notice of Exemption  San Mateo Transit-Oriented Development Pedestrian Access Plan 
11/29/2022 41-11292022-0002 City of San Mateo  Notice of Exemption  Downtown Pedestrian Parking Garage Safety Study
11/29/2022 41-11292022-0003 City of San Mateo Notice of Exemption  School Zone Speed Limits Phase 1
 
Other Notices

Please click the title to access the document.

Date
Posted		 Agency Title
11/04/2022 City of Menlo Park  Notice of Availability Environmental Impact Report Housing, Safety, and Environmental Justice Elements Project 
11/07/2022 City of Menlo Park  Housing Element Update: Draft Subsequent Environmental Impact Report Released
11/08/2022 California High-Speed Rail Authority  Finance & Audit Committee Meeting Agenda
11/08/2022 California High-Speed Rail Authority  Board of Directors Meeting Agenda 
11/08/2022 City of Menlo Park  Willow VIllage Project Scheduled for City Council Review
11/09/2022 County of San Mateo, Planning and Building Department  Notice of Intent to Adopt Mitigated Negative Declaration 
11/14/2022 City of Menlo Park  Planning Commission to consider 3723 Haven Ave. (Hotel Moxy) Project Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration and Entitlements 
11/16/2022 Department of Fish and Wildlife Director's Office California Environmental Quality Act Environmental Document Filing Fees for 2023
11/16/2022 North San Mateo County Sanitation District Notice of the Board of Directors
11/17/2022 City of San Carlos  Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration The 642 Quarry Road Project
11/22/2022 City of San Carlos  Planning and Transportation Commission Regular Meeting 
11/22/2022 City of Redwood City  Public Notice Notice of Availability and Public Hearing 
11/23/2022 County of San Mateo, Planning and Building Department  Notice of Intent to Adopt Mitigated Negative Declaration
11/23/2022 Pacifica School District  Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Pacifica School District Workforce Housing Project State Clearinghouse #2021100457
11/28/2022 North San Mateo County Sanitation District Regular Meeting-Sanitation District Agenda
11/28/2022 City of Menlo Park  Notice of Availability-Environmental Impact Report 
11/29/2022 City of Menlo Park 123 Independence Drive Draft Environmental Impact Report Released 
11/29/2022 City of San Carlos  Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the 808 Alameda de las Pulgas Townhome Development 
11/29/2022 County of San Mateo, Planning and Building Department  Notice of Intent to Adopt Mitigated Negative Declaration