PLAN-140: Introduction to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is one of the most controversial and influential laws affecting urban planning. Understanding it is a must for planners in California. And as other states follow California's lead, the principles of CEQA will become essential knowledge for planners everywhere.

As issues of greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and sustainable development come to the forefront of political debate, the impact of CEQA on development is increasingly relevant. CEQA is a product of the first wave of environmental consciousness that swept the United States almost forty years ago and is used as a model by many other states in developing environmental planning laws.

PLAN-140: Introduction to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provides entry-level development professionals (such as urban planners, architects, biologists, or engineers) with the fundamentals of CEQA and educates concerned citizens, planning commissioners, and elected officials in order to help make informed decisions when reviewing projects. This course is useful for other governing bodies considering implementation of environmental planning policies.

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• Course Outline
• Course Overview
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Course Instructor

Therese Schmidt, AICP is a Senior Planner with Resource Design Technology Inc. in El Dorado Hills, California. Resource Design Technology Inc. provides various consulting services to the mining industry including preparing environmental documents to meet CEQA compliance, conducting mining inspections to meet SMARA requirements, and preparing property profiles to evaluate potential sites for future, or expansion of, mining operations. She is experienced in providing current, long-range, and environmental planning, historical assessments, and grant-writing services throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. With over eleven years of experience working for both the public and private sectors, Therese has prepared numerous environmental documents ranging from minor negative declarations to controversial and litigious environmental impact reports. She holds a master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from San Jose State University. Other experience and interests include completing an internship in Russia and she is the author of the Planetizen Op-Ed "Not Your Typical Redevelopment Board".

Course Outline

Topic 1: History of the Development of CEQA

• Lesson 1: US Ecological Movement of the 1960s and 1970s Resource
• Lesson 2: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Resource
• Lesson 3: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Resource
• Lesson 4: General Administration of CEQA Resource
• Lesson 5: CEQA Guidelines Resource
• Topic 1 Quiz

Topic 2: Implementing CEQA

• Lesson 1: Determining Who Is Responsible for Implementing CEQA on Pending Applications Resource
• Lesson 2: Premilinary Review and Permit Streamlining Act Resource
• Lesson 3: Defining "Project" Resource
• Lesson 4: Discretionary vs. Ministerial Review by a Lead Agency Resource
• Lesson 5: Statutory and Categorical Exemptions Resource
• Lesson 6: Notice of Exemption (NOE) Resource
• Topic 2 Quiz

Topic 3: The Initial Study (IS)

• Lesson 1: Introduction to the Initial Study Process Resource
• Lesson 2: Mandatory Contents of an Initial Study Resource
• Lesson 3: Adequate Analysis – When is Enough, Enough? Resource
• Lesson 4: Thresholds of Significance Resource
• Lesson 5: Mitigation Measures Resource
• Topic 3 Quiz

Topic 4: Negative Declaration (ND) and Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND)

• Lesson 1: Determining If a Negative or Mitigated Negative Declaration is Required Resource
• Lesson 1 Appendix: Sample Mitigated Negative Declaration Resource
• Lesson 2: Processing a Negative of a Mitigated Negative Declaration Resource
• Lesson 3: Public Review and Notice of Intent to Adopt or Notice of Availability of a Negative or a Mitigated Negative Declaration Resource
• Lesson 4: Changes to the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Re-circulation Resource
• Lesson 5: Adoption of Negative and Mitigated Negative Declarations Resource
• Topic 4 Quiz

Topic 5: Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

• Lesson 1: The ABCs of an EIR Resource
• Lesson 2: Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) Resource
• Lesson 3: Public Review of the DEIR Resource
• Lesson 4: Certification of a Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and Project Approval Resource
• Topic 5 Quiz

Topic 6: Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Programs

• Lesson 1: The Purpose of Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Programs
• Lesson 2: Standardized Monitoring or Reporting Programs
• Lesson 3: Implementing a Mitigation Monitoring or Reporting Program
• Lesson 4: Tools to Ensure Compliance with Monitoring or Reporting Programs
• Topic 6 Quiz

End of Course Test

Course Overview

CEQA is an unavoidable part of planning and development. Upon completion of this self-paced course, students will understand why CEQA was adopted and be able to grasp the intent of the law. Students will also gain a general understanding of the history of CEQA, what constitutes a project under CEQA, basic statutory compliance requirements, and a working vocabulary to better understand and review environmental documents as they relate to planning and development.

Returning Student Discount

Returning Planetizen Courses students can also take advantage of a 15% discount off the price of another Planetizen Course (PLAN-145, PLAN-310, PLAN-315, and all webinars exempted). To receive this discount, contact us at info@planetizen.com.

Purchasing Information

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