California Environmental Quality Act: natural hazards and adverse environmental conditions.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about how lead agencies will implement new requirements or enforcement mechanisms for compliance with these changes.

Expanding Environmental Impact Reports in California

AB-2569 amends the California Environmental Quality Act to require lead agencies to consider impacts on people when preparing environmental impact reports for projects near natural hazards or adverse environmental conditions.

What This Bill Does

• Adds impacts on people to the definition of 'environment' under CEQA.
• Requires lead agencies to include in EIRs a statement about significant effects from locating or attracting people near existing or foreseeable natural hazards or adverse environmental conditions.

Who It Names or Affects

• Lead agencies responsible for project approvals in California.
• People living near or potentially affected by proposed projects.

Terms To Know

Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

A document that analyzes the potential environmental effects of a project and ways to reduce those effects.

Lead agency

The government entity responsible for approving or carrying out a project under CEQA.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify how lead agencies will implement the new requirements.
• Does not provide details on enforcement mechanisms for compliance with these changes.

Official Summary Text

AB 2569, as introduced, Hart.
California Environmental Quality Act: natural hazards and adverse environmental conditions.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report (EIR) on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment.
CEQA defines “environment” and “significant effect on the environment” for its purposes. CEQA requires the EIR to include a detailed statement
setting forth specified facts.
This bill would expand those definitions to include impacts on people, as specified. The bill would additionally require the lead agency to include in the EIR a detailed statement on any significant effects that may result from locating the proposed project near, or attracting people to, existing or reasonably foreseeable natural hazards or adverse environmental conditions. Because the lead agency would be required to undertake this additional consideration, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a
specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF