California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: wireless telecommunications facility: broadband internet access projects.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide information about potential impacts on local environmental protections or specific details regarding how lead agencies will implement and enforce the exemption.

California Environmental Quality Act: Exemption for Wireless Telecommunications Facilities

AB-2620 exempts certain wireless telecommunications facilities and broadband internet access projects from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements, excluding small wireless facilities.

What This Bill Does

• Exempts projects installing wireless telecommunications facilities or broadband internet access projects from CEQA requirements if they are not considered small wireless facilities.
• Requires lead agencies to determine whether a project qualifies for this exemption.
• Includes findings that the changes proposed address statewide concerns and apply to all cities, including charter cities.

Who It Names or Affects

• Lead agencies responsible for approving projects involving wireless telecommunications facilities or broadband internet access projects.

Terms To Know

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

A law requiring government agencies to analyze and disclose potential environmental impacts before approving projects.

Lead agency

The primary governmental body responsible for making decisions about a project, such as issuing permits or approvals.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify the exact criteria for determining what constitutes a small wireless facility.
• Does not provide details on how lead agencies will implement and enforce this exemption.

Official Summary Text

AB 2620, as amended, Carrillo.
San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy.
California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: wireless telecommunications facility: broadband internet access projects.
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 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.
This bill would exempt from CEQA projects for the installation
of a wireless telecommunications facility, as defined, or a broadband internet access project, as defined, that is not a small wireless facility, as defined. Because a lead agency would be required to determine whether a project would qualify for this exemption, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.
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.
Existing law establishes the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy in the Natural Resources Agency and prescribes the purposes, membership, and functions and duties of the conservancy.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF