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11. Once the Initial Study (IS) funds are received, the CEQA Environmental
Consultant begins the IS work, which can take 2-6 months depending on the
issues (e.g., special studies, field work, etc.). A Negative Declaration,
Mitigated Negative Declaration or Environmental Impact Report (EIR’S) is
prepared. EIR’s can take a year or longer to complete. Once the CEQA
documentation is completed the project is deemed complete.
We have studied and worked for various California communities that use
environmental consultants to complete all or part of the required environmental
analyses and documentation pursuant to CEQA. For example, in some
communities, staff is responsible for completing the Initial Study and where
projects are found to have no significant environmental impact, staff completes
the Negative Declaration documentation. Projects that are found to have no
significant impact with mitigation, an Environmental Consultant is often
engaged to further study various impacts and develop appropriate mitigations,
resulting in a Mitigated Negative Declaration determination. Many of the
communities we have worked or studied use environmental consultants to
prepare Environmental Impact Reports and/or Statements, where significant
environmental impacts would result from a project.
We received negative feedback from some focus group members concerning
the City’s use of environmental consultants to perform all environmental
analysis and documentation (e.g., Initial Study and resultant determination and
documentation) pursuant to CEQA (except under special circumstances)
because it is more costly and time consuming. Staff indicated that the City
utilizes environmental consultants to complete all required analysis and
documentation under CEQA primarily due to training and workload
constraints.
151.
Recommendation:
The City should consider requiring project planners to
complete the Initial Study (IS) for all non-exempt CEQA project to determine
whether significant impacts would result.
152.
Recommendation:
If the City requires project planners to complete Initial
Studies for non-exempt CEQA projects, planners should be responsible for
completing Negative Declaration documentation for projects found to have no
significant impact.
153.
Recommendation:
If the City requires project planners to complete Initial
Studies for non-exempt CEQA projects, Planners should be empowered to
determine whether proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration determinations