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
11/02/2023 41-11022023-0001 SAN MATEO COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS NOTICE OF EXEMPTION JANUARY 2023 EMERGENCY STORM REPAIRS, CANADA ROAD EMERGENCY CULVERT REPAIR
11/02/2023 41-11022023-0002 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO NOTICE OF EXEMPTION EAST OF 101 CORRIDORS AND INTERSECTIONS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (#TR1602 & TR2101)
11/06/2023 41-11062023-0001 SAN MATEO RESOURCE CONVERSATION DISTRICT  NOTICE OF EXEMPTION LITTLE BUTANO CREEK FISH PASSAGE AND HABITANT ENHANCEMENT PROJECT
11/07/2023 41-11072023-0001 SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION BART STATION ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROGRAM
11/07/2023 41-11072023-0002 SAN MATEO - FOSTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT  NOTICE OF EXEMPTION SOLAR & EV CHARGING PROJECTS AT 12 DISTRICT SITES
11/07/2023 41-11072023-0003 COUNTY OF SAN MATEO PARKS NOTICE OF EXEMPTION STOP SIGN PROPOSED AT EXIT OF QUARRY COUNTY PARK
11/16/2023 41-11162023-0001 CITY OF PACIFICA  NOTICE OF EXEMPTION SEWER COLLECTION SYSTEM REHABILITATION AND REPLACEMENT PROJECT
11/16/2023 41-11162023-0002 CITY OF SAN BRUNO  NOTICE OF EXEMPTION  840 SAN BRUNO AVENUE WEST RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
11/17/2023 41-11172023-0001 SAN MATEO LAFCO NOTICE OF EXEMPTION  LAFCO FILE NO. 22-09: ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST PALO ALTO SANITARY DISTRICT AS A SUBSIDIARY DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF EAST PALO ALTO
11/20/2023 41-11202023-0001

CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING DIVISION

NOTICE OF EXEMPTION 

 P23-0087 SIGNS23-0018
11/21/2023 41-1120212023-0001 JEFFERSON UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT  NOTICE OF EXEMPTION  SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS
11/21/2023 41-1120212023-0002 CITY OF SAN MATEO NOTICE OF EXEMPTION  BERMUDA BRIDGE UTILITY RELOCATION PROJECT - 462250UG
11/21/2023 41-1120212023-0003 CITY OF SAN MATEO  NOTICE OF EXEMPTION  CITYWIDE STREET REHABILITATION PACKAGE 5-B PROJECT
11/21/2023 41-1120212023-0004 CITY OF SAN MATEO  NOTICE OF EXEMPTION CITYWIDE STREET RECONSTRUCTION PHASE 5
11/21/2023 41-1120212023-0005 CITY OF FOSTER CITY NOTICE OF DETERMINATION FOSTER CITY RECREATION CENTER REBUILD PROJECT
11/29/2023 41-11262023-0001 CITY OF SAN CARLOS NOTICE OF DETERMINATION 501 INDUSTRIAL ROAD HOTEL
11/30/2023 41-11302023-0001 CITY OF DALY CITY NOTICE OF DETERMINATION

DALY CITY GENERAL PLAN, ZONING ORDINANCE, AND BART STATION AREA SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENTS AND COMMERCIAL MIXED - USE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS PROJECTS 

12/01/2023 41-12012023-0001 TOWN OF WOODSIDE PLANNING DEPARTMENT  NOTICE OF DETERMINATION 1101 Canada Road-Canada Court Subdivision
12/01/2023 41-12012023-0002 CITY OF BURLINGAME PUBLIC WORKS  NOTICE OF EXEMPTION BURLINGAME BICYCLE BOULVARD AND MERCY NEIGHBORHOOD CALMING PROJECT, CITY PROJECT NO. 86640
12/01/2023 41-12012023-0003 CITY OF BURLINGAME PUBLIC WORKS NOTICE OF EXEMPTION BURLINGAME PED SAFE ROUTES & MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS, CITY PROJECT NO. 86510
Other Notices

Please click the title to access the document.

Date
Posted		 Agency Title
11/02/2023 COUNTY OF SAN MATEO PLANNING & BUILDING DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
11/06/2023 COUNTY OF SAN MATEO PLANNING & BUILDING DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
11/13/2023 NORTH SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT REGULAR MEETING - SANITATION DISTRICT AGENDA
11/22/2023 CITY OF PACIFICA NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR THE HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE -2023-2031 
11/27/2023 NORTH SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT Regular Meeting - SANITATION DISTRICT AGENDA
11/28/2023 COUNTY OF SAN MATEO PLANNING & BUILDING DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING