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
08/29/2023 41-08292023-0001 City of Redwood City Notice of Exemption  Maple Street Sewer Replacement 
08/29/2023 41-08292023-0002 San Mateo County Negative Declaration  New Single-Family
08/30/2023 41-08302023-0001 City of Menlo Park Environmental Impact Report 123 Independence Drive Residential Project
08/30/2023 41-08302023-0002 San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans)  Notice of Exemption  SamTrans Bus Paratransit Services
08/30/2023 41-08302023-0003 San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans)  Notice of Exemption Caltrain Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Tracks, Stations, and Signal Facilities
08/31/2023 41-08312023-0001 Montara Water and Sanitary District Notice of Exemption Construction of Sewer Sanitary District
08/31/2023 41-08312023-0002 Woodside Fire Protection  Notice of Exemption Ordinance 13-2023-- District Fire Prevention Code
08/31/2023 41-08312023-0003 SAN MATEO COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS NOTICE OF EXEMPTION JANUARY 20023 EMERGENCY STORM REPAIRS, HIGGINS CANYON ROAD
09/05/2023 41-09052023-0001 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, PLANNING DIVISION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION SO. SAN FRANCISCO BRIDGE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM PROJECT0001
09/05/2023 41-09052023-0002 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, PLANNING DIVISION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION P2300073: DR23-00160001
09/06/2023 41-09062023-0001 COASTSIDE COUNTY WATER DISTRICT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION MAGELLAN AVENUE AT HIGHWAY 1 AND MEDIO CREEK PIPELINE REHABILITATION PROJECT0001
09/08/2023 41-09082023-0001 MID-PENINSULA WATER DISTRICT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION

DEKOVEN, LINCOLN, NEWLANDS, AND OAK KNOLL WATER MAIN IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTS
09/08/2023 41-09082023-0002 CITY OF REDWOOD CITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

800 MAIN STREET (HOTEL SEQUOIA)​​​​
09/08/2023 41-09082023-0003 SAN MATEO COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION

SAMTRANS COLMA TRAINING SITE
09/13/2023 41-09132023-0001 CITY OF SAN CARLOS NOTICE OF EXEMPTION 2024 SEWER SYSTEM ROOT FOAMING PROJECT C1752-24
09/13/2023 41-09132023-0002 CITY OF SAN CARLOS NOTICE OF EXEMPTION 2023 ANNUAL STORM DRAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, PROJECT NO. C9531
09/18/2023 41-09182023-0001 SAN MATEO COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION VEGETATION REMOVAL TO REMOVE DEAD AND DYING DOUGLAS-FIR MADRONE AND LIVE
09/18/2023 41-09182023-0002 MIDPENINSULA OPEN SPACE DISTRICT MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION ADDENDUM TO THE ALPINE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT IS MND
09/21/2023 41-09212023-0001 SAN MATEO COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS NOTICE OF EXEMPTION JANUARY 2023 EMERGENCY STORM REPAIRS STATE ROAD AND ALPINE ROAD
09/21/2023 41-09212023-0002 CITY OF SAN CARLOS NOTICE OF EXEMPTION 11 EL CAMINO REAL RESIDENTIAL PROJECT
09/21/2023 41-09212023-0003 CITY OF FOSTER CITY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT ONEILL SLOUGH TIDAL RESTORATION
09/22/2023 41-09222023-0001 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, PLANNING DIVISION NOITCE OF EXEMPTION INFINITE 101 PROJECT
09/28/2023 41-09282023-0001 CITY OF SAN MATEO, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION SCHOOL ZONE SPEED LIMITS PHASES 2 AND 3
09/28/2023 41-09282023-0002 CITY OF MENLO PARK ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT 123 INDEPENDENCE DRIVE RESIDENTIAL PROJECT
09/29/2023 41-09292023-0001 CITY OF BURLINGAME PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT - ENGINEERING NOTICE OF EXEMPTION MILLS CANYON LANDSLIDE REPAIR PROJECT - PROJECT 86780
09/29/2023 41-09292023-0002 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT P22-0067: SP22-0002
 
Other Notices

Please click the title to access the document.

Date
Posted		 Agency Title
08/30/2023 City of Menlo Park Notice of Public Hearing to Consider the 1125 O'Brien Drive Project and Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Report and Intent to Certify the Environmental Impact Report for the Project
09/06/2023 NORTH SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT  CANCELATION OF SANITATION DISTRICT BOARD MEETING ON 9/11/23
09/08/2023 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC REVIEW AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION
09/11/2023 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC REVIEW AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION
09/11/2023 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCSICO NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC REVIEW AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION
09/11/2023 CITY OF MENLO PARK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - PLANNING DIVISION NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE 1125 OBRIEN DRIVE PROJECT AND AVAILABILITY OF A FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT ETC
09/11/2023 COUNTY OF SAN MATEO PLANNING & BUILDING DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
09/13/2023 CITY OF SAN MATEO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF PREPARATION ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT CITY OF SAN MATEO
09/13/2023 NORTH SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT NOTICE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
09/20/2023 CITY OF BURLINGAME COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT DEIR FOR THE 1200 - 1340 OLD BAYSHORE HIGHWAY PROJECT
09/25/2023 NORTH SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT REGULAR MEETINGS SANITATION DISTRICT AGENDA
09/29/2023 PLANNING & BUILDING DEPARTMENT COASTSIDE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING COASTSIDE DESGIN REVIEW COMMITTEE AGENDA