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
02/21/2023 41-02212023-0001 City of San Bruno, Public Works Notice of Exemption  2022-2023 Street Rehabilitation Project
02/21/2023  41-02212023-0002 City of San Bruno, Public Works Notice of Exemption  2022-23 Sidewalk Repair Project
02/21/2023 41-02212023-0003 City of San Bruno Public Works  Notice of Exemption  San Bruno Bicycle Route Installation Project
02/22/2023 41-02222023-0001 City of East Palo Alto  Notice of Exemption  East Palo Alto 2023-2031 Housing Element 
02/22/2023 41-02222023-0002 City of Pacifica Notice of Exemption  Installation of Life Ring Buoy Stations
02/23/2023 41-02232023-0001 City of San Mateo  Notice of Exemption  Bermuda Drive Bridge Replacement Project
02/23/2023 41-02232023-0002 City of San Bruno Fire Department Notice of Exemption  Crystal Springs Road Fuel Reduction Project
02/23/2023 41-02232023-0003 City of Redwood City  Notice of Exemption  2020-2021 Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project
02/23/2023 41-02232023-0004 City of San Mateo  Notice of Exemption  City of San Mateo 2023-2031 Housing Element 
02/27/2023 41-02272023-0001 City of South San Francisco  Environmental Impact Report P09-0002: SA19-0002; Mission McLellan Tentative Parcel Map
02/27/2023 41-02272023-0002 City of Menlo Park  Notice of Exemption  Middle Avenue Complete Streets Project
02/27/2023 41-02272023-0003 County of San Mateo Parks Department  Notice of Exemption  Huckleberry Flat Campground Project
02/28/2023 41-02282023-0001 City of San Mateo Negative Declaration  435 East 3rd Avenue Mixed-Used Project
02/28/2023 41-02282023-0002 County of San Mateo Planning and Building Negative Declaration  SFD
03/01/2023 41-03012023-0001 Silicon Valley Clean Water  Notice of Exemption Wastewater Treatment Plant Organics Co-Digestion Project
03/02/2023 41-03022023-0001 City of South San Francisco  Notice of Exemption  P23-0020: SIGNS23-0005
03/06/2023 41-03062023-0001 City of San Carlos  Notice of Exemption  2023 On-Call Sewer Replacement Project-C1702-23
03/06/2023 41-03062023-0002 City of San Carlos  Notice of Exemption  2023 Sewer System Root Foaming Project C1752-23
03/06/2023 41-03062023-0003 City of San Carlos  Notice of Exemption  2023 On-Call Traffic Striping & Marking Project C9417-23
03/07/2023 41-03072023-0001 City of South San Francisco  Notice of Exemption  P23-0002: SIGNS23-0002
03/07/2023 41-03072023-0002 City of South San Francisco  Notice of Exemption  P23-0009: DR23-0004
03/08/2023 41-03082023-0001 County of San Mateo Planning and Building  Notice of Exemption  YMCA Camp Water Treatment
03/15/2023 41-03152023-0001 City of South San Francisco Notice of Exemption P22-0013: DR22-0004 & WM22-0001
03/15/2023 41-03152023-0002 City of South San Francisco Notice of Exemption P22-0143: MUP22-0005
03/15/2023 41-03152023-0003 City of San Bruno Negative Declaration Genesis & Hyundai Dealership
03/17/2023 41-03172023-0001 City of Burlingame Notice of Exemption California Drive Bicycle Facility, City Project No 86230
03/17/2023 41-03172023-0002 City of Menlo Park Notice of Exemption Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club Improvements
03/20/2023 41-03202023-0001 Bay Area Air Quality Management District Environmental Impact Report Amendments to Rule 9-4 and Rule 9-6
03/20/2023 41-03202023-002 City of Foster City Notice of Exemption Street Rehabilitation Project and Park Pathway Restoration Project CIP703 and CIP702
 
Other Notices

Please click the title to access the document.

Date
Posted		 Agency Title
02/21/2023 City of East Palo Alto  Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and Public Hearing 
02/21/2023 City of East Palo Alto  Library Property Acquisition Project
02/22/2023 Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Branch  Draft Environmental Document Migratory Game Bird Hunting (Waterfowl, Coots, Moorhens)
02/27/2023 County of San Mateo Planning & Building Department  Notice of Intent to Adopt Mitigated Negative Declaration
03/02/2023 County of San Mateo, Planning and Building Department Notice of Intent to Adopt Mitigated Negative Declaration
03/07/2023 City of San Carlos  Planning and Transportation Commission Regular Meeting
03/07/2023 City of San Mateo  Address Assignment Request
03/07/2023 City of San Mateo  Address Assignment Request
03/07/2023 City of San Mateo  Address Assignment Request
03/07/2023 City of San Mateo  Address Assignment Request
03/07/2023 City of San Mateo  Address Assignment Request
03/08/2023 NEWMEYER DILLION  Notice of Intent to File CEQA Petition Highlands Estates Subdivision Project
03/14/2023 North San Mateo County Sanitation District Notice of the Board of Directors