California Natural Resources Agency

The Natural Resources Agency has finalized updates to the CEQA Guidelines. The final text, final statement of reasons (including comments and responses to comments), and related materials are posted below. The changes have been approved by the Office of Administrative Law and are now in effect.

• Final Adopted Text (pdf)
  This document shows proposed changes to the text of the CEQA Guidelines in underline/strikeout format.
• Final Statement of Reasons (pdf)
  The Final Statement of Reasons explains the Agency's reasons for adopting these updates, as well as the policy, legal and factual bases for the changes.
• Exhibit A to the Final Statement of Reasons (pdf)
  This document contains the summaries of comments received as well as the Agency's responses to those comments.
• Notice of 15-Day Revisions (pdf)
  The Notice summarizes the revisions made to the originally proposed text, states the comment deadline and describes how to submit input.
• 15-Day Revisions (pdf)
  This document shows proposed revisions to the proposed changes to the CEQA Guidelines in double underline/strikeout format.
• Addendum to Initial Statement of Reasons (pdf)
  This document contains an addendum to the Initial Statement of Reasons, including additional reference documents.
• Agenda for Public Hearings (pdf)
  The Agenda provides the location and time details for the scheduled public hearings, as well as information on format and logistics.
• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (pdf)
  The Notice includes an informative digest explaining the proposed changes, as well as the public notice period, hearings, and how to submit input.
• Initial Statement of Reasons (pdf)
  The Initial Statement of Reasons explains why the Agency is proposing these updates, as well as the policy, legal and factual bases for the changes.
• Proposed Regulatory Text (pdf)
  This document shows proposed changes to the text of the CEQA Guidelines in underline/strikeout format.
• Press Release (pdf)
• OPR's Proposal and Related Materials: http://opr.ca.gov/ceqa/updates/guidelines/
• "Guide to Public Participation in the Regulatory Process," Office of Administrative Law: https://www.oal.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2017/05/How-2-Participate-102016.pdf
• Approval Notice from the Office of Administrative Law (pdf)
• Entire File Transmitted to the Office of Administrative Law (.zip) (1.8 gigabytes)

The California Natural Resources Agency has finalized Appendix G for the AB 52, Gatto 2014 regulatory update. Further information and the supporting documentation are here:

• Transmittal Letter from the Office of Planning and Research
• Notice of Action
• Proposed Text
• Initial Statement of Reasons
• Form 399
• Form 399 Attachment
• Form 400
• Notice of 15 day change
• Proposed text for 15 day change
• Statement of mailing certification
• AB 52 Public Comment Hearing, April 4, 2016
• Round One Comments
  • City of San Diego Planning Dept.
  • Tribal historic and Cultural Preservation Dept.
  • Santa Barbara County Planning and Development Dept.
  • Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
  • Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria
  • Blue Lake Rancheria
  • San Diego Natural History Museum
  • San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians
  • Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians
  • Karuk Tribe
  • Santa Ynez of Chumash Indians
• Round Two 15-day Comments
  • CSU Los Angeles Dept. of Anthropology (1 of 2)
  • CSU Los Angeles Dept. of Anthropology (2 of 2)
  • City of Escondido Planning Division
  • Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwuk Indians
  • CA State Association of Counties
  • Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
  • San Joaquin County Public Works-Transportation Engineering Div.
  • South Coast Air Quality Mgmt District
  • Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians
  • United Auburn Indian Community
  • Native American Heritage Commission
  • CA Council for Environmental and Economic Balance
  • City of San Diego
  • Proposed Language for Tribal Cultural Resources Update to Appendix G
• Final Adopted Text
• Rulemaking Package Submitted to the Office of Administrative Law
• Office of Administrative Law Endorsed Approval
• Final approved Appendix G

SB 226 - Infill Streamlining

The Secretary for the California Natural Resources Agency has adopted CEQA Guidelines implementing Public Resources Code section 21094.5 and 21094.5.5 (SB 226—Infill Streamlining). The entire rulemaking package filed with OAL on January 4, 2013, including the final adopted regulations, can be found here: 

• Table of Contents
• Final Rulemaking Package Filed with OAL 1-4-13
• Addendum to Final Statement of Reasons
• Final Adopted Regulations
• File Stamped Form 400

CEQA Guideline Update for SB226 (Simitian 2011)

• Official Public Notice
• Proposed CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 3
• Proposed Appendix M
• Proposed Appendix N Infill Environmental Checklist
• Initial Statement of Reasons
• Bibliography
• STD 399 Economic and Fiscal Impact Statement
• Attachments to STD 399
• File Stamp Copy of Form 400
• 15 Day Notice
• Proposed Section 15183.3 - Relevant Changes
• Proposed Appendix M - Relevant Changes
• Robert Cervero, “Office Development, Rail Transit, and Commuting Choices,” Journal of Public Transportation, Vol. 9, No. 5, 2006, available online at: http://www.nctr.usf.edu/jpt/pdf/JPT%209-5%20Cervero.pdf
• Lund, et. al, “Travel Characteristics of Transit-Oriented Development in California,” Fall 2004, available online at http://www.bart.gov/docs/planning/travel_of_tod.pdf
• Ewing, R., Pedestrian- and Transit-Friendly Design: A Primer for Smart Growth. EPA Smart Growth Network (2000), available online at: http://www.epa.gov/dced/pdf/ptfd_primer.pdf

Hearings

• CEQA SB 226 Regulatory Hearing on 9-7-12
• CEQA SB 226 Regulatory Hearing on 9-10-12 (WMV, 139MB)

Transmittals from OPR on June 25, 2012

• Transmittal Letter from Office of Planning and Research to the California Natural Resources Agency

Prior Drafts

Preliminary Draft - January 2012

• Proposed CEQA Guidelines Section 15183.3
• Proposed Appendix M
• Proposed Appendix N Infill Environmental Checklist January 2

Revised Draft - May 2012

• Revised DRAFT Proposed CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 3 04301
• Revised DRAFT Appendix M 043012
• Revised DRAFT Appendix N Infill Environmental Checklist 0430

Public Comments February 2012

• 226 AEP
• 226 ALAC
• 226 Alameda CTC
• 226 BAAQMD
• 226 BART
• 226 Brock
• 226 Bullock
• 226 California Labor Federation
• 226 CBD
• 226 CBIA
• 226 CCLR
• 226 City of Fullerton
• 226 City of Long Beach
• 226 City of Oakland
• 226 City of San Diego
• 226 City of San Francisco
• 226 City of San Luis Obispo
• 226 City of Santa Barbara
• 226 County of Inyo
• 226 County of Mendocino
• 226 County of San Diego
• 226 County of Santa Barbara
• 226 County of Siskiyou
• 226 County of Toulumne
• 226 CSAC
• 226 CSG
• 226 Del Rey Residents Association
• 226 DOE SF
• 226 Goldfarb Lipman
• 226 Greenbelt Alliance
• 226 HIP HPC
• 226 Infill Builders
• 226 League of California Cities
• 226 MBA
• 226 Miles
• 226 MTC
• 226 Nature Conservancy
• 226 NRDC
• 226 Pacific Palisades Community Council
• 226 Pacific Palisades Residents Association
• 226 PCL
• 226 PSLR LA
• 226 Public Advocates
• 226 R.E.A.L
• 226 Remy Moose Manly
• 226 Save The Bay
• 226 Sierra Club California
• 226 Sierra Club San Diego
• 226 SLO Planning
• 226 SMAQMD
• 226 South Coast AQMD
• 226 Taylor
• 226 Transform
• 226 USGBC
• 226 Westwood South
• 226 Wild Heritage Planners
• SB 226 Comment Letter List Final

Public Comments June 2012

• 226 ABJC 2
• 226 AEP 2
• 226 CBE 2
• 226 CBIA 2
• 226 CCLR 2
• 226 Center for Sustainable Neighborhoods 2
• 226 City of Bellflower 2
• 226 City of Laguna Hills 2
• 226 City of Novato 2
• 226 City of Redwood City 2
• 226 City of Sacramento 2
• 226 dSouza 2
• 226 Graboi 2
• 226 Greenbelt Alliance 2
• 226 Infill Builders 2
• 226 L Price 2
• 226 NRDC 2
• 226 PSR-LA 2
• 226 Public Advocates 2
• 226 SANDAG 2
• 226 SCAG 2
• 226 Sierra Club California 2
• 226 SMAQMD 2
• 226 S Price 2
• 226 TransForm 2
• 226 USGBC California 2
• SB 226 Comment Letter List June

Supporting Materials

• 226 Performance Metrics Illustrated
• Infill Streamlining Flowchart
• Narrative Explanation of Guidelines and Performance Standar
• OPR Outreach Process Highlights for SB 226
• Summaryand Responsesto Comments 043012

2009 SB 97 RULEMAKING

As directed by SB97, the Natural Resources Agency adopted Amendments to the CEQA Guidelines for greenhouse gas emissions on December 30, 2009. On February 16, 2010, the Office of Administrative Law approved the Amendments, and filed them with the Secretary of State for inclusion in the California Code of Regulations. The Amendments will become effective on March 18, 2010. 

ADOPTED TEXT OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES AMENDMENTS

The Natural Resources Agency would like to express its deep appreciation to the numerous organizations, agencies and individuals that participated in the development of the CEQA Guidelines Amendments since the enactment of SB 97 in 2007. Your advice, comments and support contributed to the development of amendments that will prove practical and useful, and which will encourage consistency in the analysis and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. That so many dedicated their time and energy over such a long period of time is a testament to the importance of these CEQA Guidelines Amendments. 

The adopted text of the Amendments, as well as key documents from the Agency's rulemaking process, are provided below. Text revisions are marked as follows: new additions are underlined and deletions are indicated by strikeout.

• Final Statement of Reasons
• Adopted Text of the CEQA Guidelines Amendments (Adopted December 30, 2009, Effective March 18, 2010)