CEQA - Environmental Review
What is CEQA?
CEQA is the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970. Enacted by the State Legislature, it provides decision makers and the public with useful information about how public and private actions can affect the environment. This act declares that it is the State's policy to "develop and maintain a high-quality environment, now and in the future, and take all action necessary to protect, rehabilitate, and enhance the environmental quality of the State."
The basic purpose of CEQA, as established by the California Code of Regulations (CEQA Guidelines, Section 15002), is to inform decision-makers and the public about potential, significant environmental effects of a proposed project, to identify the ways that environmental damage can be avoided or significantly reduced, and to prevent significant, avoidable damage to the environment by requiring changes to a project through the use of alternatives or mitigation measures.
Initial Study
A preliminary analysis prepared by the Lead Agency (the agency with principal responsibility for project approval) to identify the significant environmental effects and to determine whether an Environmental Impact Report, a Negative Declaration, or a Mitigated Negative Declaration must be prepared.
Categorical Exemption
A type of project which has been determined not to have a significant effect on the environment. These are exempt from CEQA (see County of Ventura Administrative Supplement for list of CEs). Examples of Categorical Exemptions include minor repairs to existing facilities, building replacement, new construction of minor buildings, minor alterations of land, etc.
Casitas Fuel Bed Fire Roads and Fuel Break Maintenance (6/9/2009)
Fillmore Fuel Bed Fire Roads and Fuel Break Maintenance (6/9/2009)
KFA Oakgrove Preservation Project (6/24/2009)
Malibu Fuel Bed Fire Roads and Fuel Break Maintenance (6/9/2009)
Oak Ridge Fuel Bed Fire Roads and Fuel Break Maintenance (6/9/2009)
Ojai Fuel Bed Fire Roads and Fuel Break Maintenance (6/9/2009)
Piru Fuel Bed Fire Roads and Fuel Break Maintenance (6/9/2009)
Simi Hills Fuel Bed Fire Roads and Fuel Break Maintenance (6/9/2009)
South Mountain Fuel Bed Fire Roads and Fuel Break Maintenance (6/9/2009)
Thousand Oaks Fuel Bed Fire Roads and Fuel Break Maintenance (6/9/2009)
Ventura Fuel Bed Fire Roads and Fuel Break Maintenance (6/9/2009)
Negative Declaration
A brief written statement describing the reasons why a proposed project will not have a significant adverse effect on the environment and thus does not require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report.
Draft Negative Declaration for the Fillmore Front Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project (6/17/2009)
Map of Fillmore Front
Mitigated Negative Declaration
The same as an ND except it requires changes to the project to reduce significant adverse impacts identified in the Initial Study to less than significant levels. The mitigation measures must be agreed to in writing by the applicant; otherwise an Environmental Impact Report must be prepared. MNDs are monitored to ensure they are implemented.
Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Matilija Temporary Refuge Area (2011)
Environmental Impact Report
A detailed report analyzing among other things:
- The significant adverse environmental effects of a project.
- Potential measures to mitigate these effects.
- Alternatives to the project and their environmental effects.
- Growth inducing features of the project.