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• CEQA Policy and Review

CEQA Policy and Review

The City’s environmental review process is established by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The California Environmental Quality Act was enacted in 1970, and is similar to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The City’s Municipal Code specifically assigns the responsibility for implementation of CEQA to the Planning Department and is charged with maintaining independence and objectivity in its review and analysis of the environmental consequences of development projects under its purview.

The CEQA & Policy Review Section reviews City (public) projects and other actions under CEQA for potential environmental impacts; prepares environmental documents; directs the work of outside environmental consultants; and works with public project applicants and stakeholders to ensure that all feasible environmental mitigation measures or project alternatives are incorporated to minimize or preclude adverse impacts to the environment. In addition, the CEQA and Policy Review section works with the Development Services Department to provide CEQA training to community planning groups.

CEQA Documents

Draft CEQA Documents

• March 2, 2016 (Uptown) Hayes Avenue Storm Drain /Project No. 302218/Draft MND – Public Review Ends: April 1, 2016 (PDF)
  • Biological Resources Report (August 2015) (PDF)
• February 10, 2016 (All Community Planning Areas) Pure Water Program / Project No. 438188 / Draft EIR – Public Review Ends: April 11, 2016 (PDF)
• Appendix A - Scoping Letter, NOP, and NOP Comments
• Appendix B - Air Quality Technical Report
• Appendix C - Biological Resources Report
• Appendix D1 - Archaeological Constraints Study
• Appendix D2 - Built Environment Constraints Study
• Appendix E - Greenhouse Gas Emissions Analysis
• Appendix F – Noise Report
• January 15, 2016 (Southeastern San Diego/Barrio Logan) Chollas Creek Bike Pathway / Project No. 364784/ Draft MND - Public Review Ends: February 17, 2015 (PDF)
  • Biological Technical Report (PDF)
  • Global Climate Change Evaluation (PDF)
  • Draft Historical Report (PDF)
  • Noise Study (PDF)
  • Phase I Cultural (PDF)
  • Phase II Cultural (PDF)
• December 17, 2015 2015 (Mission Bay Park and Pacific Beach Community Planning Areas) Sewer & Water Group Job No. 827 / Project No. 413110 / Draft AMND - Public Review Ends: January 4, 2016 (PDF)
• November 20, 2015 (All Community Planning Areas) City of San Diego Single-Use Carryout Bag Reduction Ordinance / Project No. 412659 / Draft EIR – Public Review Ends: January 19, 2016 (PDF)
  • Ordinance (PDF)
• August 25, 2015 (All Community Planning Areas) Storm Water Standards Manual Update / Project No. 435930 / Draft MND – Public Review Ends: September 24, 2015 (PDF)
• July 31, 2015 (All Community Planning Areas) Climate Action Plan / Project No. 416603 / Draft EIR – Public Review Ends: September 29, 2015 (PDF)
  • Appendix A - Public Notice of Preparation (PDF)
• July 9, 2015 (Southeastern San Diego/Encanto) Southeastern San Diego and Encanto Neighborhoods Community Plan Updates / Project No. 386029 / Draft EIR - Public Review Ends: September 8, 2015 (PDF)

• For access to other Draft CEQA Documents use the link below:
  • California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Notices & Documents
    Notices and reports to concerned citizens or interested person regarding decision of impact findings on the environment. Not all documents may be available for viewing online. Further, graphics, exhibits and attachments such as technical reports may not be available for viewing online.

Public Notice of the Preparation of a PEIR Report and a Scoping Meeting

• December 2, 2015 University Community Plan Amendment / NOP (PDF)
• November 4, 2015 San Ysidro Community Plan Update and El Pueblito Viejo Village Specific Plan / NOP / 310690 (PDF)
• November 4, 2015 Midway-Pacific Highway and Old Town San Diego Community Plan Updates / NOP / 453425 (PDF)

Final CEQA Documents

• February 25, 2016 Chollas Creek to Bayshore Bikeway Multi-Use Path / Project No. 364784 / Final MND (PDF)
  • Air Quality Technical Report (PDF)
  • Analysis of Vehicular Traffic Impacts (PDF)
  • Biological Technical Report (PDF)
  • Draft Final Historic Resource Tech Report (PDF)
  • Drainage Assessment (PDF)
  • Geologic and Geotechnical Assessment (PDF)
  • Global Climate Change Evaluation (PDF)
  • Noise Study (PDF)
  • Phase I Cultural Resources Report (PDF)
  • Phase II Cultural Resources Report (PDF)
  • Water Quality Technical Report (PDF)
• February 17, 2016 Sewer and AC Water 827 / Project No. 413110 / FINAL ADDENDUM (PDF)
• January 12, 2016 Storm Water Standards Manual Update / Project No. 435930 / FINAL MND (PDF)
• November 23, 2015 City of San Diego Climate Action Plan Final PEIR (PDF)
  • Appendices (PDF)
• October 1, 2015 Southeastern San Diego and Encanto Neighborhoods Community Plan Updates Final PEIR (PDF)
  • Appendix A - Notice of Preparation (PDF)
  • Appendix B - Mobility Element Update & Traffic Impact Study - Final Report (PDF)
  • Appendix B-1 - Mobility Element Update & Traffic Impact Study - Appendices (PDF)
  • Appendix C - Air Quality Analysis (PDF)
  • Appendix D - Greenhouse Gas Analysis (PDF)
  • Appendix E - Noise Analysis (PDF)
  • Appendix F - Prehistoric Cultural Resources (PDF)
  • Appendix G - Biological Resources Report (PDF)
  • Appendix H - Geotechnical Desktop Study (PDF)
  • Appendix I - Hazardous Materials Technical Study (PDF)
  • Appendix I-1 - Hazardous Materials Appendix (PDF)
  • Appendix J - Drainage and Water Quality (PDF)
  • Appendix K - Water Supply Assessment Reports (PDF)
  • Draft Findings (PDF)
  • Draft Statement of Overriding Considerations (PDF)
• August 10, 2015 FINAL Grantville Focused Plan Amendment Environmental Impact Report (PDF)
  • Findings (PDF)
  • Statement of Overriding Considerations (PDF)
  • Notice of Preparation (PDF)
  • Transportation Study (PDF)
  • Air Quality and Greenhouse Gases (PDF)
  • Noise Impact Study (PDF)
  • Biological Resources (PDF)
  • Hydrology Study (PDF)
  • Water Quality (PDF)
  • Historic Resources (PDF)
  • Cultural Resources (PDF)
  • Geology and Soils (PDF)
  • Hazardous Materials (PDF)
• August 5, 2015 Black Mountain Ranch / Black Mountain Access Road Repair FMND (PDF)
  • Biological Resources Assessment (PDF)
  • Archaeology Report (PDF)
• June 29, 2015 Carmel Mountain/Del Mar Mesa Trails Community Plan Amendments; Amendments to the North City, Del Mar Mesa and Pacific Highlands Ranch Local Coastal Programs (LCP); Public Access Easement Vacations and Adoption of the Natural Resources Management Plan FMND (PDF)
  • Biological Resources Assessment (PDF)
  • Cultural Resources Study (PDF)

Notices of Right to Appeal Environmental Determinations

• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Notices of Rights to Appeal Environmental Determinations
  Notices of environmental determinations made by City staff (including the City Manager), the City Hearing Officer, and the City Planning Commission that may be appealed to the City Council in accordance with Section 112.0520 of the Municipal Code.

Helpful Links

• Governor’s Office of Planning and Research: http://opr.ca.gov/m_ceqa.php
• City of San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 12, Division 8:
  • http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter12/Ch12Art08Division01.pdf
  • http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter12/Ch12Art08Division02.pdf
  • http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter12/Ch12Art08Division03.pdf

Staff Contacts

• Myra Herrmann, Senior Planner, (619) 446-5372, mherrmann@sandiego.gov
• Kurt Steinert, Senior Planner, (619) 235-5206, ksteinert@sandiego.gov