Text only version of pageSkip to SearchSkip to NavigationSkip to Page ContentSkip to Page Footer
Current page: CEQA/NEPA Overview
CEQA/NEPA Overview
More Pages In This Section:
| DERA Process Overview | County Process Overview |
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) defines procedures for environmental review and impact analysis of projects that need approval by local or state agencies. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) does the same for projects that need approval by federal agencies. Both laws require that the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project be assessed, quantified, disclosed, minimized, and eliminated whenever possible.



CEQA
The goal of CEQA is to ensure that government agencies do the following:

  - Develop, maintain and enhance a high quality environment;
  - Provide California's residents with clean air and water, and with historical, scenic, natural and pleasing visual amenities;
  - Prevent the elimination of fish and wildlife species and communities for present and future generations;
  - Provide long term environmental protection plus a decent home and living environment to its citizens;
  - Create and maintain harmony between people and nature so that short and long term social and economic benefits can be gained;
  - Develop standards and procedures designed to provide environmental protection; and
  - Consider short and long term economic and technical costs and benefits when approving development proposals.

For additional information, visit:

The State Clearinghouse distributes CEQA environmental documents and provides status information.

CERES (The California Environmental Resource Evaluation System) provides the CEQA statutes and Guidelines, case law, and information on the CEQA process.



NEPA
Goals of NEPA are as follows:

  - To declare a national policy that will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between humans and their environment
  - To promote efforts that will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate human health and welfare
  - To enrich the understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the nation
  - To establish a Council on Environmental Quality

Objectives of NEPA include the following:

  - Supplemental legal authority
  - Procedural reform
  - Disclosure of environmental information
  - Resolution of environmental problems
  - Fostering intergovernmental coordination and cooperation Enhancing public participation in government planning and decision making.

For additional information, visit: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reviews and distributes NEPA environmental documents, maintains a national Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) filing system, and publishes a weekly notice of current EIS documents. The Council on Environmental Quality's "NEPAnet" includes NEPA statute, regulations, Guidance documents, recent studies regarding NEPA, case law, and other information on the President's Council on Environmental Quality.
Inquire about the availability of documents in alternate formats

Department of Environmental Review and Assessment
827 7th Street, Sacramento California 95814
phone (916) 874-7914  fax (916) 874-8343