CEQA Compliance and Environmental Permitting

SummitWest streamlines complex environmental regulations by effectively coordinating with governing agencies to determine your environmental permitting needs and ensure your projects are compliant and on time.

So, what is CEQA exactly?

What is CEQA | CEQA Guidelines | Why You Need a CEQA Expert | SummitWest Capabilities

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is a crucial component of the land development process in California. It requires that all projects go through an environmental review process to identify potential environmental impacts and achieve environmental compliance.

At SummitWest, we understand that the CEQA process can seem overwhelming and we are here to provide assistance to help our clients navigate CEQA successfully.

CEQA Guidelines

The California Environmental Quality Act is a law enacted in 1970 to ensure that public agencies consider the potential environmental impacts of their decisions before making them. It requires state and local agencies to assess the environmental impacts of proposed projects, consider feasible alternatives, and adopt all feasible mitigation measures to reduce or avoid significant environmental impacts. CEQA applies to both public and private projects in California.

CEQA is important for several reasons. First and foremost, it helps to protect California’s unique and diverse environment by ensuring that projects are carefully evaluated for their potential impacts on the environment. This includes impacts on air quality, water quality, natural habitats, and cultural resources. By identifying potential impacts early in the planning process, agencies and project proponents can take steps to avoid or minimize those impacts, helping to preserve California’s natural resources for future generations.

In addition to its environmental benefits, CEQA also promotes transparency and public participation in the decision-making process. The law requires agencies to prepare environmental impact reports (EIRs) for projects that may have significant impacts on the environment. These reports are made available to the public for review and comment, allowing interested parties to provide feedback on the potential impacts of the project and the adequacy of the proposed mitigation measures.

Finally, CEQA is important because it helps to ensure that projects are economically and socially sustainable. By considering the environmental impacts of a project upfront, agencies and project proponents can avoid costly delays and litigation down the line. They can also identify opportunities to enhance the project’s economic and social benefits while minimizing its environmental impacts.

Overall, CEQA is an important law that helps to protect California’s environment, promote transparency and public participation in the decision-making process, and ensure that projects are economically and socially sustainable.

A few examples of CEQA work:

Early CEQA

  • Environmental Due Diligence Assessments and Reporting
  • CEQA-level Technical Reports
  • Categorical Exemptions
  • Initial Study / Negative Declaration

CEQA Process

  • Public Scoping
  • Mitigated Negative Declaration or Draft Environmental Impact Report
  • Public Review
  • Response to Comments and Final CEQA Document
  • Habitat Mitigation and Monitoring Plan

Post CEQA

  • Track and Implement Mitigation Measures
  • Waters Permitting (do this congruently with CEQA for faster processing!)
  • ESA Permitting (do this congruently with CEQA for faster processing!)

“Summitwest’s team of experts can take your project from start to finish, from initial study and site assessment to agency approval, permitting and mitigation”

Why do I need a CEQA expert?

When it comes to navigating California’s complex environmental regulations, having an expert in your corner can mean the difference between a successful project and a costly delay. That’s where SummitWest Environmental comes in. Going into a ground-disturbing project, no matter how small or seemingly simple, can turn into a fines, fees and permitting nightmare that drags out for years if done incorrectly, at best. At worst, law suits.

With years of experience helping clients successfully navigate various aspects of the CEQA process, our team of experts can take your project from start to finish. We’ll work with you every step of the way, ensuring the CEQA process is expertly managed and executed.

When you partner with SummitWest, you’re getting a team of professionals who will go above and beyond to ensure that your project is not only compliant with CEQA regulations but also meets your unique needs and goals. From initial studies to environmental impact reports, we’ll provide the guidance and support you need to achieve success.

It’s not just about ticking boxes and meeting regulatory requirements. At SummitWest, we understand that every project is unique, and we take the time to truly understand your vision and goals. Our team will work with you to identify potential risks and challenges, and develop tailored strategies to overcome them.

“Identifying risks at the due diligence phase, potential permits, accurately assessing significant impacts, and writing effective and implementable mitigation measures are all areas where SummitWest can save you significant money and time.”

Don’t leave your CEQA project to chance. Trust the experts at SummitWest Environmental to guide you through the process with confidence and ease. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve your goals while staying compliant with California’s environmental regulations.

SummitWest streamlines complex environmental regulations by effectively coordinating with governing agencies to determine your environmental permitting needs and ensure your projects are compliant and on time.

With our multidisciplinary team of experts we understand the complexities unique to California’s diverse environments and can offer a wide range of environmental planning and regulatory solutions including CEQA documents, USFWS 10(A) Recovery Permits, Wetland and Jurisdictional Water Delineations, and CDFW Consultation, Coordination, and Reporting.

We apply proactive and positive communication with regulatory agencies to achieve successful permitting and seamless project momentum. SummitWest’s focus on relationship building, combined with our depth of project experience, enable us to keep client and project goals on track.

Capabilities

SummitWest is skilled in the following permit application processes:

  • Federal Clean Water Act and Aquatic Resources
    • Wetland and Jurisdictional Water Delineations
    • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sec. 404 Dredge and Fill Permits
    • California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Sec. 401 Water Quality Certifications
    • California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Section 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreements
  • California Department of Fish and Wildlife
    • Section 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreements
    • Scientific Collecting Permits (SCPs), Sections 650 and 703
    • California Endangered Species Act (CESA) assessments and compliance
    • CDFW Consultation, Coordination, and Reporting
  • United States Fish and Wildlife Service
    • Federal Endangered Species Act Biological Assessments and Compliance
    • Threatened and Endangered Species Section 10(A) Recovery Permits
    • USFWS Consultation and Coordination
  • California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) / National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
    • Prepare and process CEQA / NEPA documents
    • Environmental Due Diligence Reports
    • Environmental Assessments (EAs)
    • Categorical Exemptions (CATEX)
    • Habitat Mitigation and Monitoring Plans

Initial Study – the Starting Point

The CEQA process typically begins with the preparation of an Initial Study, which identifies the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project. An Initial Study determines whether or not your project will need a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

The Initial Study will evaluate a variety of factors related to the proposed project, such as its location, size, and potential impacts on the environment. The Initial Study typically consists of a site visit, desktop reviews of environmental data, maps, and other relevant documents, wildlife/botanical surveys, and resource evaluations. Local permitting requirements, environmental regulations or policies and agency requirements that may be applicable to the project are also considered. Depending on the results of the Initial Study, the project will be subject to further review through a Mitigated Negative Declaration or an Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

Can I get a Negative Declaration?

A Negative Declaration is a finding that the project will not have a significant impact on the environment. It is important to understand that there are no environmental impacts (don’t lose hope here!), it rather means that the lead Agency has decided the impacts are not significant. This lack of significance must be substantiated by a firm or individual with expertise on the subject so that it will get the stamp of approval.

In Detail

A Negative Declaration is a document that is prepared under CEQA that states that a proposed project will not have a significant effect on the environment. Essentially, it is a statement that the project will not result in any significant environmental impacts, and therefore, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is not required.

Negative Declarations are prepared by the lead agency responsible for approving a project and are typically reviewed and approved by a city or county planning department. Negative Declarations are required to be publicly circulated for review and comment before being finalized.

It is important to note that a Negative Declaration does not mean that a project is exempt from CEQA or that there will be no impact on the environment. Instead, it means that the lead agency has conducted an initial study and determined that the potential impacts of the project are not significant and therefore no EIR, mitigated negative declaration, nor mitigation are required for the project.

What about a Mitigated Negative Declaration?

A mitigated negative declaration (MND) states that any potential significant effects will be reduced to a less-than-significant level by implementing mitigation measures. An MND is typically used when an initial study identifies potentially significant environmental impacts that can be avoided or minimized through mitigation measures. If it is determined that the proposed project, as mitigated, will not have a significant effect on the environment, then the lead agency may prepare and adopt an MND in lieu of an EIR (this is a good thing for your project!).

In summary, an MND is a document that allows a lead agency to conclude that a project will not have a significant impact on the environment as long as appropriate mitigation measures are taken. It is a tool used by agencies to streamline the CEQA review process and reduce the need for more detailed environmental review.

A few permits that may result from your project:

      1. Air Quality Permits: If a project is expected to release pollutants into the air, an air quality permit may be required to ensure that emissions meet certain standards.
      2. Water Quality Permits: Projects that may impact water quality, such as those that involve discharging pollutants into waterways, may require water quality permits to ensure that they comply with applicable regulations.
      3. Hazardous Materials Permits: If a project involves handling or storing hazardous materials, such as chemicals or fuels, permits may be required to ensure that they are managed safely and in compliance with applicable regulations.
      4. Coastal Development Permits: Projects located in or near coastal areas may require permits to ensure that they comply with regulations designed to protect the coastal environment.
      5. Endangered Species Permits: If a project is located in an area where endangered species are known to exist, permits may be required to ensure that the project does not adversely impact those species.
      6. Noise Permits: If a project is expected to generate significant noise, permits may be required to ensure that noise levels do not exceed certain standards. Land Use Permits: Projects that involve changes to land use, such as new construction or the expansion of existing facilities, may require permits to ensure that they comply with applicable zoning laws and other land use regulations.

These are just a few examples of the types of permits that may be required as a result of a CEQA study. The specific permits needed will depend on the nature of the project, its location, and the potential environmental impacts identified in the study.

If you have a project that needs a CEQA expert and you meet our minimum project qualifications, please fill out this form and we will get back to you shortly!