Determining the significance of environmental impacts under CEQA is one of the most difficult and important decisions agencies must make, yet many agencies have not developed a consistent approach to judging significance and agonize over this issue on a project-by-project basis. Thresholds of significance are a proven method of streamlining the CEQA process. Learn about significance thresholds, the process for developing them and success stories.
Topics include:
- The concept of "significance" under CEQA
- The definition of environmental thresholds
- Advantages and disadvantages of developing thresholds
- Criteria for determining significance
- Reliance on other agencies' regulatory standards
- Adopted thresholds
- Legal problems
- Discussing thresholds for greenhouse gases
- Developing thresholds for any impact discipline
- The relationship between thresholds, planning policies and standards
Course Code
101990