HomeMy WebLinkAboutEQCB Min 1985-06-03
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MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: Dave Potter, Chairman
Environmental Quality Control Board
DATE: June 3, 1985
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The EQCB believes the City's development approval process can be improved
by soliciting public input prior to preparing a draft EIR. The State
CEQA Guidelines refer to this early consultation as "scoping".
Scoping is intended to identify very early the important issues associated
with a proposal project. Then the draft EIR can address the issues and,
if needed, prepare mitigation measures or alternatives. This can allow for
resolution of concerns and avoid problems that can arise in more serious
forms when the input is received later in the review process. Our current
process has resulted in surprises that could potentially have been avoided
with scoping.
At its 1-15-85 meeting, the EQCS unanimously recommended incorporating the
following language into the City's environmental guidelines:
"Scoping Session: Prior to completing the draft EIR, the lead
agency shall conduct a public scoping session to identify all
potential environmental issues to be addressed in the draft EIR,
consistent with Sections 15802(c) & 15083 of the State CEQA Guidelines."
An important step to insure an effective scoping process is in the selection
of a consultant to prepare the EIR. The consultant should have the capability
to consider the public's concensus, categorize them into significant or non-
significant environmental issues, and develop reasonable mitigation measures
or alternatives to reduce the significant efforts to acceptable levels. Some
consultants seem unwilling to make conclusions on the significance of the
environmental effects while the City's environmental guidelines require that
these conclusions be made in a draft EIR.