CEQA

The Limits of Implementation for BACA

Potential practical limits on the scope of the initiative to rewrite CEQA

I’ve done a lot of analysis of the potential scope of the Cal Chamber initiative on the ballot this fall to fundamentally rework CEQA.  However, I also want to highlight a range of constraints that I think will limit the practical impact of the initiative.  In doing so, I do not want to minimize the …

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BACA and planning

Initiative to fundamentally rewrite CEQA will have important implications for planning in California

A key question under the CEQA initiative on the ballot this fall, should it be enacted, is how it will relate to planning in California law.  The question is an important one because planning has long been a key component of California land-use and environmental law.  All local governments are required by state law to …

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Ensuring Environmental Protections Without CEQA

The legislature could take steps to address the impacts on state environmental law of the enactment of BACA this November

It seems likely at this point that the Cal Chamber initiative to significantly rewrite CEQA will pass this fall.  A recent PPIC poll found over 70% support for the initiative.  As I’ve noted earlier, a real concern with any change to CEQA is that key parts of California’s system of environmental protections depend on CEQA.  …

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BACA and unions

The complicated dynamics of unions and CEQA may impact this fall’s CEQA ballot initiative

In this post I will assess the labor provisions of the California Chamber of Commerce’s ballot initiative to drastically overhaul CEQA, which will be on the ballot in November.  The quick summary is that those provisions turn out to generally codify current practice or law – and importantly, may not be locked-in against subsequent state …

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BACA and Data Centers, Part II

The inclusion of data centers within this fall’s CEQA ballot initiative may make it much harder to regulate their construction

This is the second of two posts exploring whether the California Chamber of Commerce’s ballot initiative to drastically reform CEQA might facilitate the construction of data centers in California.  In the first post, I examined whether data centers fall within the scope of the initiative (and concluded they likely do so). What are the implications …

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BACA and Data Centers, Part I

Ballot initiative may facilitate construction of data centers in California

As I noted in my initial analysis of the California Chamber of Commerce’s ballot initiative to rollback most of CEQA, one important point about the initiative is how many different projects are covered by it – despite the framing that it only covers “essential projects.” One kind of development project that is particularly controversial right …

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Reforming CEQA Part 6

Providing for quicker, more expert dispute resolution

This is the sixth in a series of blog posts on reforming the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  The first post, discussing different paradigms for CEQA, is here.  The second post, discussing the conceptual framework for reform, is here.  The third post, discussing designating a state agency to set binding, clear standards for CEQA implementation, …

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Reforming CEQA Part 5

Creating greater clarity for thresholds of signficance, and default methodologies and mitigation measures

This is the fifth in a series of blog posts on reforming the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  The first post, discussing different paradigms for CEQA, is here.  The second post, discussing the conceptual framework for reform, is here.  The third post, discussing designating a state agency to set binding, clear standards for CEQA implementation, …

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Reforming CEQA Part 4

Providing greater clarity on the types of impacts covered by CEQA

This is the fourth in a series of blog posts on reforming the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  The first post, discussing different paradigms for CEQA, is here.  The second post, discussing the conceptual framework for reform, is here.  The third post, discussing designating a state agency to set binding, clear standards for CEQA implementation, …

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Reforming CEQA Part 3

Adding more binding clear standards for CEQA plus focusing alternatives analysis

This is the third in a series of blog posts on reforming the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  The first post, discussing different paradigms for CEQA, is here.  The second post, discussing the conceptual framework for reform, is here.  In this post, I will discuss two ways to reform CEQA: designating a state agency to …

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