ESP 179 EXAM STUDY GUIDE
Administer of CEQA guildlines - Answers - State Office of Planning and Research
CEQA Exemptions - Answers - Categorical (classes of projects that do not typically
have significant impacts) and statutory (made by legislature, regardless of impacts)
If a project is not exempt - Answers - Move to preliminary review and complete initial
study
Initial study - Answers - determines the extent of review for a project
Bishop-Inyo Case - Answers - No naked checklists-each check mush disclose data that
was relied upon to make decision
Negative Declaration - Answers - report filed when an agency determines a project does
not have a significant adverse impact on environment; must attach initial study to justify
Mitigated Negative Declaration - Answers - prepared when all impacts can be reduced
to less than significant by mitigation measures
environmental impact report - Answers - when significant and unavoidable impacts will
result
process for ND/MND - Answers - initial study> notice of intent to adopt> public review
period
process for EIR - Answers - initial study>notice of preparation>scoping meeting> draft>
notice of availability> notice of completion> comment period> final EIR
project EIR - Answers - most common type, details impacts of specific project
program EIR - Answers - set of actions that can be considered as one large project;
often parameters for future development
supplemental EIR - Answers - Minor additions or changes addressing significant
impacts
subsequent EIR - Answers - larger changes that are made and need to address impacts
addendum EIR - Answers - Minor technical changes only, with no significant impact,
does not require public circulation
, Joint EIR-EIS - Answers - for projects subject to both CEQA and NEPA, involving
federal agencies, money, or land
Essential Nexus principle - Answers - cannot require a project to take mitigation
measures not directly related to mitigation of impact; Nollan vs California Coastal
Commission
Rough Proportionality Principle - Answers - Dolan vs City of Tigard; cannot require
mitigation that is disproportionate in magnitude to impact
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program - Answers - public agency adopts
reporting program at approval to ensure compliance; required for EIR and MND
Notice of Determination (NOD) - Answers - Notice of decision to reject/approve project
sent to state clearinghouse
Fish and Wildlife Filing Fee - Answers - required to file NOD, avoided if can prove no
effect on fish/wildlife
Fair Argument Test - Answers - if there is evidence that impacts occur, even if evidence
exists to the contrary, EIR is required
Agriculture and Forestry is focused on... - Answers - conversion of farmland and forests
as an environmental impact; preserving land
Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP) - Answers - produces maps and
data used for analyzing impacts on CA agricultural land
Major farmland categories under FMMP - Answers - Prime farmland, farmland of
statewide importance, unique farmland, farmland of local importance
Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA) - Answers - point based approach for
rating land importance
Williamson Act - Answers - meant to preserve ag land and discourage development,
incentivized by tax breaks
Williamson Act Contract - Answers - property tax is based on ag production rather than
land value; 10 year contract, doesn't allow solar farms
Farmland Security Zones - Answers - property tax is 65% of what it is under williamson
contract, but 20 year contract
forestry resources - Answers - land that can support at least 10% native tree cover
timberland - Answers - land that is capable of growing crops of trees
Administer of CEQA guildlines - Answers - State Office of Planning and Research
CEQA Exemptions - Answers - Categorical (classes of projects that do not typically
have significant impacts) and statutory (made by legislature, regardless of impacts)
If a project is not exempt - Answers - Move to preliminary review and complete initial
study
Initial study - Answers - determines the extent of review for a project
Bishop-Inyo Case - Answers - No naked checklists-each check mush disclose data that
was relied upon to make decision
Negative Declaration - Answers - report filed when an agency determines a project does
not have a significant adverse impact on environment; must attach initial study to justify
Mitigated Negative Declaration - Answers - prepared when all impacts can be reduced
to less than significant by mitigation measures
environmental impact report - Answers - when significant and unavoidable impacts will
result
process for ND/MND - Answers - initial study> notice of intent to adopt> public review
period
process for EIR - Answers - initial study>notice of preparation>scoping meeting> draft>
notice of availability> notice of completion> comment period> final EIR
project EIR - Answers - most common type, details impacts of specific project
program EIR - Answers - set of actions that can be considered as one large project;
often parameters for future development
supplemental EIR - Answers - Minor additions or changes addressing significant
impacts
subsequent EIR - Answers - larger changes that are made and need to address impacts
addendum EIR - Answers - Minor technical changes only, with no significant impact,
does not require public circulation
, Joint EIR-EIS - Answers - for projects subject to both CEQA and NEPA, involving
federal agencies, money, or land
Essential Nexus principle - Answers - cannot require a project to take mitigation
measures not directly related to mitigation of impact; Nollan vs California Coastal
Commission
Rough Proportionality Principle - Answers - Dolan vs City of Tigard; cannot require
mitigation that is disproportionate in magnitude to impact
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program - Answers - public agency adopts
reporting program at approval to ensure compliance; required for EIR and MND
Notice of Determination (NOD) - Answers - Notice of decision to reject/approve project
sent to state clearinghouse
Fish and Wildlife Filing Fee - Answers - required to file NOD, avoided if can prove no
effect on fish/wildlife
Fair Argument Test - Answers - if there is evidence that impacts occur, even if evidence
exists to the contrary, EIR is required
Agriculture and Forestry is focused on... - Answers - conversion of farmland and forests
as an environmental impact; preserving land
Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP) - Answers - produces maps and
data used for analyzing impacts on CA agricultural land
Major farmland categories under FMMP - Answers - Prime farmland, farmland of
statewide importance, unique farmland, farmland of local importance
Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA) - Answers - point based approach for
rating land importance
Williamson Act - Answers - meant to preserve ag land and discourage development,
incentivized by tax breaks
Williamson Act Contract - Answers - property tax is based on ag production rather than
land value; 10 year contract, doesn't allow solar farms
Farmland Security Zones - Answers - property tax is 65% of what it is under williamson
contract, but 20 year contract
forestry resources - Answers - land that can support at least 10% native tree cover
timberland - Answers - land that is capable of growing crops of trees