ESP 179 MIDTERM QUESTIONS AND VERIFED
ANSWERS
Environmental Impact Assessment - Answers - EIA; the study of the effect of projects
on the environment; consists of the natural, social and economic aspects
Discretionary Body - Answers - decison-making body; any public agency that is
permitted to approve or disapprove the project
CEQA - Answers - California Environmental Quality Act; Purpose: inform decision
makers and public about potential significant impacts, identify ways to reduce impacts,
prevent significant impacts, make decision makers disclose why they approved a project
if it has significant impacts; Does NOT stop a project but can inform decision makers
about impacts being too great and therefore lead to the rejection of a project
NEPA - Answers - National Environmental Protection Act; national level; first national
statute to mandate an environmental impact assessment; oversees projects by federal
agencies, on federal land, using federal money
CDFW - Answers - California Department of Fish and Wildlife; trustee agency; $50 fee
paid for notice of determination
MMRP - Answers - Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program; required for EIR and
MND; must be enforceable through permit conditions
Appendix G (Questions II, VI, and X) - Answers - lists the types of environmental
impacts to consider in an initial study; II is ag and forest resources VI is geology and
soils and X is land use and planning
Land Use Planning and Policy - Answers - will the project (a) physically divide an
established community, (b) conflict with any land use plan with jurisdiction over the
project with the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect, (c) conflict
with any HCP or conservation plan?
Community Connectivity - Answers - must ensure a project will not create barriers to
movement or change connectivity
Friends of Mammoth v. Board of Supervisors - Answers - CEQA applies to government
approval of private projects
Citizens Association for Sensible Development of Bishop Area v. County of Inyo -
Answers - IS must disclose the data that the conductor of the study used
, The People vs. County of Kern - Answers - comments from experts disclose new or
conflicting data that cause concern the agency didn't fully evaluate project and
alternatives; these comments must be addressed; KERN CONFLICTING COMMENTS
Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Map - Answers - requires preparation of maps
that delineate earthquake fault zones; whether or not a site is located within a known
earthquake fault zone
Seismic Hazards Mapping Act - Answers - address seismic hazards not included in
Alquist-Priolo Act, including strong ground shaking, landslides, and liquefaction
Self-Executing Statute - Answers - many requirements can be challenged by lawsuits if
it's believed that all requirements weren't completed correctly; lawsuits cannot argue
impacts are too great; CANNOT KILL A PROJECT
Threshold of Significance - Answers - quantitative or qualitative criteria beyond which an
environmental effect may be considered significant
Williamson Act - Answers - Also the California Land Conservation Act; ag land
protection program; implemented at the county level; lower taxes
Lateral Spreading - Answers - landslides on gentle slopes with a rapid, fluid-like flow
horizontal movement
Liquefaction - Answers - loosely-packed, water-logged sediments at or near surface
loose strength in response to strong ground shaking
Subsidence - Answers - downward movement of the ground caused by underlying soil
conditions; remedied by excavating the soil to the bedrock and then recompacting the
soil
Expansive Soils - Answers - soils that swell and contract depending on the amount of
water present
Landslides - Answers - movement of earth materials down a slope
Erosion - Answers - can be exacerbated by a project; creating impervious surfaces
causes increased surface runoff which causes downstream soil erosion; can happen
quickly or slowly
Loss of Top Soil - Answers - associated with negative impacts on ag production; results
in the breakdown of growth capacity, loss of nutrients and less water retention
Agriculture - Answers - will the project (a) convert prime farmland to non-ag use (b)
conflict with existing zoning for ag use (c) conflict with existing zoning for forest land (d)
result in the loss of forest land or conversion of forest land to non-forest use (e) involve
ANSWERS
Environmental Impact Assessment - Answers - EIA; the study of the effect of projects
on the environment; consists of the natural, social and economic aspects
Discretionary Body - Answers - decison-making body; any public agency that is
permitted to approve or disapprove the project
CEQA - Answers - California Environmental Quality Act; Purpose: inform decision
makers and public about potential significant impacts, identify ways to reduce impacts,
prevent significant impacts, make decision makers disclose why they approved a project
if it has significant impacts; Does NOT stop a project but can inform decision makers
about impacts being too great and therefore lead to the rejection of a project
NEPA - Answers - National Environmental Protection Act; national level; first national
statute to mandate an environmental impact assessment; oversees projects by federal
agencies, on federal land, using federal money
CDFW - Answers - California Department of Fish and Wildlife; trustee agency; $50 fee
paid for notice of determination
MMRP - Answers - Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program; required for EIR and
MND; must be enforceable through permit conditions
Appendix G (Questions II, VI, and X) - Answers - lists the types of environmental
impacts to consider in an initial study; II is ag and forest resources VI is geology and
soils and X is land use and planning
Land Use Planning and Policy - Answers - will the project (a) physically divide an
established community, (b) conflict with any land use plan with jurisdiction over the
project with the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect, (c) conflict
with any HCP or conservation plan?
Community Connectivity - Answers - must ensure a project will not create barriers to
movement or change connectivity
Friends of Mammoth v. Board of Supervisors - Answers - CEQA applies to government
approval of private projects
Citizens Association for Sensible Development of Bishop Area v. County of Inyo -
Answers - IS must disclose the data that the conductor of the study used
, The People vs. County of Kern - Answers - comments from experts disclose new or
conflicting data that cause concern the agency didn't fully evaluate project and
alternatives; these comments must be addressed; KERN CONFLICTING COMMENTS
Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Map - Answers - requires preparation of maps
that delineate earthquake fault zones; whether or not a site is located within a known
earthquake fault zone
Seismic Hazards Mapping Act - Answers - address seismic hazards not included in
Alquist-Priolo Act, including strong ground shaking, landslides, and liquefaction
Self-Executing Statute - Answers - many requirements can be challenged by lawsuits if
it's believed that all requirements weren't completed correctly; lawsuits cannot argue
impacts are too great; CANNOT KILL A PROJECT
Threshold of Significance - Answers - quantitative or qualitative criteria beyond which an
environmental effect may be considered significant
Williamson Act - Answers - Also the California Land Conservation Act; ag land
protection program; implemented at the county level; lower taxes
Lateral Spreading - Answers - landslides on gentle slopes with a rapid, fluid-like flow
horizontal movement
Liquefaction - Answers - loosely-packed, water-logged sediments at or near surface
loose strength in response to strong ground shaking
Subsidence - Answers - downward movement of the ground caused by underlying soil
conditions; remedied by excavating the soil to the bedrock and then recompacting the
soil
Expansive Soils - Answers - soils that swell and contract depending on the amount of
water present
Landslides - Answers - movement of earth materials down a slope
Erosion - Answers - can be exacerbated by a project; creating impervious surfaces
causes increased surface runoff which causes downstream soil erosion; can happen
quickly or slowly
Loss of Top Soil - Answers - associated with negative impacts on ag production; results
in the breakdown of growth capacity, loss of nutrients and less water retention
Agriculture - Answers - will the project (a) convert prime farmland to non-ag use (b)
conflict with existing zoning for ag use (c) conflict with existing zoning for forest land (d)
result in the loss of forest land or conversion of forest land to non-forest use (e) involve
