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BACKGROUND <br /> The California Environmental Quality Act was enacted in 1970 at a time when there <br /> were few other environmental laws. Since that time, multiple regulations have been <br /> enacted at both the state and federal level, such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, <br /> Endangered Species Act, GHG emissions reduction standards, and SB 375 which <br /> regulate and prevent many types of environmental impacts. Despite the regulatory <br /> changes, however, public and private projects are still challenged under CEQA even <br /> when these projects meet all other existing environmental standards. In 2012, <br /> Governor Brown announced his support for CEQA reform, and advocates of CEQA <br /> reform have been working to develop new proposals. <br /> CEQA REFORM <br /> The attached draft letter expresses support for CEQA reform that includes the following <br /> elements: <br /> • A recognition that effective regulations exist for many potential environmental <br /> impacts and that CEQA should focus on areas not otherwise regulated by state or <br /> federal standards. <br /> • Reforms that eliminate the need for multiple duplicative CEQA review for projects <br /> that already comply with approved plans for which an EIR has been completed, <br /> while still retaining local government authority to reject proposals, apply conditions <br /> of approval, or impose additional mitigation measures, consistent with their full <br /> authority under law other than CEQA. <br /> • Eliminate the ability to challenge adopted environmental standards or lawsuits <br /> filed by any party for any purpose to challenge any or all environmental attributes <br /> of a project. <br /> Submitted y: Approve by: _.-iy <br /> At:7k_, k Brian Dolan Nelson Fialho <br /> Director of Community City Manager <br /> Development <br /> Attachments: <br /> 1. Draft letter in support of CEQA reform <br /> Page 2 of 2 <br />