When seeking approval from a public agency for a discretionary project, the public agency must first assess the environmental impacts to be affected by the proposed project. If the public agency is a state agency or a political subdivision of the state, the agency must comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). If the project requires federal approval, the federal agency must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Both statutes are similar in nature, as each requires identification of potentially significant environmental impacts and a discussion of possible alternatives and mitigation, if available, to lessen those impacts so that they are “less than significant.” Our firm works extensively on CEQA and NEPA matters.
