Chapter: 19.04 Environmental Guidelines and Procedures
Sections: 19.04.030
Definitions
Whenever
the following words are used within this chapter, they shall have the meaning
ascribed to them in this section (for an expanded listing of
commonly used wording refer to the EIR guidelines, Section 15020 of the
California Administrative Code):
A.
"CEQA"
means the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 as amended by subsequent
action of the state legislature.
B.
"Categorical
exemption" means an exception from the requirements of CEQA for classes of
projects which do not have a significant effect on the environment. Article 8
Section 15100 of the state EIR guidelines list those items determined by the Secretary
for resources which are exempt.
C.
"Emergency"
means a sudden, unexpected occurrence demanding immediate action to prevent or
mitigate loss or damage to life, health, property or essential public services.
D.
"Environment"
means the conditions which exist within the area which will be affected by a
proposed project, including, but not limited to, land, air, water, flora,
fauna, ambient noise, objects of historic significance, and social and economic
conditions.
E.
"Environmental
checklist initial study" is used for preliminary analysis by the
environmental review committee to determine the appropriate document to be
prepared for environmental review.
F. "Environmental documents" means
draft and final EIRs, negative declarations, initial study information forms, environmental
checklist initial study, expanded initial study, notice of completion, notice
of exemption and notice of determination. A
staff report may also be included as an environmental document in action by the
lead agency.
G. "EIR" means the environmental impact report.
H. 1. "Draft EIR" contains a description of the subject
project, the environmental setting, the anticipated environmental impacts,
mitigation measures and alternatives. The planning department shall provide a
description of contents of EIRs.
2. "Final EIR" means a draft EIR which contains comments
received in the review process, a list of persons commenting and the response
to these comments (see Section 15146 of the state guidelines).
I. "Expanded initial
study" means a document which provides responses to an initial study so
that potential adverse effects are mitigated to a point where no significant
environmental effects occur.
J. "Lead agency"
means the public agency which has the principal responsibility for carrying out
or approving the project. The planning commission is the lead agency on
subdivisions, use permits, zoning, general plan amendments and all other
projects acted upon by the commission. In some instances the board of
supervisors is the lead agency when a project is acted upon by the board which
has not been reviewed by the planning commission.
K. "Environmental
review committee (ERC)" means the committee which reviews and makes
recommendations to the advisory lead agency. The ERC shall be made up of the
following members or their delegated representatives:
1. The county planner who
shall act as chairman-secretary to the committee;
2. The county engineer;
3. The chief building
inspector;
4. The county assessor;
5. The agricultural
commissioner or the county farm advisor;
6. A representative of local
native Americans;
7. The county sanitarian;
8. A member of the general
public appointed by the board of supervisors and paid an amount equivalent to a
planning commissioner.
The ERC shall meet at the time and place designated by either
the
chairman, the planning commission or the board of supervisors. A quorum is five
voting members.
L.
"Negative
declaration" means a written statement by the county that a project will
not have a significant adverse effect on the environment.
M.
"Notice of
completion" means a notice filed by the county when a draft EIR is
completed and sent out for review.
N.
"Notice of
determination" means a brief notice filed by the county when it
approves or denies a project which is subject to the requirements of CEQA.
0. "Notice of
exemption" means a brief notice which may be filed by the county when it
has approved or determined to carry out a project and has determined that the
project is ministerial, categorically exempt, an emergency project or otherwise
not regulated by this chapter.
P.
"Person"
includes an individual, partnership, association, organization, business,
trust, corporation or company.
Q.
"Project"
means the whole of an action resulting in impact(s) on. the environment. Project includes the enactment and
amendment of zoning ordinances and the amendment of the adopted general plan
and its elements. Project does not include each separate approval by the county
or its agencies.
R.
"Responsible
agency" means a public agency which proposes to undertake or approve a
project, but is not the lead agency for the project. This includes all agencies
other than the county which have discretionary approval power over the project.
S.
"Significant effect"
means a substantial, adverse impact on the environment.
T. "State guidelines" means Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3, Section 15000 of the California Administrative Code, also known as the state EIR guidelines, published in the EIR Monitor. (Ord. 82-09 § 2 Exh. A(15) and (16), 1982:Ord. 79-16 §17.03, 1979.)