CEQA
Stands for "California Environmental Quality Act."
What is CEQA?
The “constitution for development” for cities and counties.
What is the general plan?
Located at 49 U.S.C. § 303 and 23 U.S.C. § 138.
What is section 4(f)?
This generally replaces discovery (and expert witnesses) in CEQA litigation.
What is the Administrative Record?
The place where Elizabeth began her career as a CEQA attorney.
What is Caltrans?
The type of CEQA document that must be prepared by an agency when there is no fair argument that there may be a significant environmental effect from a project.
What is a negative declaration?
The agency who adopts and periodically revises the State General Plan Guidelines, which provide guidance on drafting a general plan.
Who is the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation?
The NEPA document that is the equivalent to a CEQA negative declaration.
What is a Finding of No Significant Effect (FONSI)?
Maintains the confidentiality of lawyer-client communications.
What is the attorney-client privilege?
Elizabeth's first job out of law school (I was deputized in six different counties!).
What is environmental circuit prosecutor?
In a CEQA lawsuit, is typically 30 or 35 days.
What is the statute of limitations?
The authority under which local governments can adopt regulations to protect the public health, safety and welfare.
What is the police power?
Includes anything subject to federal approval and control.
What is a "federal action"?
Something a petitioner might wish the court could order the lead agency to do that a court cannot order when a petitioner wins a CEQA lawsuit.
What is order the lead agency to deny the project?
The issue that Elizabeth lost in her first CEQA lawsuit.
What is whether an EIR considered a reasonable range of alternatives?
Not too broad or too narrow, but just right.
What is the project description?
Grants permission for a use contemplated in the zoning code, but not allowed as a matter of right in a particular zone.
What is a conditional use permit?
The government agency that issues formal NEPA regulations.
What is the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)?
The document that is filed with the court to initiate CEQA litigation.
The place where Elizabeth went to law school and college.
What is UC Davis?
Analysis of these considers a project’s incremental effect on the environment.
Discriminatory zoning of a small parcel surrounded by land within a different zone, impermissible unless there is a strong public need or interest.
What is spot zoning?
The types of places intended to be protected by section 4(f).
What are public lands, recreational sites, and historic sites?
The Attorney-Client Privilege is codified here.
What is the Evidence Code?
Elizabeth's supervisor, who also happens to be a great presenter.
Who is June Powells-Mays?