V. - Preliminary Environmental Review

A.

Environmental Information Form (Initial Study). For projects subject to CEQA, the applicant must complete an Environmental Information Form Initial Study (Part I) and submit it with the project application and required fees. The purpose of the initial study is to provide the County with information to use as the basis for determining whether a project may have a significant effect on the environment, to examine and implement methods of reducing adverse impacts, and to consider alternatives to a project as it has been proposed. The environmental staff shall subsequently consult with other County departments, all responsible agencies and all trustee agencies responsible for resources affected by the project to obtain recommendations of those agencies as to whether an EIR or a negative declaration should be prepared. Because it is the intent of CEQA that project proponents attempt to incorporate environmental constraints and considerations into project conceptualization, design and planning at the earliest feasible time, the initial study may enable an applicant or the County to modify a project, mitigating adverse impacts before an EIR is prepared, thereby enabling the project to qualify for a negative declaration.

If an EIR is required, the initial study should assist the preparation of an EIR by focusing the EIR on the effects determined to be significant; identifying the effects determined not to be significant; and explaining the reasons for determining that potentially significant effects would not be significant.

B.

Environmental Review Prior to a Permit Application. An applicant may request and apply for an environmental assessment and/or request preparation of an environmental impact report prior to and independent of applying for any other permit. However, there must be sufficiently detailed project information for a meaningful assessment. If the proposed project is changed or amended, another environmental assessment would be required to review the specific changes in the proposed project and determine whether a supplemental environmental impact report is necessary.

C.

Review of Application for Completeness. The County is allowed thirty (30) days to review the completeness of project applications. If no written determination of the application is made within that period, the application will be deemed complete on the thirtieth (30th) day. However, accepting an application as complete does not limit the authority of the department to require the applicant to submit additional information needed for environmental evaluation of the project. Normally within thirty (30) days of the application being deemed complete, the initial study (Part II) of the project will be completed by environmental staff.