California Environmental Quality Act
At SCAG, environmental planning involves establishing programs and policies that encourage environmentally conscious transportation and land use patterns that protect the region’s environmental resources. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is intended to inform governmental decision-makers and the public about the potential environmental effects of projects; identify ways to reduce or avoid significant adverse environmental impacts; offer alternatives to the project; and disclose to the public why a project is approved despite the project’s potential significant and unavoidable adverse environmental impacts. SCAG’s CEQA Program fulfills two basic roles: Lead Agency and Commenting Agency.
Lead Agency
The Lead Agency is the public agency with principal responsibility for carrying out or approving a project. As CEQA Lead Agency for SCAG projects and programs, SCAG focuses on preparing environmental documentation for regulatory compliance with applicable environmental laws. Most notably, every four years, SCAG is the Lead Agency responsible for preparing the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for the Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Plan (RTP/SCS), also known as Connect SoCal. The PEIR conducts a region-wide assessment of potential significant environmental effects of the RTP/SCS.
Please visit the PEIR website for more information. SCAG staff works closely with local and regional agencies and stakeholders and conducts consultation and public outreach while preparing environmental documentation.
Commenting Agency
The Commenting Agency reviews and comments on the environmental analysis in CEQA documents prepared by other public agencies. SCAG’s role as a Commenting Agency applies to regionally significant projects. CEQA Guidelines Section 15206 defines projects of statewide, regional, or areawide significance and instructs public agencies to submit environmental documents, including Negative Declarations and Draft Environmental Impact Reports, to the State Clearinghouse and the appropriate subregional council of governments for review and comment. SCAG staff encourages public agencies in the SCAG region to submit CEQA public notices to SCAG’s Intergovernmental Review (IGR) Program via the IGR Submissions website. SCAG staff reviews and may prepare comments on CEQA documents for regionally significant projects received by SCAG’s IGR Program.
To learn more about the IGR Program, please visit the IGR website.
contacts
CEQA Program
Lijin Sun
(213) 236-1804
sunl@scag.ca.gov
Connect SoCal 2024 PEIR
Karen Calderon
(213) 236-1983
calderon@scag.ca.gov
Send specific questions on Connect SoCal 2024 PEIR to ConnectSoCalPEIR@scag.ca.gov
Intergovernmental Review
Ryan Banuelos
(213) 630-1532
Submit CEQA Notices to IGR@scag.ca.gov
CEQA Streamlining Efforts
The CEQA program also monitors changes in environmental compliance requirements, and provides tools and services related to CEQA and CEQA streamlining efforts, such as SB 375 and SB 743, to support local jurisdictions in taking advantage of existing CEQA streamlining opportunities and to provide a forum for regional dialogue on important environmental topics.
CEQA has provisions and tools that streamline the environmental review process for qualifying housing projects. These streamlining tools are often narrow, include many exceptions, and can be confusing for both local jurisdictions and developers. Although SCAG has no land-use authority and does not implement nor approve housing developments, Connect SoCal does provide pathways to streamline CEQA review for housing developments that qualify as Transit Priority Projects or Residential/Mixed-Use Projects, as defined in SB 375. Furthermore, SB 743 and SB 226 provide additional CEQA streamlining provisions for certain projects (e.g., projects in transit priority areas and infill development projects).
As part of SCAG’s efforts to accelerate housing production, SCAG has prepared a series of guidance materials for streamlining housing development. The guidance material topics were carefully selected based on feedback and include a combination of streamlining options or exemptions under CEQA and other state laws. To view and learn more about the guidance materials, please visit the Development Streamlining Efforts page.
Resources
Site Check
Site Check is a free, online, interactive tool funded by the California Housing and Community Development Department as part of the technical assistance for Senate Bill 2, the Building Homes and Jobs Act, which may be used to identify streamlining options under CEQA that may apply to facilitate planning decisions that accelerate the production of housing in California.
Users can search and filter parcels to determine whether they meet certain requirements in specific CEQA provisions for a variety of housing types. Site Check will provide a downloadable report identifying the accelerated pathways to CEQA compliance that may apply based on the parcel(s) selected, providing a helpful starting point and guiding users to the appropriate provisions within CEQA.
Please visit the Site Check website for further information and access to the tool.
2024 Southern California Demographic Workshop Program Announced
Register today to join SCAG for the 2024 Southern California Demographic Workshop on Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the SCAG offices in downtown Los Angeles. Online attendance is also available.
The program will gather local leaders, elected officials, and demographic experts to discuss how changing population growth affects regional planning—from accommodating development to improving quality of life and cultivating the economy.
2024 Southern California Demographics Workshop Registration Open, Keynote Announced
Registration is now open for the 2024 Southern California Demographic Workshop, “Navigating the New Growth Reality,” presented by SCAG and the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California. This 35th annual event will be held on Sept. 24 at SCAG’s main office in Downtown Los Angeles and will also be available to attend online.
Final State Budget Secures $480 Million for REAP 2.0 Program; Restores More Funding
The California State Legislature has approved the Budget Act of 2024, taking a major step forward in addressing the housing crisis by restoring funding to the Regional Early Action Planning Grants (REAP 2.0) program and other funding programs crucial to Southern California’s collective goals.
Regional Early Action Planning Program Update
On May 30, the legislative leadership in the State Assembly and State Senate announced the Joint Legislative Budget Plan. Thanks to the collective advocacy efforts of SCAG and its partners, the Joint Legislative Budget Plan restores funding for several programs cut under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s January Budget proposal and May Revision.
General Assembly Elects 2024-25 Board Officers
The General Assembly approved the nominations for the SCAG 2024-25 Board Officers as recommended by the Regional Council: Hon. Curt Hagman (County of San Bernardino) will serve as 2024-25 Regional Council president; Hon. Cindy Allen (City of Long Beach) will serve as Regional Council first vice president; and Hon. Ray Marquez (City of Chino Hills) will serve as Regional Council second vice president. Leadership also recognized Hon.
Connect SoCal 2024 Approved
The formal adoption of Connect SoCal 202
Regional Early Action Planning Grant Program of 2021 (REAP 2.0) Advocacy Updates
Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget announced on Jan. 16 includes $300 million in cuts to the Regional Early Action Planning program of 2021 (REAP 2.0) that will result in approximately $123 million in cuts from SCAG’s $246 million REAP 2.0 program.
Proposed State Budget Would Cut Funding for Regional Early Action Planning Grant Program
The proposed budget announced by Governor Gavin Newsom on Jan. 16 includes $1.2 billion in cuts to funding for housing programs, including $300 million for the Regional Early Action Planning program of 2021 (REAP 2.0).
Connect SoCal 2024 Public Comment Update
As part of the public comment period for the draft Connect SoCal 2024 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, SCAG hosted 15 briefings with elected officials in Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. In all, 229 local elected officials, city and county staff and stakeholders participated in the briefings, where SCAG leadership shared details of the draft Connect SoCal 2024 and discussed implementing the plan’s vision for a more resilient and equitable future.
SCAG Adopts Carbon Reduction Program Guidelines
The SCAG Executive/Administration Committee approved guidelines for the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) on Dec. 6, 2023. SCAG will be initiating a combined solicitation for project nominations for the CRP along with the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program and the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program—all FHWA funding programs—in Jan. 2024. Eligible entities should begin discussing potential nominations with their respective county transportation commission as soon as possible.
Draft Connect SoCal 2024 and Draft Program Environmental Impact Report Now Available for Public Comment
The SCAG Regional Council voted on Nov. 2, 2023, to release both the draft Connect SoCal 2024, the region’s 2024-2050 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) and the accompanying Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for public review and comment through Jan. 12, 2024. The comment period for the draft Connect SoCal 2024 plan begins on Nov. 23, while the comment period for the draft PEIR begins on Nov. 9.
Economic Summit Registration Now Open
Registration is now open for SCAG’s 14th annual Southern California Economic Summit on Dec. 7 at the Sheraton Grand Los Angeles. Mark your calendars and register now to join leaders in business, planning and public policy to assess the state of the region’s economy.
Demographic Workshop Program Preview
Registration is open for the 34th annual Demographic Workshop, “The Seismic Generational Shift,” hosted by SCAG and the USC Price School of Public Policy on Sept. 20. This event will take place at the SCAG Main Office in downtown Los Angeles, with an online broadcast for virtual viewing.
SCAG Awarded $237 Million for REAP 2.0
The Department of Housing and Community Development has officially approved SCAG’s full funding application, awarding SCAG with more than $237 million in REAP 2.0 funds.
Update on the RHNA Reform Process and Schedule
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is crafting recommendations to reform the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) process, which will be provided in a report to the California State Legislature by Dec. 31.
SCAG Leads Annual Regional Conference & General Assembly
SCAG kicked off the 2023 Regional Conference & General Assembly today in Palm Desert with a message from outgoing Regional Council President Jan Harnik and a video review of SCAG’s accomplishments from 2022-23.
SCAG Kicks Off Public Outreach Initiatives for Connect SoCal 2024
Every four years, SCAG updates its visionary plan for the future of the region, Connect SoCal. This process is now underway, and we want to hear from our stakeholders.
Please join us at a public workshop or pop-up event to learn more about the plan, ask questions and provide input. The purpose of these events is to gather input from each community to establish planning priorities for the next 20 to 30 years.