Bill Text: CA AB2447 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: California Environmental Quality Act: land use: environmental justice.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2018-09-30 - Vetoed by Governor. [AB2447 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB2447-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Senate  August 06, 2018

Amended  IN  Senate  July 02, 2018

Amended  IN  Assembly  May 25, 2018

Amended  IN  Assembly  April 26, 2018

Amended  IN  Assembly  April 10, 2018

Amended  IN  Assembly  March 15, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2447

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Introduced by Assembly Member Reyes

February 14, 2018

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An act to amend Section 21092 of, and to add Chapter 2.8 (commencing with Section 21099.50) to Division 13 of, the Public Resources Code, relating to land use.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2447, as amended, Reyes. California Environmental Quality Act: land use: environmental justice.

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, of an environmental impact report (EIR) on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA prohibits a lead agency from approving or carrying out a project for which a certified EIR identifies one or more significant effects on the environmental unless the lead agency makes certain findings.

This bill would, except as provided, require a lead agency that is preparing an EIR or a negative declaration to provide certain notices required by CEQA to owners and occupants of property located within¹/₂ mile of any parcel or parcels, and to any schools located within one mile of any parcel or parcels, on which is located a project involving a subject land use, as defined, for projects for which environmental review commences on or after July 1, 2019. defined. The bill would require the lead agency to call at least one scoping meeting for those projects, as provided. The bill would require the lead agency to provide a specified notice in English and in other languages, as provided. Because the bill would impose additional duties on a lead agency, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

This bill would require the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to publish a specified map relating to disadvantaged communities no later than June 30, 2019, and to update the map, as specified.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the appropriate state agencies coordinate to determine the characteristics of land uses that impact public health and impact environmental justice communities.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that public agencies in implementing the Vulnerable Communities Inclusion Act (Chapter 2.8 (commencing with Section 21099.50) of Division 13 of the Public Resources Code) consider environmental and health impacts equivalent to those in industrial areas.

SECTION 1.SEC. 2.

 This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Vulnerable Communities Inclusion Act.

SEC. 2.SEC. 3.

 Section 21092 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

21092.

 (a) A lead agency that is preparing an environmental impact report or a negative declaration or making a determination pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 21157.1 shall provide public notice of that fact within a reasonable period of time prior to certification of the environmental impact report, adoption of the negative declaration, or making the determination pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 21157.1.

(b) (1) The notice shall specify the period during which comments will be received on the draft environmental impact report or negative declaration, and shall include the date, time, and place of any public meetings or hearings on the proposed project, a brief description of the proposed project and its location, the significant effects on the environment, if any, anticipated as a result of the project, the address where copies of the draft environmental impact report or negative declaration, and all documents referenced in the draft environmental impact report or negative declaration, are available for review, and a description of how the draft environmental impact report or negative declaration can be provided in an electronic format.

(2) This section shall not be construed in any manner that results in the invalidation of an action because of the alleged inadequacy of the notice content if there has been substantial compliance with the notice content requirements of this section.

(3) The notice required by this section shall be given to the last known name and address of all organizations and individuals who have previously requested notice, and shall also be given by at least one of the following procedures:

(A) Publication, no fewer times than required by Section 6061 of the Government Code, by the public agency in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected by the proposed project. If more than one area will be affected, the notice shall be published in the newspaper of largest circulation from among the newspapers of general circulation in those areas.

(B) Posting of notice by the lead agency onsite and offsite in the area where the project is to be located.

(C) Direct mailing to the owners and occupants of contiguous property shown on the latest equalized assessment roll.

(c) For a project involving the burning of municipal wastes, hazardous waste, or refuse-derived fuel, including, but not limited to, tires, meeting the qualifications of subdivision (d), notice shall be given to all organizations and individuals who have previously requested notice and shall also be given by at least the procedures specified in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b). In addition, notification shall be given by direct mailing to the owners and occupants of property within one-fourth of a mile of any parcel or parcels on which is located a project subject to this subdivision.

(d) The notice requirements of subdivision (c) apply to both of the following:

(1) The construction of a new facility.

(2) The expansion of an existing facility that burns hazardous waste which would increase its permitted capacity by more than 10 percent. For purposes of this paragraph, the amount of expansion of an existing facility shall be calculated by comparing the proposed facility capacity with whichever of the following is applicable:

(A) The facility capacity approved in the facility’s hazardous waste facilities permit pursuant to Section 25200 of the Health and Safety Code or its grant of interim status pursuant to Section 25200.5 of the Health and Safety Code, or the facility capacity authorized in any state or local agency permit allowing the construction or operation of a facility for the burning of hazardous waste, granted before January 1, 1990.

(B) The facility capacity authorized in the facility’s original hazardous waste facilities permit, grant of interim status, or any state or local agency permit allowing the construction or operation of a facility for the burning of hazardous waste, granted on or after January 1, 1990.

(e) (1)For a project that is subject to Chapter 2.8 (commencing with Section 21099.50), the lead agency shall give notice to all organizations and individuals who have previously requested notice and shall also give notice by at least the procedures specified in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b). In addition, the lead agency shall give notice by direct mailing to the owners and occupants of property within one-half mile of any parcel or parcels on which is located a project subject to this subdivision and to all schools located within one mile of any parcel or parcels on which is located a project subject to this subdivision. In addition to English, the notice provided pursuant to this subdivision shall be provided in all threshold languages, as defined in Section 1810.410 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations.

(2)This subdivision applies to a project for which an environmental review is commenced on or after July 1, 2019.

(f) The notice requirements specified in subdivision (b) or (c) shall not preclude a public agency from providing additional notice by other means if the agency so desires, or from providing the public notice required by this section at the same time and in the same manner as public notice otherwise required by law for the project.

SEC. 3.SEC. 4.

 Chapter 2.8 (commencing with Section 21099.50) is added to Division 13 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

CHAPTER  2.8. Vulnerable Communities Inclusion Act

21099.50.

 For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(a) “Disadvantaged community” means a community identified as a disadvantaged community pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code.

(b) (1) “Project” means a project for which the lead agency is preparing an environmental impact report or negative declaration that includes either of the following:

(A) The siting, expansion, construction, or intensification of a subject land use. use or the construction of a structure designed or intended for subject land use.

(B) The adoption of municipal regulations, zoning, or land use designations that authorize a subject land use.

(2) “Project” does not include a project undertaken by a public agency for the conveyance of safe and reliable energy or drinking water to a disadvantaged community. either of the following:

(A) A project undertaken by a public agency for the conveyance of safe and reliable energy or drinking water to a disadvantaged community.

(B) A residential or mixed-use residential land use.

(c) “Subject land use” means a land use that is identified as, or falls within the definition of, an industrial or similar land use by the city or county ordinance of the local jurisdiction in which the land use is proposed and that is located within one-half mile of a disadvantaged community. meets both of the following criteria:

(A) Is identified as, or falls within the definition of, an industrial or equivalent land use in the city or county ordinance of the local jurisdiction in which the land use is proposed, as that ordinance read on August 1, 2018.

(B) (i) Is located within a disadvantaged community or within one-half mile of a disadvantaged community.

(ii) Whether a land use is located within a disadvantaged community or within one-half mile of a disadvantaged community shall be determined by reference to the map created by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, upon publication, pursuant to Section 21099.51.

(d)“Threshold language” has the same definition as set forth in Section 1810.410 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations.

(d) “Threshold language” means a language for the geographical area in which a project is located as identified by the Department of Health Care Services in its most recent determination required pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 14029.91 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

21099.51.

(a)In addition to any notices required pursuant to this division, a lead agency that is preparing an environmental impact report or negative declaration for a project shall do both of the following:

(1)Provide a notice of application to the last known name and address of all organizations and individuals who have previously requested notice.

(2)Provide a notice of application, by direct mail, to the owners and occupants of property located within one-half mile of any parcel or parcels, and to any schools located within one mile of any parcel or parcels, on which is located a project subject to this section.

(b)The notice shall include all of the following:

(1)A brief description of the project and its location.

(2)A description of any opportunities to provide oral or written comments on the project.

(3)A description of how oral and written comments on the project may be provided to the lead agency.

(4)A description of how additional information or materials relating to the project may be obtained.

(c)In addition to English, the notice shall be provided in all threshold languages.

(d)The notice required pursuant to this section shall be provided within a reasonable period of time prior to certification of the environmental impact report or adoption of the negative declaration.

21099.51.

 (a) No later than June 30, 2019, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment shall publish a map that does both of the following:

(1) Identifies disadvantaged communities identified pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code.

(2) Identifies areas within one-half mile radius of a disadvantaged community.

(b) The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment shall update the map required pursuant to subdivision (a) concurrently with any revisions to the identification of disadvantaged communities required pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code.

21099.52.

 (a) Notwithstanding Section 21080.4, 21104, or 21153, a lead agency shall call at least one scoping meeting for a project.

(b) (1) The lead agency shall mail or deliver notice of the scoping meeting to all of the following:

(A) Entities specified in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (b) of Section 21083.9.

(B) All owners and occupants of properties located within one-half mile of the project site.

(C) All schools located within one mile of the project site.

(2) The notice shall include all of the following:

(A) A brief description of the proposed project and its location.

(B) The date, time, and location of the scoping meeting for the project.

(C) A brief description of the purpose of the scoping meeting.

(D)Any other opportunities for the public to provide written and oral comments on the project.

(D) A description of how additional information or materials relating to the project may be obtained.

(E) A description of any other opportunities for the public to provide written and oral comments on the project and how written and oral comments may be provided to the lead agency.

(3) In addition to English, the notice provided pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (1) shall be provided in all threshold languages.

(c) (1) (A) The lead agency shall conduct a scoping meeting at a location within one mile of the project site.

(B)  If, after making a good faith effort, the lead agency is unable to secure a location for the scoping meeting within one mile of the project site, the lead agency may hold the meeting at another location that meets both of the following requirements:

(i) The meeting location is readily accessible to residents of disadvantaged communities located in or next to within one-half mile of the project site.

(ii) The meeting location is located within one-half mile of a transit stop. stop if feasible.

(2) If the scoping meeting is held on a weekday, the scoping meeting shall be held between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

(d) At the scoping meeting, the lead agency shall do both of the following:

(1) Provide a description of the project and any information known about the project’s potential environmental impacts.

(2) Take public comments regarding potential project impacts, project alternatives, and mitigation measures that would avoid or reduce any project impacts.

(e) The lead agency shall make an audio or audio-visual recording of the scoping meeting. Oral and written comments obtained at the scoping meeting conducted pursuant to this section shall be deemed a part of the record of proceedings and shall be considered by the lead agency prior to the approval of the project.

(f) This section shall not be construed in a manner that results in the invalidation of an action due to the lead agency’s alleged inadequacy in meeting the notice requirements of this section if the lead agency has substantially complied with the notice requirements of this section.

21099.53.

 The lead agency may consolidate the notices required pursuant to Section 21099.52 or 21099.53 with other appropriate notices that are required pursuant to this division.

SEC. 4.SEC. 5.

 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.