Bill Text: CA AB1824 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: California Environmental Quality Act: exemption for closure of railroad grade crossing.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Passed) 2019-10-02 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 466, Statutes of 2019. [AB1824 Detail]
Download: California-2019-AB1824-Chaptered.html
Assembly Bill
No. 1824
CHAPTER 466
An act to amend Sections 11011 and 65589.4 of the Government Code, and to amend Sections 21080.21, 21099, 21108, 21152, 21152.1, 21161, and 21177 of, and to add and repeal Section 21080.14 of, the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality.
[
Approved by
Governor
October 02, 2019.
Filed with
Secretary of State
October 02, 2019.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1824, Committee on Natural Resources.
California Environmental Quality Act: exemption for closure of railroad grade crossing.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report 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.
This bill would, until January 1, 2025, exempt from CEQA the closure of a railroad grade crossing by order of the Public Utilities Commission if the
commission finds the crossing to present a threat to public safety. The bill would make this exemption inapplicable to any crossing for high-speed rail or any crossing for a project carried out by the High-Speed Rail Authority. The bill would require the lead agency to file the notice of exemption with specified public entities. Because the bill would impose additional duties on lead agencies with regards to the filing of the notice of exemption, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would make other related, clarifying, conforming, and nonsubstantive changes and would delete obsolete provisions.
This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 11011 of the Government Code proposed by AB 869 to be operative only if this bill and AB 869 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
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: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 11011 of the Government Code is amended to read:11011.
(a) On or before December 31 of each year, each state agency shall make a review of all proprietary state lands, other than tax-deeded land, land held for highway purposes, lands under the jurisdiction of the State Lands Commission, land that has escheated to the state or that has been distributed to the state by court decree in estates of deceased persons, and lands under the jurisdiction of the State Coastal Conservancy, over which it has jurisdiction to determine what, if any, land is in excess of its foreseeable needs and report thereon in writing to the Department of General Services. These lands shall include, but not be limited to, the following:(1) Land not currently being utilized, or currently being underutilized,
by the state agency for any existing or ongoing state program.
(2) Land for which the state agency has not identified any specific utilization relative to future programmatic needs.
(3) Land not identified by the state agency within its master plans for facility development.
(b) Jurisdiction of all land reported as excess shall be transferred to the Department of General Services, when requested by the director of that department, for sale or disposition under this section or as may be otherwise authorized by law.
(c) The Department of General Services shall report to the Legislature annually, the land declared excess and request authorization to dispose of the land by sale or otherwise.
(d) The Department of General Services shall review and consider reports submitted to the Director of General Services pursuant to Section 66907.12 of this code and Section 31104.3 of the Public Resources Code before recommending or taking any action on surplus land, and shall also circulate the reports to all state agencies that are required to report excess land pursuant to this section. In recommending or determining the disposition of surplus lands, the Director of General Services may give priority to proposals by the state that involve the exchange of surplus lands for lands listed in those reports.
(e) Except as otherwise provided by any other law, whenever any land is reported as excess pursuant to this section, the Department of General Services shall determine whether or not the use of the land is needed by any other state agency. If the Department of General Services determines that any land is needed by any other state
agency it may transfer the jurisdiction of this land to the other state agency upon the terms and conditions as it may deem to be for the best interests of the state.
(f) When authority is granted for the sale or other disposition of lands declared excess, and the Department of General Services has determined that the use of the land is not needed by any other state agency, the Department of General Services shall sell the land or otherwise dispose of the same pursuant to the authorization, upon any terms and conditions and subject to any reservations and exceptions as the Department of General Services may deem to be for the best interests of the state. The Department of General Services shall report to the Legislature annually, with respect to each parcel of land authorized to be sold under this section, giving the following information:
(1) A description or other identification
of the property.
(2) The date of authorization.
(3) With regard to each parcel sold after the next preceding report, the date of sale and price received, or the value of the land received in exchange.
(4) The present status of the property, if not sold or otherwise disposed of at the time of the report.
(g) (1) Except as otherwise specified by law, the net proceeds received from any real property disposition, including the sale, lease, exchange, or other means, that is received pursuant to this section shall be paid into the Deficit Recovery Bond Retirement Sinking Fund Subaccount, established pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 20 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, as approved by the voters at the March 2, 2004,
statewide primary election, until the time that the bonds issued pursuant to the Economic Recovery Bond Act (Title 18 (commencing with Section 99050)), approved by the voters at the March 2, 2004, statewide primary election, are retired. Thereafter, the net proceeds received pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties.
(2) For purposes of this section, net proceeds shall be defined as proceeds less any outstanding loans from the General Fund, or outstanding reimbursements due to the Property Acquisition Law Money Account for costs incurred before June 30, 2005, related to the management of the state’s real property assets, including, but not limited to, surplus property identification, legal research, feasibility statistics, activities associated with land use, and due diligence.
(h) The Director of Finance may approve loans from the
General Fund to the Property Acquisition Law Money Account, which is hereby created in the State Treasury, for the purposes of supporting the management of the state’s real property assets.
(i) Any rentals or other revenues received by the department from real properties, the jurisdiction of which has been transferred to the Department of General Services under this section, shall be deposited in the Property Acquisition Law Money Account and shall be available for expenditure by the Department of General Services upon appropriation by the Legislature.
(j) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit the sale, letting, or other disposition of any state lands pursuant to any law now or hereafter enacted authorizing the sale, letting, or disposition.
(k) (1) The disposition of
a parcel of surplus state real property, pursuant to Section 11011.1, made on an “as is” basis shall be exempt from Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code. Upon title to the parcel vesting in the purchaser or transferee of the property, the purchaser or transferee shall be subject to any local governmental land use entitlement approval requirements and to Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.
(2) If the disposition of a parcel of surplus state real property, pursuant to Section 11011.1, is not made on an “as is” basis and close of escrow is contingent on the satisfaction of a local governmental land use entitlement approval requirement or compliance by the local government with Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code, the execution of the purchase and sale agreement or of the exchange agreement by all parties to the agreement shall be exempt
from Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.
(3) For purposes of this subdivision, “disposition” means the sale, exchange, sale combined with an exchange, or transfer of a parcel of surplus state property.
SEC. 1.5.
Section 11011 of the Government Code is amended to read:11011.
(a) On or before December 31 of each year, each state agency shall make a review of all proprietary state lands, other than tax-deeded land, land held for highway purposes, lands under the jurisdiction of the State Lands Commission, land that has escheated to the state or that has been distributed to the state by court decree in estates of deceased persons, and lands under the jurisdiction of the State Coastal Conservancy, over which it has jurisdiction to determine what, if any, land is in excess of its foreseeable needs and report thereon in writing to the Department of General Services. These lands shall include, but not be limited to, the following:(1) Land not currently being utilized, or currently being underutilized,
by the state agency for any existing or ongoing state program.
(2) Land for which the state agency has not identified any specific utilization relative to future programmatic needs.
(3) Land not identified by the state agency within its master plans for facility development.
(b) Jurisdiction of all land reported as excess shall be transferred to the Department of General Services, when requested by the director of that department, for sale or disposition under this section or as may be otherwise authorized by law.
(c) The Department of General Services shall report to the Legislature annually, the land declared excess and request authorization to dispose of the land by sale or otherwise.
(d) The Department of General Services shall review and consider reports submitted to the Director of General Services pursuant to Section 66907.12 of this code and Section 31104.3 of the Public Resources Code before recommending or taking any action on surplus land, and shall also circulate the reports to all state agencies that are required to report excess land pursuant to this section. In recommending or determining the disposition of surplus lands, the Director of General Services may give priority to proposals by the state that involve the exchange of surplus lands for lands listed in those reports.
(e) Except as otherwise provided by any other law, whenever any land is reported as excess pursuant to this section, the Department of General Services shall determine, within 150 days of receiving the report, whether or not the use of the land is needed by any other state agency. If the Department of General Services determines
that any land is needed by any other state agency it may transfer the jurisdiction of this land to the other state agency upon the terms and conditions as it may deem to be for the best interests of the state.
(f) When authority is granted for the sale or other disposition of lands declared excess, and the Department of General Services has determined that the use of the land is not needed by any other state agency as described in subdivision (e), the Department of General Services shall sell the land or otherwise dispose of the same pursuant to the authorization, upon any terms and conditions and subject to any reservations and exceptions as the Department of General Services may deem to be for the best interests of the state. The Department of General Services shall report to the Legislature annually, with respect to each parcel of land authorized to be sold under this section, giving the following information:
(1) A description or other identification of the property.
(2) The date of authorization.
(3) With regard to each parcel sold after the next preceding report, the date of sale and price received, or the value of the land received in exchange.
(4) The present status of the property, if not sold or otherwise disposed of at the time of the report.
(g) (1) Except as otherwise specified by law, the net proceeds received from any real property disposition, including the sale, lease, exchange, or other means, that is received pursuant to this section shall be paid into the Deficit Recovery Bond Retirement Sinking Fund Subaccount, established pursuant to subdivision (f) of
Section 20 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, as approved by the voters at the March 2, 2004, statewide primary election, until the time that the bonds issued pursuant to the Economic Recovery Bond Act (Title 18 (commencing with Section 99050)), approved by the voters at the March 2, 2004, statewide primary election, are retired. Thereafter, the net proceeds received pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties.
(2) For purposes of this section, net proceeds shall be defined as proceeds less any outstanding loans from the General Fund, or outstanding reimbursements due to the Property Acquisition Law Money Account for costs incurred before June 30, 2005, related to the management of the state’s real property assets, including, but not limited to, surplus property identification, legal research, feasibility statistics, activities associated with land use, and due diligence.
(h) The Director of Finance may approve loans from the General Fund to the Property Acquisition Law Money Account, which is hereby created in the State Treasury, for the purposes of supporting the management of the state’s real property assets.
(i) Any rentals or other revenues received by the department from real properties, the jurisdiction of which has been transferred to the Department of General Services under this section, shall be deposited in the Property Acquisition Law Money Account and shall be available for expenditure by the Department of General Services upon appropriation by the Legislature.
(j) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit the sale, letting, or other disposition of any state lands pursuant to any law now or hereafter enacted authorizing the sale, letting, or
disposition.
(k) (1) The disposition of a parcel of surplus state real property, pursuant to Section 11011.1, made on an “as is” basis shall be exempt from Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code. Upon title to the parcel vesting in the purchaser or transferee of the property, the purchaser or transferee shall be subject to any local governmental land use entitlement approval requirements and to Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.
(2) If the disposition of a parcel of surplus state real property, pursuant to Section 11011.1, is not made on an “as is” basis and close of escrow is contingent on the satisfaction of a local governmental land use entitlement approval requirement or compliance by the local government with Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code,
the execution of the purchase and sale agreement or of the exchange agreement by all parties to the agreement shall be exempt from Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.
(3) For purposes of this subdivision, “disposition” means the sale, exchange, sale combined with an exchange, or transfer of a parcel of surplus state property.
SEC. 2.
Section 65589.4 of the Government Code is amended to read:65589.4.
(a) An attached housing development shall be a permitted use not subject to a conditional use permit on any parcel zoned for an attached housing development if local law so provides or if it satisfies the requirements of subdivision (b) and either of the following:(1) The attached housing development satisfies the criteria of Section 21159.22, 21159.23, or 21159.24 of the Public Resources Code.
(2) The attached housing development meets all of the following criteria:
(A) The attached housing development is subject to a discretionary decision other than a conditional use permit and a negative declaration or mitigated negative
declaration has been adopted for the attached housing development under the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code). If no public hearing is held with respect to the discretionary decision, then the negative declaration or mitigated negative declaration for the attached housing development may be adopted only after a public hearing to receive comments on the negative declaration or mitigated negative declaration.
(B) The attached housing development is consistent with both the jurisdiction’s zoning ordinance and general plan as it existed on the date the application was deemed complete, except that an attached housing development shall not be deemed to be inconsistent with the zoning designation for the site if that zoning designation is inconsistent with the general plan only because the attached housing development site has not been rezoned to conform with the most recent
adopted general plan.
(C) The attached housing development is located in an area that is covered by one of the following documents that has been adopted by the jurisdiction within five years of the date the application for the attached housing development was deemed complete:
(i) A general plan.
(ii) A revision or update to the general plan that includes at least the land use and circulation elements.
(iii) An applicable community plan.
(iv) An applicable specific plan.
(D) The attached housing development consists of not more than 100 residential units with a minimum density of not less than 12 units per acre or a minimum
density of not less than eight units per acre if the attached housing development consists of four or fewer units.
(E) The attached housing development is located in an urbanized area as defined in Section 21071 of the Public Resources Code or within a census-defined place with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile or, if the attached housing development consists of 50 or fewer units, within an incorporated city with a population density of at least 2,500 persons per square mile and a total population of at least 25,000 persons.
(F) The attached housing development is located on an infill site as defined in Section 21061.3 of the Public Resources Code.
(b) At least 10 percent of the units of the attached housing development shall be available at affordable housing cost to very low income
households, as defined in Section 50105 of the Health and Safety Code, or at least 20 percent of the units of the attached housing development shall be available at affordable housing cost to lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, or at least 50 percent of the units of the attached housing development available at affordable housing cost to moderate-income households, consistent with Section 50052.5 of the Health and Safety Code. The developer of the attached housing development shall provide sufficient legal commitments to the local agency to ensure the continued availability and use of the housing units for very low, low-, or moderate-income households for a period of at least 30 years.
(c) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a local agency from applying design and site review standards in existence on the date the application was deemed complete.
(d) The provisions of this section are independent of any obligation of a jurisdiction pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 65583 to identify multifamily sites developable by right.
(e) This section does not apply to the issuance of coastal development permits pursuant to the California Coastal Act of 1976 (Division 20 (commencing with Section 30000) of the Public Resources Code).
(f) This section does not relieve a public agency from complying with the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code) or relieve an applicant or public agency from complying with the Subdivision Map Act (Division 2 (commencing with Section 66410)).
(g) This section is applicable to all cities and counties,
including charter cities, because the Legislature finds that the lack of affordable housing is of vital statewide importance, and thus a matter of statewide concern.
(h) For purposes of this section, “attached housing development” means a newly constructed or substantially rehabilitated structure containing two or more dwelling units and consisting only of residential units, but does not include an accessory dwelling unit, as defined by paragraph (4) of subdivision (i) of Section 65852.2, or the conversion of an existing structure to condominiums.
SEC. 3.
Section 21080.14 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:21080.14.
(a) This division does not apply to the closure of a railroad grade crossing by order of the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 1201) of Part 1 of Division 1 of the Public Utilities Code, if the Public Utilities Commission finds the crossing to present a threat to public safety.(b) This section does not apply to any crossing for high-speed rail, as defined in Section 185012 of the Public Utilities Code, or any crossing for a project carried out by the High-Speed Rail Authority, as described in Section 185020 of the Public Utilities Code, or a successor agency.
(c) (1) Whenever a state agency determines that a project is not subject to
this division pursuant to this section, and it approves or determines to carry out the project, the state agency shall file a notice with the Office of Planning and Research in the manner specified in subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 21108.
(2) Whenever a local agency determines that a project is not subject to this division pursuant to this section, and it approves or determines to carry out the project, the local agency shall file a notice with the Office of Planning and Research and with the county clerk in each county in which the project will be located in the manner specified in subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 21152.
(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2025, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 4.
Section 21080.21 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:21080.21.
This division does not apply to any project of less than one mile in length within a public street or highway or any other public right-of-way for the installation of a new pipeline or the maintenance, repair, restoration, reconditioning, relocation, replacement, removal, or demolition of an existing pipeline. For purposes of this section, “pipeline” includes subsurface facilities but does not include any surface facility related to the operation of the underground facility.SEC. 5.
Section 21099 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:21099.
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms mean the following:(1) “Employment center project” means a project located on property zoned for commercial uses with a floor area ratio of no less than 0.75 and that is located within a transit priority area.
(2) “Floor area ratio” means the ratio of gross building area of the development, excluding structured parking areas, proposed for the project divided by the net lot area.
(3) “Gross building area” means the sum of all finished areas of all floors of a building included within the outside faces of its exterior walls.
(4) “Infill site” means a lot located within an urban area that has been previously developed, or on a vacant site where at least 75 percent of the perimeter of the site adjoins, or is separated only by an improved public right-of-way from, parcels that are developed with qualified urban uses.
(5) “Lot” means all parcels utilized by the project.
(6) “Net lot area” means the area of a lot, excluding publicly dedicated land and private streets that meet local standards, and other public use areas as determined by the local land use authority.
(7) “Transit priority area” means an area within one-half mile of a major transit stop that is existing or planned, if the planned stop is scheduled to be completed within the planning horizon included in a Transportation Improvement Program or applicable regional
transportation plan.
(b) (1) The Office of Planning and Research shall prepare, develop, and transmit to the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency for certification and adoption proposed revisions to the guidelines adopted pursuant to Section 21083 establishing criteria for determining the significance of transportation impacts of projects within transit priority areas. Those criteria shall promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the development of multimodal transportation networks, and a diversity of land uses. In developing the criteria, the office shall recommend potential metrics to measure transportation impacts that may include, but are not limited to, vehicle miles traveled, vehicle miles traveled per capita, automobile trip generation rates, or automobile trips generated. The office may also establish criteria for models used to analyze transportation impacts to ensure the models are accurate,
reliable, and consistent with the intent of this section.
(2) Upon certification of the guidelines by the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency pursuant to this section, automobile delay, as described solely by level of service or similar measures of vehicular capacity or traffic congestion, shall not be considered a significant impact on the environment pursuant to this division, except in locations specifically identified in the guidelines, if any.
(3) This subdivision does not relieve a public agency of the requirement to analyze a project’s potentially significant transportation impacts related to air quality, noise, safety, or any other impact associated with transportation. The methodology established by these guidelines shall not create a presumption that a project will not result in significant impacts related to air quality, noise, safety, or any other impact
associated with transportation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the adequacy of parking for a project shall not support a finding of significance pursuant to this section.
(4) This subdivision does not preclude the application of local general plan policies, zoning codes, conditions of approval, thresholds, or any other planning requirements pursuant to the police power or any other authority.
(5) On or before July 1, 2014, the Office of Planning and Research shall circulate a draft revision prepared pursuant to paragraph (1).
(c) (1) The Office of Planning and Research may adopt guidelines pursuant to Section 21083 establishing alternative metrics to the metrics used for traffic levels of service for transportation impacts outside transit priority areas. The alternative metrics may include the retention of traffic
levels of service, where appropriate and as determined by the office.
(2) This subdivision shall not affect the standard of review that would apply to the new guidelines adopted pursuant to this section.
(d) (1) Aesthetic and parking impacts of a residential, mixed-use residential, or employment center project on an infill site within a transit priority area shall not be considered significant impacts on the environment.
(2) (A) This subdivision does not affect, change, or modify the authority of a lead agency to consider aesthetic impacts pursuant to local design review ordinances or other discretionary powers provided by other laws or policies.
(B) For the purposes of this subdivision, aesthetic impacts do
not include impacts on historical or cultural resources.
(e) This section does not affect the authority of a public agency to establish or adopt thresholds of significance that are more protective of the environment.
SEC. 6.
Section 21108 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:21108.
(a) If a state agency approves or determines to carry out a project that is subject to this division, the state agency shall file a notice of determination with the Office of Planning and Research. The notice shall identify the person or persons in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 21065, as reflected in the agency’s record of proceedings, and indicate the determination of the state agency whether the project will, or will not, have a significant effect on the environment and shall indicate whether an environmental impact report has been prepared pursuant to this division.(b) If a state agency determines that a project is not subject to this division pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 21080 or Section 21172, and the state agency approves or determines to carry
out the project, the state agency or the person specified in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 21065 may file a notice of exemption with the Office of Planning and Research. A notice filed pursuant to this subdivision shall identify the person or persons in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 21065, as reflected in the agency’s record of proceedings. A notice filed pursuant to this subdivision by a person specified in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 21065 shall have a certificate of determination attached to it issued by the state agency responsible for making the determination that the project is not subject to this division pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 21080 or pursuant to Section 21172. The certificate of determination may be in the form of a certified copy of an existing document or record of the state agency.
(c) A notice filed pursuant to this section shall be available for public inspection, and a list of these notices shall be
posted on a weekly basis in the Office of Planning and Research. Each list shall remain posted for a period of 30 days. The Office of Planning and Research shall retain each notice for not less than 12 months.
SEC. 7.
Section 21152 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:21152.
(a) If a local agency approves or determines to carry out a project that is subject to this division, the local agency shall file a notice of determination within five working days after the approval or determination becomes final, with the county clerk of each county in which the project will be located. The notice shall identify the person or persons in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 21065, as reflected in the agency’s record of proceedings, and indicate the determination of the local agency whether the project will, or will not, have a significant effect on the environment and shall indicate whether an environmental impact report has been prepared pursuant to this division. The notice shall also include certification that the final environmental impact report, if one was prepared, together with comments and responses, is available to the general public.(b) If a local agency determines that a project is not subject to this division pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 21080 or pursuant to Section 21172, and the local agency approves or determines to carry out the project, the local agency or the person specified in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 21065 may file a notice of exemption with the county clerk of each county in which the project will be located. A notice filed pursuant to this subdivision shall identify the person or persons in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 21065, as reflected in the agency’s record of proceedings. A notice filed pursuant to this subdivision by a person specified in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 21065 shall have a certificate of determination attached to it issued by the local agency responsible for making the determination that the project is not subject to this division pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 21080 or
Section 21172. The certificate of determination may be in the form of a certified copy of an existing document or record of the local agency.
(c) A notice filed pursuant to this section shall be available for public inspection, and shall be posted within 24 hours of receipt in the office of the county clerk. A notice shall remain posted for a period of 30 days. Thereafter, the clerk shall return the notice to the local agency with a notation of the period it was posted. The local agency shall retain the notice for not less than 12 months.
SEC. 8.
Section 21152.1 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:21152.1.
(a) When a local agency determines that a project is not subject to this division pursuant to Section 21159.22, 21159.23, or 21159.24, and it approves or determines to carry out that project, the local agency or the person specified in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 21065, shall file a notice of exemption with the Office of Planning and Research.(b) All notices filed pursuant to this section shall be available for public inspection, and a list of these notices shall be posted on a weekly basis in the Office of Planning and Research. Each list shall remain posted for a period of 30 days.
(c) Failure to file the notice required by this section does not
affect the validity of a project.
(d) Nothing in this section affects the time limitations contained in Section 21167.
SEC. 9.
Section 21161 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:21161.
Whenever a public agency has completed an environmental document, it shall cause a notice of completion of that report to be filed with the Office of Planning and Research. The notice of completion shall briefly identify the project and shall indicate that an environmental document has been prepared. The notice of completion shall identify the project location by latitude and longitude. Failure to file the notice required by this section shall not affect the validity of a project.SEC. 10.
Section 21177 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:21177.
(a) An action or proceeding shall not be brought pursuant to Section 21167 unless the alleged grounds for noncompliance with this division were presented to the public agency orally or in writing by any person during the public comment period provided by this division or before the close of the public hearing on the project before the issuance of the notice of determination.(b) A person shall not maintain an action or proceeding unless that person objected to the approval of the project orally or in writing during the public comment period provided by this division or before the close of the public hearing on the project before the filing of notice of determination pursuant to Sections 21108 and 21152.
(c) This section does not preclude any organization formed after the approval of a project from maintaining an action pursuant to Section 21167 if a member of that organization has complied with subdivision (b).
(d) This section does not apply to the Attorney General.
(e) This section does not apply to any alleged grounds for noncompliance with this division for which there was no public hearing or other opportunity for members of the public to raise those objections orally or in writing before the approval of the project, or if the public agency failed to give the notice required by law.
