California Environmental Quality Act/Statutes/Policy

SS 21000-210006: Policy

Summary: It is the role of the government and its citizens to prevent environmental devastation caused by human interactions.

21000: legislative intent

• Summary: The environment must be maintained relevant to our socioeconomic condition.
• A.The environmental matters all the time
• B.A healthy environment for man
• C.To study the relationship of a good environment
• D.Resources are limited. The legislature must do something
• E. Citizens must help the environment
• F. Cooperation is needed in society to enhance the environment
• G. The legislature will regulate it entities to prevent environmental damage.

21001: Additional legislative intent

Summary: To develop standards which ensure health of the people

• A. maintain environmental quality
• B. Provide a healthy environment to the people
• C. ensure marine biodiversity
• D. The environment shall be hospitable.
• E. Nature and man will exist in harmony to fulfill social and economic requirements.
• F. Develop standards
• G. Consider many factors which affect the environment in our society

21001.1: Review of Public Agency projects

• Summary: private and public agencies will have the same standards of review

21002: Approval of Projects; Feasible Alternative or Mitigation Measure

• Summary: if alternatives are found which impact the environment less, than proposed projects may not be simply approved. Depending on the situation, approval may vary

21002.1: Use of Environmental Impact Reports; Policy

• A. The purpose of Environmental Impact Reports are to show that if alternatives can be made to reduce project pollution and its affects.
• B. Projects which show significant affects on the environmental will not be approved.
• C. If socioeconomic factors favor high polluting projects, it may be approved by a public agency under certain laws.