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About Environmental Review and Regulatory Compliance at the CSU
Environmental review and regulatory compliance staff within the Planning and Design unit provide systemwide guidance on California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, as well as natural resource agency consultation and permitting for campus physical development plans and projects.
We collaborate with CSU campus planners, the Office of General Counsel (OGC), and other Capital Planning, Design and Construction (CPDC) units on a variety of projects requiring environmental regulatory compliance, such as Campus Physical Master Plan revisions, capital projects, and real estate transactions.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Signed into law in 1970, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires public agencies to disclose the environmental impacts of their projects to decision makers and the public, and to avoid or mitigate such impacts when feasible.
The CSU is required to comply with CEQA for its capital projects, whether stateside, auxiliary-led, or partnerships with third parties. CEQA compliance must take place prior to the CSU taking irrevocable action on projects such as approval of master plan revisions, schematic plans, and commitments for the use of real property.
The CSU complies with CEQA through an environmental review process that:
- Informs decision makers and the public about the potential significant effects of projects
- Ensures that environmental concerns are considered early in project development
- Identifies feasible ways and alternatives to avoid or reduce significant environmental effects
- Discloses significant and unavoidable effects
Guidance on Implementing CEQA
CSU CEQA Handbook
The
CSU CEQA Handbook lays out a step-by-step process to ensure compliance with CEQA when conducting environmental review of CSU projects. This hands-on guide will help you determine whether CEQA applies to your project, and if so, what type of environmental document is appropriate.
CEQA Systemwide Consulting Services MEA
The CSU has established a
master enabling agreement (MEA) for on-call CEQA consultants to prepare environmental documents. Please consult with the Chancellor’s Office for assistance in selecting an appropriate consultant for your project.
CEQA Transportation Impact Study Manual (TISM)
In 2013, SB 743 was signed into law, changing CEQA transportation impact analysis procedures. In December 2018, the CEQA Guidelines were updated to officially change the transportation analysis metric from “level of service” (LOS) to “vehicle miles traveled” (VMT).
The
CSU Transportation Impact Study Manual was developed to provide guidance for the preparation of transportation impact assessments for projects on CSU campuses, including all lands owned by CSU, consistent with the CEQA Guidelines update. The manual can be used for projects ranging from campus master plan updates to individual campus projects, and for public–private real property development partnerships.
CEQA Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Manual
The
CSU Transportation Demand Management Manual was developed to provide university staff with guidance for creating campus TDM plans and effective programs.
The manual contains a set of goals, criteria, and best practices to guide the provision of programs, tools, and strategies that encourage students, faculty, and staff to commute to and from campus via options that lessen reliance upon single-occupant vehicle (SOV) travel and reduce vehicle trips to campuses.
The manual is particularly useful in developing mitigation measures as part of a project’s required Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP). University staff are strongly encouraged to engage with the
Energy, Sustainability and Transportation unit within CPDC when developing campus TDM plans and programs.
AB 52 Tribal Cultural Resources
Effective July 1, 2015, the signing of AB 52 into law incorporated into CEQA review a formal process for the consideration of impacts to tribal cultural resources as a potentially significant impact on the environment.
To ensure careful consideration of these potential impacts, AB 52 requires lead agencies to formally consult with tribes during the CEQA process. Tribal consultation must occur with any California Native American tribe that requests consultation and is traditionally and culturally affiliated with the geographic area of a proposed project. Consultation may be an ongoing process but must begin and conclude prior to the approval of an environmental document, such as an Environmental Impact Report, Negative Declaration, or Mitigated Negative Declaration.
The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research’s
Tribal Cultural Resources website and the CSU’s CEQA Handbook provide detailed information on tribal cultural consultation process requirements and timelines.
It is important that a careful review of AB 52 take place by the campus and its consultants to ensure awareness of all requirements of this legislation.
CO staff will be initiating the RFQ process to establish a Master Enabling Agreement (MEA) for professional services for cultural resources management services, including support for tribal cultural resource consultation. Systemwide university planning staff can expect this MEA to be in place in 2026.
Historic Resources
CEQA analyzes a project’s potential to result in significant impacts to historical resources. California Code of Regulations § 15064.5 outlines the requirements to define a historical resource.
CO staff will be initiating the RFQ process to establish a Master Enabling Agreement (MEA) for professional services for cultural resources management services, including the development of a systemwide historic resource inventory; preparation of historic resource assessments, impact assessments, and treatment plans; preparation of annual updates summarizing preservation activities; and State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) consultation under Public Resources Code §§ 5024 and 5024.5. Systemwide university planning staff can expect this MEA to be in place in 2026.
Natural Resource Agencies
CSU capital projects that impact natural resources often must seek permits and approvals from federal and state resource agencies, including but not limited to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the State Water Resources Control Board. Campuses must follow appropriate permitting processes and due diligence to comply with environmental laws and secure necessary permits from these and other relevant agencies.
CEQA Document Templates for CSU
(Content to be provided for CEQA document templates specific to CSU.)
CEQA Trainings
(Content to be provided for CEQA training resources, courses, or materials.)