City of South Lake Tahoe

Purpose:

The basic purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) are to:

1. Inform governmental decision makers and the public about the potential, significant environmental effects of proposed activities.
2. Identify ways that environmental damage can be avoided or significantly reduced.
3. Prevent significant, avoidable damage to the environment by requiring changes in projects through the use of alternatives or mitigation measures when the governmental agency finds the changes feasible.
4. Disclose to the public the reasons why a governmental agency approved the project in the manner the agency chose if significant environmental effects are involved.

Process:

Categorical Exemption
The Planning Department Staff will decide, based on the project description, whether it falls into a category that has been determined by the State of California not to have a significant affect on the environment. If so, the project is considered to be “Categorically Exempt”. The process is not complete, however, until the applicant has chosen and completed one of the following actions:

1. Have the Planning Department Staff prepare and file a “Notice of Exemption” with the El Dorado County Clerk. The statute of limitations for a person or agency to object to the project, is 30 days. The fee for thus service is $35.00.
2. The applicant prepare and file a “Notice of Exemption” with the El Dorado County Clerk. The statute of limitations for a person or agency to object to the project, is 30 days.
3. Not to file a “Notice of Exemption” with the El Dorado County Clerk. The statute of limitations for a person or agency to object to the project, is 180 days.

Note: The statue of limitations does not affect the issuance of a building permit. However, the applicant is proceeding at their own risk.

Initial Study
Should the staff determine that the project is not “Categorically Exempt”, the applicant shall prepare an “Environmental Information Form” (download PDF) which provides environmental information about the project. The Planning Department staff as a part of their review of the project will prepare an “Environmental Checklist” (download PDF). Together, this information is considered the “Initial Study”. The Initial Study is used to determine whether the project could have a significant effect on the environment and if so, chose the appropriate Environmental Document, either a “Negative Declaration” or an “Environmental Impact Report” (EIR).

Negative Declaration:

A Negative Declaration is chosen when:

the Initial study shows there is no substantial evidence that the project may have a significant effect on the environment, or

when the Initial study identifies a potentially significant effect, but revisions to the project are made before the document is released for public review, avoids the effects.

A Negative Declaration usually adds 45 to 60 days before a project can be approved.

Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

An EIR is chosen when:

there is substantial evidence that any aspects of the project may cause a significant effect on the environment, and changes to the project does not avoid the effect.

An EIR usually adds from 3 to 6 months before a project can be approved.

City and TRPA joint review

In some cases, the City and TRPA will hold a preliminary meeting to identify or “scope out” the potential effects of the project and jointly chose the appropriate environmental document. Normally, the City Planning Department will arrange the meeting and there is no fee for this service.

As is the case for most projects involving the both the City and TRPA, there are joint applications as well as fees. You will have to contact TRPA for their application and fees.