This work examines the substance and procedures of the CEQA, providing an overview of the exisitng requirements for an adequate environmental review. Included is an examination of the statute, the implementing guidelines, current case law, and an appendix with summaries of cases most often cited,

The Guide to the Initial Study Checklist is the recepient of the State Merit Award from the California Association of Environmental Professionals. Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines covers 18 environmental topics and poses 89 questions. For each of the 89 questions, The Guide to the CEQA Initial Study Checklist will: HELP DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE QUESTION. PROVIDE SOURCES OF INFORMATION TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. PROVIDE EXAMPLE ANSWERS TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. DESCRIBE GENERAL FACTORS TO CONSIDER FOR DETERMINING SIGNIFICANCE. "This is a book many CEQA experts should or could have written...it has been sorely needed for years!" Kent Norton, former state president, Association of Environmental Professionals

This award-winning book is a veritable "soup to nuts" guide to CEQA and the environmental review process. It contains easy-to-understand explanations of the key policies, players, procedures, and practices related to CEQA compliance. It takes the reader through the process from the Initial Study and Notice of Preparation all the way to agency decision-making and litigation. The book also explains how to prepare useful and legally sufficient environmental documents, including Negative Declarations, Mitigated Negative Declarations, and Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs).This edition includes: ¿ All legislative amendments through 2012 ¿ The most recent version of the State CEQA Guidelines, including revisions related to greenhouse gas emissions ¿ Sidebar discussion of key court decisions ¿ Practice tips addressing commonly occurring issues ¿ New and revised flow charts and diagrams explaining important elements of CEQA ¿ Advice about integrating CEQA with NEPA and other environmental laws ¿ Hard-to-find studies of CEQA¿s effectiveness ¿ Pointers for successful compliance