Publication Date

Summer 2004

Degree Type

Master's Project

Degree Name

Master of Urban Planning (MUP)

Department

Urban and Regional Planning

First Advisor

Dayana Salazar

Abstract

This report provides a comprehensive understanding of environmental “Thresholds of Significance” by including a broad discussion of the general concepts associated with thresholds and by also providing a sample thresholds document for projects that occur on unincorporated Santa Clara County lands. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) defines a thresholds as an identifiable quantitative, qualitative or performance level of a particular environmental effect. Non-compliance with a threshold results in a determination that a particular project may have a significant effect on the environment and necessitates preparation of an Environmental Impact Report.

CEQA encourages public agencies to adopt thresholds to standardize the significance determination analysis for proposed projects. A lead agency’s adoption of thresholds assists in reducing ad hoc significance determinations by providing reliable standards. Thresholds provide certainty and efficiency for the public as well as lead agency staff who prepare environmental clearance documents. Thresholds also assist in determining whether or not an EIR will need to prepared, the scope of an EIR, and any responsible agencies.

The paper begins with a general discussion relating to the evolution of environmental thresholds and continues with a more narrow focus on thresholds and how they relate to CEQA and development within California. Chapter 2 relies on the background data provided in Chapter 1 to establish thresholds for each resource group SI identified within the Santa Clara County Planning Office Initial Study checklist. The thresholds themselves are derived from a variety of sources including: CEQA statute; Santa Clara County (County) regulations, policies and guidelines; and a variety of Official State Agency publications such as the “Bay Area Air Quality Management District CEQA Guidelines” and the “California Agricultural Land Evaluation and Site Assessment Model”. This section is organized alphabetically and also provides a background discussion of each specific resource within the context of its setting, variety of tables, figures and maps have been provided to supplement the text and assist the reader. The report concludes by providing information regarding recent legislative updates that impact thresholds and addresses the future of thresholds within the CEQA A process.

The goal of this report is to provide the reader the background information to understand the concept of thresholds and how they relate to development within California and more specifically, unincorporated Santa Clara County. It also assists other lead agencies within California, who are in the process of creating a necessary thresholds document for their jurisdiction.

Download

Share

COinS