StateofCalifornia–CaliforniaEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyDepartmentofToxicSubstancesControl________________________________________CEQAExemptionEvaluationChecklistforVCPsMarch12,2008OfficeofPlanning&EnvironmentalAnalysisStateofCalifornia–CaliforniaEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyDepartmentofToxicSubstancesControlRANOEChecklistDATE\@"M/d/yy"10/6/24OfficeofPlanning&EnvironmentalAnalysisCALIFORNIAENVIRONMENTALQUALITYACTEXEMPTIONEVALUATIONPROCESSFORVOLUNTARYCLEANUPPROJECTS_______________________________________________________________________________________TheCaliforniaEnvironmentalQualityAct(CEQA)Pub.ResourcesCode,div.13,§21000etseq.wassignedintolawin1970.ThebasicpurposesofCEQAaretoinformgovernmentaldecision-makersandthepublicaboutthesignificantenvironmentaleffectsofproposedactivities,identifywaystoavoidorsignificantlyreduceenvironmentaldamage,usefeasiblealternativesormitigationmeasurestoavoidsignificantdamage,anddisclosetothepublicwhyagovernmentagencyapprovedaprojectifsignificanteffectsareinvolvedUnlikeothersingle-topicenvironmentallaws,CEQArequirespublicagenciestoevaluatethepotentialeffectsofprojectsonafull-rangeofphysicalenvironmentalconditionsincludingland,air,water,minerals,flora,fauna,noise,andobjectsofhistoricaloraestheticsignificance.DTSCisresponsibleforcarrying-outorapprovinghazardouswaste-relatedprojectshavingthepotentialtoaffecttheenvironment,includingvoluntarycleanupprojects.TheseprojectsaresubjecttotheenvironmentalreviewprocessofCEQAbecausethey1)involvetheexerciseofdiscretionarypowersbyDTSC;2)willresultinadirectorreasonablyforeseeableindirectphysicalchangeintheenvironment;and3)area“project”asdefinedbytheStateCEQAGuidelinesCal.CodeRegs.,tit.14,§15000etseq..TheStateCEQAGuidelinesallowDTSCtoevaluatewhetheraprojectsubjecttoitsdiscretionaryapprovalmaybeexemptfromCEQAIbid,§15378beforehavingtoundertakeanInitialStudytodeterminewhetheranEnvironmentalImpactReport(EIR)oraNegativeDeclarationmustbepreparedortoidentifythesignificanten