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Department of Transportation recommending the Board:
1) Receive the workshop information on the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Project Impact Assessment Guidelines for the implementation of Senate Bill 743 (2013); and
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 165-2021, Adopting the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Project Impact Assessment Guidelines as El Dorado County Vehicle Miles Traveled Threshold of Significance and for Evaluation of Project Impacts in the Tahoe Basin Under the California Environmental Quality for implementation of Senate Bill 743 for projects in the unincorporated areas of the Tahoe Basin.
FUNDING: N/A
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On September 27, 2013, the Governor signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 743, Environmental quality: transit oriented infill projects, judicial review streamlining for environmental leadership development projects, and entertainment and sports center in the City of Sacramento. SB 743 was originally enacted to address transportation issues related to the development of the Golden One Center in downtown Sacramento. The legislative intent of SB 743 was to 1) ensure that the environmental impacts of traffic, such as noise, air pollution, and safety concerns, continue to be properly addressed and mitigated through the California Environmental Quality Act; and 2) more appropriately balance the needs of congestion management with statewide goals related to infill development, promotion of public health through active transportation, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
In January 2019, the Natural Resources Agency finalized updates to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines including the incorporation of SB 743 modifications. The CEQA Guidelines changes were approved by the Office of Administrative Law and are now in effect. Specific to SB 743, Section 15064.3(c) states, “A lead agency may elect to be governed by the provisions of this section immediately. Beginning...
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