OPR develops technical advice on issues that broadly affect CEQA practice and land use planning. (Gov. Code, § 65040, subds. (g), (l), (m).) This page provides links to OPR’s Technical Advisories on CEQA and statutes that provide exemptions from CEQA.

These advisories provide general advice and recommendations, which agencies, the public, and other entities may use at their discretion. These advisories do not alter a public agency’s discretion in preparing environmental documents subject to CEQA. OPR does not enforce or attempt to enforce any part of the recommendations contained within the advisories. (Government Code [GC] § 65035 [“It is not the intent of the Legislature to vest in the Office of Planning and Research any direct operating or regulatory powers over land use, public works, or other state, regional, or local projects or programs.”].)

For more information about CEQA generally, links to relevant forms, and information about the State Clearinghouse, please visit our Getting Started page.

Advisory Documents

NEPA & CEQA

This handbook provides practitioners with an overview of NEPA and CEQA as well as suggestions for developing a single environmental review process that can meet the requirements of both statutes. It also provides a framework for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between two or more agencies entering into a joint NEPA/ CEQA review process, and addresses the California Energy Commission (CEC) licensing process, which takes the place of the CEQA process for certain power plants. Developed by the White House Council on Environmental Quality and OPR. ” The handbook provides practitioners with an overview of NEPA and CEQA as well as suggestions for developing a single environmental review process that can meet the requirements of both statutes. The handbook also provides a framework for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between two or more agencies entering into a joint NEPA/ CEQA review process, and addresses the California Energy Commission (CEC) licensing process, which takes the place of the CEQA process for certain power plants.

For More Information

Shannon Clark
Shannon Clark is Land Use Counsel at OPR, where she works with the Legal, Legislative and Planning and Community Development teams on issues related to CEQA, housing, transportation planning and administrative law, including implementation of the CEQA Judicial Streamlining program.
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