California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Compliance
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) applies to proposed projects initiated by, funded by, or requiring discretionary approvals from state or local government agencies. CEQA Guidelines Section 15367 states that a lead agency is “the public agency which has the principal responsibility for carrying out or approving a project.” The Board of Trustees of the California State University is the lead agency responsible for compliance with CEQA for the proposed project. As the lead agency, the CSU must complete environmental review to determine if implementation of the proposed project would result in significant adverse environmental impacts.
The potential for significant adverse environmental impacts is determined based on the nature and scope of a project. Pursuant to Section 15063 of the CEQA Guidelines, the CSU may conduct an Initial Study, or a preliminary evaluation of the project, to determine if a project may have a significant effect on the environment. If the CSU determined that there is substantial evidence that any aspect of the project may cause a significant effect on the environment, the CSU shall prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The purposes of an EIR are to provide full disclosure of the potentially significant environmental effects of the project to the public and their decision-makers and to identify means to mitigate (i.e., reduce, avoid, or eliminate) these impacts through alternatives to the project or feasible mitigation measures. CEQA intends that preparation of an EIR will be a public process that provides meaningful opportunities for public input with regard to environmental effects.
Beach Building Services manages the CEQA process, with the support of consultants and CSU Chancellor’s Office staff.
CAMPUS MASTER PLAN UPDATE
CSULB has embarked on a process to update its Campus Master Plan. For more information on the Campus Master Plan Update, please click here.
CSULB is currently preparing an EIR for the Campus Master Plan Update in accordance with CEQA (Public Resources Code, Section 21000 et seq.) and the CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Section 15000 et seq.) to analyze the potential significant impacts associated with the Campus Master Plan Update.
The Notice of Preparation and Initial Study are available for 30-day public review and comment period, commencing on April 21, 2022, and concluding on May 20, 2022. Please click on the “Notice of Preparation (April 2022)” and “Initial Study (April 2022)” link to the top right to access these documents.
Virtual Open House
A virtual open house will be available throughout the 30-day public comment period for the Notice of Preparation. The virtual open house includes an overview of the project, an overview of the CEQA process, and a timeline for environment review for the proposed project. Comments can also be submitted through the virtual open house, and project documents including the Notice of Preparation and the Initial Study can be accessed in the virtual open house. Please access the virtual open house at: www.csulb-cmp-eir.com.
Public Scoping Meetings
Two public scoping meetings will be held to obtain input on the scope of the contents of the EIR, as well as to present information on the proposed project components. The meetings will consist of one in-person meeting and one virtual meeting to be hosted on an online platform. The meeting date and location information is as follows:
Virtual (Online) Meeting:
Date: Thursday, April 28, 2022
Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Location: Zoom Conference https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84052010155
Meeting ID: 840 5201 0155
Or join by phone at +1 (720) 707-2699 / Meeting ID: 840 5201 0155
In-Person Meeting:
Date: Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Location: The Pointe, located in the Walter Pyramid at CSULB. Free parking will be provided at Parking Lot G11 adjacent to the Walter Pyramid, located at 1792 Merriam Way. Please park in the spots reserved for the Scoping Meeting and follow the signs to The Pointe.
Ways to Provide Comment on the Draft EIR:
All written comments on the scope of the Draft EIR must be submitted by 11:59pm on May 20, 2022, and may be submitted in any of the following manners:
1. The Virtual Open House
Access the virtual open house at: www.csulb-cmp-eir.com. Provide your scoping comments by clicking the Speech bubble for “Registration and Scoping Comments” at the table.
2. In-Person
Provide your scoping comments in writing at the in-person scoping meeting held on May 4, 2022, from 5:30pm-7:30pm. The meeting will be held at The Pointe, located in the Walter Pyramid at CSULB (near Lot G11 at the southeast corner of E. Atherton Street and Merriam Way).
3. Email: Melissa.Soto@csulb.edu
Please include “Master Plan Update EIR Comments” in the subject line.
4. Mail
Melissa Soto, Program Planner
California State University, Long Beach
Office of Design + Construction Services
1331 Palo Verde Avenue
Long Beach, California 90815
5. Online
Provide your scoping comments online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5H7PBN5 or by scanning the QR code below with your mobile device. To scan the code, open the camera app on your mobile phone and move your camera so that the QR code is clearly visible in the frame. Click on the QR code’s URL, surveymonkey.com, when it pops up. Follow the instructions in the survey to provide your scoping comments online.
