The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is a California statute that requires government agencies to analyze, consider, and make available to the public, information about potential environmental impacts that may result from proposed discretionary development projects. This analysis is accomplished through the creation of an initial study analyzing potential impacts from the project proposed, and from this analysis, subsequent preparation of either a negative or mitigated negative declaration (statements of either "no environmental impact" or "no impact with mitigation in place") or an environmental impact report (significant impact(s) likely - detailed environmental analysis required).
For more information on CEQA guidelines, please visit California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).