05/29/2001 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• After the public comment period, the City decides if it has enough information to determine if the project will cause significant environmental effects. If it will not cause such effects, the City makes a "negative declaration" meaning that an EIS is not necessary. If the review process reveals, in the judgement of the City, that the project will cause significant environmental effects, the City makes a "positive declaration" meaning an EIS is necessary. An EIS is a very large, very expensive study. It is not unusual for an EIS cost a million dollars and typically takes several years to complete. A step -by -step summary of the process follows. 1. Project proposer submits data. • Normally, the developer completes the EAW form and the City reviews and amends it. • It is the City's document and the City has a responsibility to ensure, to the best of its ability, that it is complete and accurate. 2. City approves the EAW for distribution. 3. There is a list of agencies to which the EAW must be distributed. 4. Availability of the EAW is published in the EQB Monitor. (see attached example) City provides press release to newspaper. 5. Thirty -day public comment period begins on day of publication. 6. After comment period closes, City determines if it has enough information to make a determination. • If not, it can postpone the decision for 30 more days to gather information. 7. If City has sufficient information, it should make a determination within 30 days of the close of the comment period. • A negative declaration means there will be no significant environmental effects from the project and an EIS is not necessary. • A positive declaration means an EIS is necessary. 8. The City provides its decision within five days to the distribution list and everyone who submitted a comment. 9. The City must respond to all substantive comments and distribute the responses. The attached EAW is the main part of the document —the questions and answers. There are several hundred pages of exhibits that go along with it. They are listed on page 28.