Air District publishes first-of-its-kind environmental justice guidance

CEQA is a state law that generally requires government agencies to inform decision makers and the public about the potential environmental impacts of residential, commercial, industrial, and other projects, and to reduce those environmental impacts to the extent feasible.

The environmental justice chapter in the Air District’s 2022 CEQA Guidelines – the first of its kind to be published in California – recognizes the policy imperative to help address long-standing and emerging inequities in the siting, design, and development of potential sources of pollution. Apart from mitigating the impacts of pollution, this guidance will promote meaningful participation of community members in all phases of the environmental and land use decision making process.

Air District staff will present the new chapter to environmental professionals throughout the state on Tuesday, April 25, at the 2023 Association of Environmental Professionals Conference. Other agencies in California are encouraged to utilize the guidance document to center environmental justice, health, and equity when evaluating projects under CEQA.

View press release(205 Kb PDF, 1 pg, posted 5/5/2023)( Tagalog | tiếng Việt | Español | 中文 ).