Jan 10, 2025 Advocacy | CEQA/NEOAOn December 23, RCRC submitted extensive comments to the Assembly Select Committee on Permitting Reform, including several suggestions to improve the California Environmental Quality Act.
In the letter, RCRC noted that local governments act as permitting agencies for a wide variety of discretionary projects and as permit applicants for an equally diverse array of public safety, environmental protection, transportation, and infrastructure projects.
RCRC expressed concerns about the proliferation of “by right” permitting processes and increasing statewide preemption of local land use authority. RCRC also expressed frustration with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife permit review process; suggested creating a one-stop state permit coordination process, streamlining permitting for fuels treatment and forest restoration projects, and aligning CEQA and National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) exemptions; urged development of model ordinances for consideration by local governments; suggested ways to bolster local permitting capacity and increase technical assistance; identified ways to expedite solid and organic waste facility permits; and urged updating the state’s Cortese List to allow limited use of CEQA exemptions of formerly contaminated sites that have been remediated. Finally, RCRC shared its perspective and work on improving state, local, and utility permitting for renewable energy and energy storage projects.
The Select Committee began exploring ways to improve and streamline permitting in June 2023. RCRC was pleased to present to the Select Committee at its first meeting on June 18th. The Select Committee subsequently held several other meetings on various permit reform topics throughout the state over the next several months.
The Assembly Select Committee on Permitting Reform is expected to issue a report on opportunities for permit reform later this month.
RCRC also joined several other local government associations on a separate permit reform letter coordinated by the Association of California Water Agencies, which can be found here.
For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate John Kennedy.
