Conclusion

While the record in this proceeding was sufficient to reach a determination that CEQA is applicable to the present WMP and AL 88, there is not a sufficient record before the Commission to make a proper determination regarding the scope of the environmental review the Commission must perform. For example, it is not clear whether an EIR or a negative declaration may be the proper CEQA document for the Commission to prepare. We are aware that Los Angeles County has prepared an EIR for the Newhall Ranch Development, and that the EIR was recently found to be deficient by the State of California Superior Court, Kern County. It is our understanding that the EIR will be revised to address a number of environmental issues. To the extent that the environmental impacts that the Commission would properly need to consider in making its decision(s) in these proceedings are already being reviewed under CEQA by another agency, we see no reason to duplicate that effort here.

In order to determine the proper scope of the environmental review that the Commission must itself perform, we order Valencia to file with the Commission a Proponent's Environmental Assessment (PEA) consistent with Rule 17.1 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, which addresses the service area extensions proposed in the WMP and AL 88. We direct that the PEA be filed with the Commission within 60 days of the date of this order. We also direct Valencia to submit a copy of the revised Newhall Ranch Development EIR as soon as that document becomes available from Los Angeles County. It is our intent that a review of these documents will provide the Commission with sufficient information to potentially limit the scope of necessary environmental review by this agency.