Environmental Review

Procedural Matters

SoCalGas filed this application for authorization to sell 36 lots located in Playa del Rey and Marina del Rey and for approval of an additional 48 lots that had been sold between 1950 and 1998. After reviewing the application and the PEA, Commission staff determined that the project should be reviewed under CEQA.

CEQA (CEQA, Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.) applies to discretionary projects to be carried out or approved by public agencies. A basic purpose of CEQA is to "inform governmental decision-makers and the public about the potential significant environmental effects of the proposed activities." (Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, hereafter CEQA Guidelines, Section 15002.)

Because the Commission must issue a discretionary decision (i.e., grant § 851 authority) without which the proposed activity will not proceed, the Commission is the Lead Agency for this project and is responsible for compliance with CEQA. CEQA requires that the Commission consider the environmental consequences of a project that is subject to its discretionary approval. The Commission retained consultants to conduct an environmental review of the project. The Commission's staff oversaw the consultants' work.