Adequacy and Certification of the Final EIR

The Lead Agency must certify the Final EIR before a project may be approved. Certification consists of two steps. First, the agency must conclude that the document has been completed in compliance with CEQA. Second, the agency must have reviewed and considered the Final EIR prior to approving the project. Additionally, the Lead Agency must find that the Final EIR reflects its independent judgment (Public Resources Code § 21082.1(c)(3).)

The Final EIR must contain specific information according to the CEQA Guidelines Sections 15120 through 15132.³ The various elements of the Final EIR satisfy these CEQA requirements. The Final EIR consists of the June 2004 Draft EIR, together with the Comments, Responses to Comments and Changes make in the Draft EIR. Section III of the Final EIR contains the comments received on the draft EIR and individual responses to those comments.⁴

The Commission must conclude that the Final EIR is in compliance with CEQA before approving SoCalGas' application for the sale of the lots. The basic purpose is to ensure that the environmental document is a comprehensive, accurate, and unbiased tool to be used by the lead agency and other decisionmakers in addressing the merits of the project. The document should embody "an interdisciplinary approach that will ensure the integrated use of the natural and social sciences and the consideration of qualitative a well as quantitative factors."⁵ It must be prepared in a clear format and in plain language.⁶ It must be analytical rather than encyclopedic, and emphasize alternatives over unnecessary description of the project.⁷ Most importantly, it must be "organized and written in such a manner that [it] will be meaningful and useful to decisionmakers and the public."⁸

We believe the Final EIR meets these tests. It is a comprehensive, detailed, and complete document that clearly discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the proposal by SoCalGas and the various alternatives. We find that the Final EIR is the competent and comprehensive informational tool that CEQA requires it to be. The quality of the information therein is such that we are confident of its accuracy. We have considered that information in approving the SoCalGas project as described in this decision.

Therefore, we herein certify the Final EIR.

³ Cal. Admin. Code Sections 15122-131.

⁴ CEQA Guidelines Section 15132.

⁵ Id., Section 15142.

⁶ Id., Sections 15006(q) and (r), 15120, 15140.

⁷ Id., Sections 15066, 15141; Pub. Res. Code Section 21003(c).

⁸ Pub. Res. Code Section 21003(b).