Cortese List
Environmental Impact Assessment is intended to assure a complete understanding of the likely effects upon the environment of a proposed development project, and to identify measures to minimize or compensate for any impacts which are expected. The three major documents in the environmental review process are:
Initial Study: This document is the preliminary analysis prepared by staff to determine whether a negative declaration or an environmental impact report should be prepared;
Negative Declaration: This document states the project will not have or can, based on available information, be prevented from having, a significant adverse impact on the environment (mitigated negative declaration); and
Environmental Impact Report (EIR): This document is a detailed report on the estimated significant avoidable and unavoidable environmental impacts of the project.