You will find here links to current Draft and Final Environmental Impact Reports, Public Comments, Proposed Wording and Meeting notes and so on.
This page strikes new ground it that the Dark Sky community has generally payed no attention to Environmental Impact Reports as a tool for advocacy.
In California and many other states and the Federal Government are important planning documents.  In California EIRs are the action document required under CEQA the California Environmental Quality Act.
At this time this pages appears some what disjointed, primarily because it is a "collection of notes" and copies of other previously worked on pages.

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Back to Outdoor Lighting Regulations in California
Back to General Plan Notes

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An Environmental Impact Report is prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 (Public Resources Code Division 13). An Environmental Impact Report is a informational document which, when required shall be considered by every public agency involved prior to its approval or disapproval of a project. The purpose of an Environmental Impact Report is to provide public agencies with detailed information about the effect that a proposed project is likely to have on the environment; to list ways in which any adverse effects of such a project might be minimized; and to suggest alternatives to such a project.  It may also triger conditions on the related project.
Public Resource Code Divison 13
CEQA Home page

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CEQA
What is CEQA and its purpose?
CEQA stands for California Environmental Quality Act. The state law was enacted in 1970 for protection of environmental resources.

The basic purposes of CEQA are to:

1. Inform governmental decision-makers and the public about the potential, significant environmental effects of proposed activities
2. Identify the ways that environmental damage can be avoided or significantly reduced.
3. Prevent significant, avoidable damage to the environment by requiring changes in projects through the use of alternatives or mitigation measures when the governmental agency finds the changes to be feasible
4. Disclose to the public the reasons why a governmental agency approved the project in the manner the agency chose if significant environmental effects are involved
5. Encourage early coordination among agencies in reviewing projects
6. Provide better opportunity for public participation

Section 15126 of the CEQA Guidelines requires that all aspects of a project must be considered when evaluating the project’s impact on the environment. As part of this analysis, the EIR must identify the following:
• significant environmental effects of the proposed project;
• significant environmental effects that cannot be avoided if the proposed project isimplemented;
• significant irreversible environmental changes that would result from implementation of theproposed project;
• the project’s growth-inducing impacts;
• mitigation measures proposed to minimize significant effects; and
• alternatives to the proposed project

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As a place holder the following link provides some references.
List of General Plan & Environmental Impact Reports referencing lighting

Notes / Examples by County --

Sacramento County-
Department of Environmental Review and Assessment (DERA)



City of Sacramento-


City of Citrus Heights-


Placer County

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Environmental Impact Review (EIR) - Related References

• Somoma County General Plan Update,  Comments relating to Light and Glare 17 Oct 02 (.pdf) 
  
• Somoma County General Plan Update,  Comments relating to Light and Glare 15 Aug 02 (.pdf) 
• Sonoma Country Inn Draft EIR (2002),  5.8 VISUAL AND AESTHETIC QUALITY (.pdf) 
  
• Gallo of Sonoma Winery Expansion Draft EIR (2002),  3H. Aesthetics and Visual Resources (.pdf)  
• Notice of Preparation - Joint EIR/EIS for the Campus Parkway Project (.pdf)
• Point Reyes Light - August 17, 2000 Review of housing (News story -light pollution)
• Redevelopment of South Weymouth Naval Air Station, MA - ERI Response
• QUECHAN TRIBE FIGHTS FOR SPIRITUAL HERITAGE
• Jones Payne Architects & Planners, Inc address the Light Pollution Issue under Env. Mit..
• Surrounding Communities to Carry Brunt of Negative Impact of a Downtown Ballpark
• City of Malibu Minutes Planning Commission Meeting Hughes Research Laboratories (.pdf)
• Carson Creek subdivision in  El Dorado County, California (News story - light pollution)
• UC Riverside,  Long Range Development Plan (LRDP)   Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Comments
• Almiki Ranch project comment on the EIR Indian Lakes Estates Dec. 99
• Sand Hill Road EIR Comments to Menlo Park City Council, Jul. 96  Calif.
• Campus Development -  Meeting with Stanford - March 17, 2001 (light pollution)
• 2000 Bickford Ranch Specific Plan EIR 21305-002-043 Placer County, Calif. (pdf - Night Lighting & Glare)
• Cal Poly Master Plan Update Natural Environment ~ Guiding Principles Draft June 25 1999
• Eagle Mountain Landfill Issues San Bernardino County Calif.  April 06, 2000
• S99-072; Log No. 01-14-024; Air Touch ... (EIR)  Site San Diego County, Calif.  (.pdf - light pollution)
• MARIPOSA COUNTY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE  Planning Fair Planning Fair Comments 3/21/01
• Brooktrails Township, Calif.  - Specific Plan, - 6. Environmental Resources. (light pollution)
• Kruger National Park,  South African  -  ERI Progress Report - March 2001 (Ref.  light pollution)
• Sand & Gravel Mining Project,  Soledad Canyon, Los Angeles County, Calif.  (EIR) - Response 9-21-99

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Brain Storming -
EIR Elements -
Aesthetics and Visual Resources Element
Viewsheds - often included under the topic AESTHETICS, are not the views of the night sky, milky way etc. part of the Visual Components and Viewsheds.
aesthetics
visual character - The night sky is part of  a places "Visual Caharacter"
scenic vista

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