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RFQ#20-100: Environmental and Planning Services CHAMBERS City of Santa Ana GROUP connection with proposals for agency action. Some key changes to NEPA involve the use of categorical exclusions (CEs), as well as cumulative impacts and GHG analyses. The final rule provides that agencies may use CEs to define actions that normally do not have a significant effect, and may adopt another agency's CE determination or portions thereof if the two actions subject to the determinations are substantially similar. Additionally, the cumulative impacts analysis is no longer required as part of a NEPA review. With respect to GHG, CEQ explains in the preamble to the final rule that "the analysis of the impacts on climate change will depend on the specific circumstances of the proposed action" and that agencies "will consider predictable trends in the area in the baseline analysis of the affected environment." Although cumulative impact analyses are not required, CEQ clarified that consideration of the cumulative and indirect effects of climate change are not precluded by the final rule. If Project development schedule allows, there could be advantages to pushing Project schedules to take advantage of a favorable regulatory environment prior to January of 2021, dependent on the results of the election. CEQ has set the effective date of the final rule as September 14, 2020, thus working to get Notice of Intent (NOI) s filed or other relevant project milestones for Project development prior to January would take advantage of those regulations for Project NEPA documentation, which are likely to be reversed if a new administration were to assume office in January, 2021. NEPA Literature Review and Scoping Meeting(s) After receiving a NTP from the City, Chambers Group will be prepared to meet with the City and project Applicant(s), when applicable, at a Project Initiation/Kick-off Meeting to discuss the project. Chambers Group will receive project plans, and other project related information and studies. This information will be reviewed in order to determine the appropriate NEPA documentation to be prepared. Chambers Group will assist City Staff in developing Scoping meetings and identify the appropriate responsible/trustee agencies and other relevant stakeholders should the project require these meetings (such as during the preparation of an EIS. While it is not necessary to conduct scoping meetings during the preparation of Environmental Assessment, this could be helpful in data collection for a project. NEPA Documents NEPA Categorical Exclusion (CE) There are certain conditions under which NEPA does not apply to an action. These conditions include, but are not limited to statutory exemptions, emergencies, and classified information. Any of these, and some additional exempted actions, may involve the City to some degree, by way of location of the action within the City. Thus, the City may have a role in the NEPA process as a Review Agency, or as a Lead or Co -Lead Agency. As such, the City may be responsible for preparation of some type of record of environmental consideration, documenting the applicability of the NEPA CE. EA / Findings of No Significant Impact (EAIFONSI) An EA is to be a concise public document that focuses on those environmental areas where potential adverse impacts are anticipated. It will provide sufficient evidence and analysis to determine whether or not an EIS is required. The EA would be limited to an analysis of potential significant environmental issues which area identified through a Scoping process with the public and review agencies. The EA will include brief descriptions of the need for the proposed project, alternatives to the proposed project, the environmental impacts of the proposed project and its alternatives, and a listing of agencies and persons consulted. Based on the Final EA, Chambers Group will prepare the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) that outlines the reasons why the federal agency has concluded that no significant environmental impacts would result from implementation of the proposed action. The FONSI will inform the decision record for the federal agency. EIS An EIS would be required if a federal action would result in the significant effects of the quality of the human environment. If the need for an EIS is identified, Chambers Group would follow a similar approach as applicable for an EA. Chambers Group would prepare the N01 for publication in the Federal Register for the Project. The comments received on the NOI will be used to further refine those impact areas that will be analyzed in the EIS, if needed. The comments reviewed will be discussed with the City and federal agency to determine whether the scope of the EIS should be expanded. The N01, comments received, and all correspondence will be included in the EIS appendices. The EIS will address direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts relevant to the proposed action. Following the public review period, the Final EIS would incorporate comments, responses, and changes to the Draft EIS (DEIS). The EIS process ends lP�/, Est b �ilt`� 1979 ,35-t w%vw.chambersgroupinc com