2014-069 - Final Environmental Impact Report No. 2014-01

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2. Introduction 2.1 PURPOSE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires that all state and local governmental agencies consider the environmental consequences of projects over which they have discretionary authority prior to taking action on those projects. This environmental impact report (EIR) has been prepared to satisfy CEQA, as set forth in the Public Resources Code Section 21000, et seq., and the State CEQA Guidelines, 14 California Code of Regulations, Section 15000, et seq. The environmental impact report (EIR) is the public document designed to provide decision makers and the public with an analysis of the environmental effects of the proposed project, to indicate possible ways to reduce or avoid environmental damage, and to identify alternatives to the project. The FIR must also disclose significant environmental impacts that cannot be avoided; growth inducing impacts; effects not found to be significant; and significant cumulative impacts of all past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future projects. Pursuant to CEQA Section 21067, the lead agency means "the public agency which has the principal responsibility for carrying out or approving a project which may have a significant effect upon the environment" The City of Santa Ana has the principal responsibility for approval of the Harbor Boulevard Mixed Use Transit Corridor Plan. For this reason, the City of Santa Ana is the CEQA lead agency for this project. The intent of the EIR is to provide sufficient information on the potential environmental impacts of the proposed Harbor Boulevard Mixed Use Transit Corridor Plan to allow the City of Santa Ana to make an informed decision regarding approval of the project. Specific discretionary actions to be reviewed by the City are described later in Section 3.4, Intended Uses of the EIR. This FIR has been prepared in accordance with requirements of the ■ California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) of 1970, as amended (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq) ■ State Guidelines for the Implementation of the CEQA of 1970 (herein referenced as CEQA Guidelines), as amended (California Code of Regulations Sections 15000 et seq.) The overall purpose of this FIR is to inform the lead agency, responsible agencies, decision makers, and the general public of the environmental effects of the development and operation of the proposed Harbor Boulevard Mixed Use Transit Corridor Plan. This FIR addresses the potential environmental effects of the project, including effects that may be significant and adverse; evaluates a number of alternatives to the project; and identifies mitigation measures to reduce or avoid adverse effects. October 2014 Page 2 -1