2016-019 - California Environmental Quality Act

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Mater Dei High School Parldng Structure and School Expansion Project :i Environmental Impact Report 1.0 STATEMENT OF FACTS AND FINDINGS 1.1 INTRODUCTION The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reytures that a Lead Agency issue two sets of findings prior to approving a project that will generate a significant impact on the environment. The Statement of Facts and Findings is the fast set of findings where the Lead Agency identifies the significant impacts, presents facts supporting the conclusions reached in the analysis, makes one or more of three findings for each impact, and explains the reasoning behind the agency's findings. The following statement of facts and findings has been prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Public Resources Code Section 21081. CEQA Guidelines Section 15091 (a) provides that: No public, agency shall approve or carry out a project fr!r n/hieb tin BIR has been certified which idem foes one, or more tegnijicant environmental effects of the project unless the public agency maker one or mare written findings for each of those rignoceinl effects; accompanied by a brief explanation of the rationale for each findws There are three possible finding categories available for the Statement of Facts and Findings pursuant to Section 15091 (a) of the CEQA Guidelines. (1) Changes or alterations have been requbrod hi, or incorporated into, the project which avoid or ubstankally lessen the sl,g f1cant environmental effect as identi ad in the final EIR (2) Siwh changes or alterations are within the reeporatibility and jurisdiction of anotherpaablic dAeng and not The agony making the finding. Such changes have been adopted by sucb other agency or can and should be adopted by such other agent'. (3) Specdjic economic, legal, social, technological, or other considerations, including provision of employment oppodunities for hzghly trained workers, make in/easible the mitigation measures or prrojeet alternatives identified in the final EIR. The Statement of Overriding Considerations is the second set of findings. Where a project will cause unavoidable significant impacts, die Lead Agency may still approve a project where its benefits outweigh the adverse impacts. Further, as provided in the Statement of Overriding Considerations, the Lead Agency sets forth specific reasoning by which benefits are balanced against effects, and approves the project. The City of Santa Ana, the CEQA Lead Agency, finds and declares that the proposed Mates Del High School Parking Structure and School Expansion Project Environmental Impact Report (EIR) has been completed in compliance with CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines. The City of Santa Ana (the "City ") finds- and certifies that the EIR was reviewed and information contained in the EIR was considered prior to approving the proposed Mater Del .High School Panting Structure and School Expansion Project, herein referred to as the "project ". Statement of Facts and Findings 1 June 2015