Environment

The Environmental Planning Division is responsible for fulfilling state and federal environmental requirements and analyzing and helping resolve regional environmental challenges associated with transportation and growth.

In addition, this division is responsible for all regulatory compliance activities required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Federal Clean Air Act to mitigate transportation-related environmental impacts, and for complying with the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), which includes significant new environmental requirements for the planning process. To fulfill these mandates, the Division produces several supporting analyses for each Regional Transportation Plan including Program Environmental Impact Reports, Transportation Conformity Analyses, and Environmental Justice Analyses, as appropriate.

On an ongoing basis, Environmental Planning addresses a broad range of policy issues at the regional scale, with particular emphasis on air quality, habitat conservation, energy, environmental justice, and water. The development of a Regional Comprehensive Plan, promoting and implementing the policy objectives of the Regional Council, is another Division responsibility. A top priority is coordination with a wide spectrum of regional and sub-regional stakeholders, government and regulatory agencies, and elected officials.

Staff members provide support to the Energy and Environment Committee, the Regional Comprehensive Plan Task Force, the Transportation Conformity Working Group, the Solid Waste Task Force, and the Water Policy Task Force. In addition, staff convenes working groups on specific issues, such as environmental justice, open space conservation, and energy, as needed.

Please visit any of our multiple program areas to learn more about current and past projects, to download studies and reports, and to catch up on the latest news, developments and agendas.