Association of Environmental Professionals - Monterey Bay

Tuesday, March 7, 1:45 PM – 3:15 PM

Special ECAT Progress Report – A Collaboration of AEP and APACA to Enhance CEQA

CEQA has recently experienced an increase in proposed amendments that have been counterproductive to sound environmental planning. To address the recent increase in concerns raised by the Legislature and others about the time, expense, and effectiveness of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process, the American Planning Association – California Chapter (APACA) and Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) are assembling a practitioner team to offer recommendations for statutory and regulatory enhancements to CEQA. The group is tentatively called the Enhanced CEQA Action Team (ECAT). The mission of the ECAT Team, with its core group of 25 highly experienced consultants, local government planners, and attorneys, is to recommend legislative and regulatory changes to enhance CEQA's efficiency and effectiveness in achieving its original purposes. This mission is founded on the premise that CEQA is an important and constructive element of California public agency decision-making. Learn about ECAT's progress to date and provide input into its future actions.

Speakers:

• Curtis Alling, AICP, Ascent Environmental, Inc. (speaker and moderator)
• Pete Parkinson, AICP, Sonoma County Community Development Agency (speaker)
• Terry Rivasplata, AICP, ICF International (speaker)