Thresholds of Significance in Environmental Planning
Determining the significance of environmental impacts under CEQA is one of the most difficult and important decisions agencies must make, yet many agencies have not developed a consistent approach to judging significance and agonize over this issue on a project-by-project basis. Thresholds of significance are a proven method of streamlining the CEQA process. Learn about significance thresholds, the process for developing them and success stories.
Topics include:
- The concept of "significance" under CEQA
- The definition of environmental thresholds
- Advantages and disadvantages of developing thresholds
- Criteria for determining significance
- Reliance on other agencies' regulatory standards
- Adopted thresholds
- Legal problems
- Discussing thresholds for greenhouse gases
- Developing thresholds for any impact discipline
- The relationship between thresholds, planning policies and standards
Section Notes
This is an online, remote learning course, which consists of content and curriculum that is taught with pre-recorded and real time lectures, in addition to real-time lecture/Q&A sessions with the instructors. Pre-recorded lectures and live sessions are accessed via our Canvas learning system and Zoom.
This course is open July 13 – July 15, with a live session on July 15, 2:00-4:00 PM PST.
We allow registration through the first morning of the course. We cannot extend course access beyond 11:59 PM on 7/15, so students pursuing a late enrollment acknowledge that they will have less time to complete the materials. Please contact the course representative with any questions.
Enrollment Policies
Drop requests (withdraw with a refund) will be approved, less a $30 processing fee, if the request is received seven calendar days before the course begins. Click here to view complete enrollment policy information including details on withdrawals and transfers.