UC CEQA Handbook: 2.7 - Structuring the LRDP EIR

Purpose of Preparing a LRDP EIR

The EIR on a LRDP should serve the following purposes:

To satisfy the requirements of CEQA, specifically CEQA Statutes Section 21080.09;

To inform the general public, the local community, responsible and interested public agencies, and the University of the potential environmental effects, possible measures to mitigate those effects, and alternatives to the proposed LRDP program;

To enable The Regents to consider the environmental consequences when deciding whether to approve a LRDP;

To provide project-level review for individual projects were sufficient detail exists to reduce the need for subsequent environmental review; and

To provide a basis for tiering subsequent environmental documents pursuant to the CEQA Guidelines Sections 15152 and 15168(c).

Practical Considerations

The CEQA Guidelines Sections 15082(e), 15140, 15142 and 15147 provide direction for the drafting of EIRs, including LRDP EIRs, that should be followed by each campus. Establishing an adequate level of detail for the project description in the LRDP EIR is critical for guiding the analysis. A LRDP project description should generally contain the following:

A description of the current physical setting of the campus, to set the framework for the description of the LRDP;

A summary of the academic context for the development program;

A statement of the LRDP objectives;

A summary of the key elements of the LRDP (land use designations, population projections, etc.);

A discussion of the development activities anticipated to occur during the LRDP’s planning period, characterizing in particular the various types of construction projects that would occur under the LRDP, as well as operational and maintenance activities such as seismic upgrades and building renovation, utility upgrades, etc.

A summary of the LRDP as it is proposed to meet these objectives and the academic goals of the campus;

A summary description of various contingencies and the resulting scenarios that may come to pass during the lifespan of the LRDP (such as an unanticipated drop in enrollment, a greater-than-expected level of enrollment, capital funding at various levels, various levels of success in developing student housing or achieving automobile use reductions, etc.);

A range of forecasts regarding the likely timeline for buildout of development projected under the LRDP;

To the extent that the information is known, a list of the agencies that are expected to use the EIR in their decision making, a list of permits and other approvals required to implement the project, and a list of related environmental review and consultation requirements required by federal, state or local laws, regulations or policies; and

A discussion of those planning issues being deferred for future analysis, the reason for the deferral, and a description of any specific plans for addressing those issues (such as the future development of implementation plans, campus sub-area master plans, or other planning efforts for off campus facilities, etc.).