21080.4. (a) If a lead agency determines that an environmental impact report is required for a project, the lead agency shall immediately send notice of that determination by certified mail, email, or an equivalent procedure to each responsible agency, the Office of Planning and Research, and those public agencies having jurisdiction by law over natural resources affected by the project that are held in trust for the people of the State of California. Upon receipt of the notice, each responsible agency, the office, and each public agency having jurisdiction by law over natural resources affected by the project that are held in trust for the people of the State of California shall specify to the lead agency the scope and content of the environmental information that is germane to the statutory responsibilities of that responsible agency, the office, or the public agency in connection with the proposed project and which, pursuant to the requirements of this division, shall be included in the environmental impact report. The information shall be specified in writing and shall be communicated to the lead agency by certified mail, email, or an equivalent procedure not later than 30 days after the date of receipt of the notice of the lead agency’s determination. The lead agency shall request similar guidance from appropriate federal agencies.
(b) To expedite the requirements of subdivision (a), the lead agency, any responsible agency, the Office of Planning and Research, or a public agency having jurisdiction by law over natural resources affected by the project that are held in trust for the people of the State of California, may request one or more meetings between representatives of those agencies and the office for the purpose of assisting the lead agency to determine the scope and content of the environmental information that any of those responsible agencies, the office, or the public agencies may require. In the case of a project described in subdivision (c) of Section 21065, the request may also be made by the project applicant. The meetings shall be convened by the lead agency as soon as possible, but not later than 30 days after the date that the meeting was requested.
(c) To expedite the requirements of subdivision (a), the Office of Planning and Research, upon request of a lead agency, shall assist the lead agency in determining the various responsible agencies, public agencies having jurisdiction by law over natural resources affected by the project that are held in trust for the people of the State of California, and any federal agencies that have responsibility for carrying out or approving a proposed project. In the case of a project described in subdivision (c) of Section 21065, that request may also be made by the project applicant.
(d) With respect to the Department of Transportation, and with respect to any state agency that is a responsible agency or a public agency having jurisdiction by law over natural resources affected by the project that are held in trust for the people of the State of California, subject to the requirements of subdivision (a), the Office of Planning and Research shall ensure that the information required by subdivision (a) is transmitted to the lead agency, and that affected agencies are notified regarding meetings to be held upon request pursuant to subdivision (b), within the required time period.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 97, Sec. 1. (AB 819) Effective January 1, 2022.)
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