The California Environmental Quality Act: What Cultural Resource Managers Should Know about the Fundamental Process and Larger Context

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is the state’s basic environmental protection law.  Enacted in 1970, CEQA requires that state and local government agencies evaluate and disclose environmental impacts of projects to decision makers and the public prior to approving or carrying out a project; identify ways to avoid or prevent environmental damage; provide reasons to the public for approval of projects that damage the environment; encourage interagency cooperation; and enhance public participation in the planning process.

This one hour webinar will explain how archaeological and historical studies conducted under CEQA fit within the larger process of the law’s implementation.  We will review the state legislature’s intent in passing the law, discuss how CEQA has evolved over time through legislation and litigation, and examine how CRM fits into the larger process of CEQA compliance from initial project application to lead agency certification of final environmental documents.

We will also discuss the legislative and regulatory requirements for mitigation measures, how successful measures should be written, and examine recent litigation and case law and how it affects CEQA practice.  The program is not intended to explain the nuts and bolts of how CRM is done in the CEQA context, but will help experienced practitioners understand how their work fits into the larger process and how to provide the best possible guidance to project proponents and regulators. 

ACRA’s expert presenter is Barry Price. Mr. Price is the Managing Principal and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Applied EarthWorks, Inc. (Æ), one of California’s premier cultural resource consulting firms. He directs the company’s Central Coast operations from the San Luis Obispo office, and assists Æ’s other offices with CEQA compliance. His CEQA practice spans 43 years, during which time he has witnessed or been a part of most major developments in the law and its application. Barry has also worked for the California Department of Parks and Recreation, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and several other CRM consulting firms. In addition to his duties at Æ, since 2008 Barry has been a lecturer in the Department of Social Sciences at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He is a graduate of Sonoma State University, where he received his B.A. in Anthropology and M.A. in Cultural Resource Management.