The full text of CEQA and the State CEQA Guidelines, as they may be amended from time to time, are incorporated by reference as if fully set out, and shall supersede any inconsistent provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 957 § 1, 1995)
A.
The county, as a lead agency, may charge and collect reasonable fees to recover the estimated costs of reviewing or preparing environmental documents. Fees shall be charged in accordance with fee ordinances as adopted and amended by the board of supervisors.
B.
In the event that an applicant fails or refuses to deposit such fees as are determined to be required, the decision-making body may suspend or deny the project without prejudice. In such a case, it shall be presumed that without preparation of adequate environmental documents, required findings for project approval cannot be made.
C.
Additional fees may be required by the California Department of Fish and Game as per California Fish and Game Code Section 711.4 and California Code of Regulations Section 753.5 to defray the cost of managing and protecting fish and wildlife. If the initial study determines that a project has a significant impact on fish and wildlife resources, the applicant must pay a fee of eight hundred fifty dollars for an EIR or one thousand two hundred fifty dollars for a negative declaration. These fees apply to both public and private projects. For private projects, the applicant shall be responsible for paying these fees. No project shall be vested, or final, until these fees are paid.
(Ord. 957 § 1, 1995)
The planning department shall maintain the following forms to be used in the environmental review process:
A.
Environmental information form - to be completed by applicant;
B.
Initial study checklist - to be completed by staff;
C.
Notice of availability for public review - to be completed by staff;
D.
Notice of completion - to be completed by staff;
E.
Notice of decision - to be completed by staff;
F.
Notice of determination - to be completed by staff;
G.
Notice of exemption - to be completed by staff;
H.
Notice of preparation - to be completed by staff.
(Ord. 957 § 1, 1995)
All environmental documents prepared pursuant to these procedures shall be retained in the appropriate files of the planning department and may be used by the county or other parties for such purposes as would further the environmental policies of the county.
(Ord. 957 § 1, 1995)
The following definitions supplement the definitions used in the State CEQA Guidelines.
means a person who proposes to carry out a project that needs a discretionary approval, lease, permit, license, certificate or other entitlement for use or financial assistance from one or more public agencies when that person applies for governmental approval or assistance.
means project description information, including the environmental information form, and other information deemed necessary by the county to evaluate the project.
means the board of supervisors of the county of Inyo.
means commissions in Inyo County include the planning commission and water commission.
means the county of Inyo. "County" includes the county staff and any other agency, body, commission, committee, person or persons designated by the board to perform that function or any other board-authorized decision-making body.
means the person, commission, agency or board that has approval power over the project and is responsible for taking final action on a project under state law or county ordinances. Where appeals from subordinate decision-making bodies are provided for by law and an appeal is taken, the appellate body making the final decision shall be deemed the decision-making body.
means decision by the county that an application is no longer valid.
means any local agency of which the Inyo County board of supervisors is the governing board (e.g., cemetery and street lighting districts).
means a project that needs to obtain discretionary approvals, permits or funding from the county.
means any local public agency that has an independent governing board that does not consist of the Inyo County board of supervisors.
means the Inyo County local agency formation commission, which is an independent body responsible for regulating the boundaries of cities and special districts (Government Code Sections 56000 et seq.).
means the planning commission of the county of Inyo which consists of seven members appointed by the board of supervisors: five voting members and two nonvoting members consisting of the county administrative officer and the public works director.
means the planning department of the county of Inyo.
means projects requiring county discretionary approvals, permits or funding and proposed to be carried out by individuals, nonpublic agencies or other developers.
means projects proposed to be carried out by a department of the county or by a dependent special district governed by the board of supervisors.
means the process by which the county may resume processing a suspended application. Following submittal of the requested information, environmental review continues from the point reached before suspension and mandatory CEQA time periods resume.
means plants and animals that are legally protected under the state or federal Endangered Species Act or other regulations, and species that are considered sufficiently rare by the scientific community to qualify for such listing.
means an agency, department or other division within the county responsible for processing a permit or similar entitlement or initiating a project subject to the requirements of CEQA.
means a delay of thirty days or more by an applicant in providing requested information or required submittals.
means the Inyo County water commission, which consists of five members all of whom shall be residents of Inyo County.
(Ord. 957 § 1, 1995)