The California Environmental Quality Act (commonly known as CEQA and found at Public Resources Code Section 2100 et. seq.) was enacted in 1970 with the finding that the maintenance of a quality environment is a matter of statewide concern. The Legislature, in adopting CEQA, declared, as a matter of policy, that public agencies are not to approve projects as proposed if the significant environmental effects of such projects can be substantially reduced through feasible alternatives or feasible mitigation measures.
CEQA procedures were established by the Legislature to assist public agencies in the systematic identification of the significant environmental effects of proposed projects. These effects are identified in two types of environmental documents: Environmental Impact Reports and Negative Declarations.
Environmental Impact Reports ("EIRs") containing findings of significant impacts are required to identify mitigation measures needed to reduce impacts to a less than significant level. Negative Declarations can also identify mitigation measures that reduce impacts to a less than significant level.
In 1988, the Legislature added to CEQA a requirement that a public agency, in approving feasible mitigation measures contained in EIRs and Negative Declarations, must also adopt a mitigation monitoring and reporting program. Such a program is to be designed to ensure compliance with the changes to a project and the conditions of approval of a project which were required by the public agency in order to reduce or avoid significant environmental effects.
The purpose of this Ordinance is to set forth the procedures and requirements to be followed in this County with regard to the preparation and adoption of, and compliance with, mitigation monitoring and reporting programs for proposed projects when those programs are necessary to meet the requirements of CEQA.
In adopting this Ordinance, the Board of Supervisors is mindful of the Legislature's intent in enacting CEQA. Protection of the public health, safety, and welfare was a fundamental reason for the passage of CEQA.
This Ordinance is in furtherance of the legislative intent of CEQA. In that regard, it is necessary to the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare that civil enforcement measures be utilized in addition to criminal penalties when this Ordinance is violated. In particular, when there is noncompliance with an adopted mitigation monitoring and reporting program and when that noncompliance presents a serious and immediate threat to the public health, safety and welfare, a stop work order is the best possible means of minimizing this threat. Other civil and administrative remedies such as injunctive relief, revocation of permit, or abatement of a nuisance will serve to protect the environment, and the health, safety, and welfare of the people of this County when a stop work order is either not required, not observed, or not sufficient by itself.
(SCC 0793 § 1, 1990)