No decision to carry out or approve an act which
may have a significant effect upon the environment shall be made until
after the filing and consideration of a final environmental impact
statement. The lead agency's decision whether or not to approve an
action which has been the subject of an environmental impact statement
shall be made within 30 calendar days of the filing of a final environmental
impact statement.
When the lead agency decides to carry out or
approve an action which may have a significant effect upon the environment,
it shall make the following findings in a written statement:
A. Consistent with social, economic and other essential
considerations of state policy, from among the reasonable alternatives
thereto, the action to be carried out or approved is one which minimizes
or avoids adverse environmental effects to the maximum extent possible,
including the effects disclosed in the relevant environmental impact
statement.
B. Consistent with social, economic and other essential
considerations of state policy, all practicable means will be taken
in carrying out or approving the action to minimize or avoid adverse
environmental effects.
For public information purposes, a copy of the
determination shall be filed immediately in the same manner as the
draft environmental impact statement. The lead agency shall maintain
a file open to public inspection of all notices of determination prepared
by it.