California Code of Regulations
Title 14 - Natural Resources
Division 6 - Resources Agency
Chapter 3 - Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act
Article 2 - GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Section 15021 - Duty to Minimize Environmental Damage and Balance Competing Public Objectives
Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) CEQA establishes a duty for public agencies to avoid or minimize environmental damage where feasible.
(b) In deciding whether changes in a project are feasible, an agency may consider specific economic, environmental, legal, social, and technological factors.
(c) The duty to prevent or minimize environmental damage is implemented through the findings required by Section 15091.
(d) CEQA recognizes that in determining whether and how a project should be approved, a public agency has an obligation to balance a variety of public objectives, including economic, environmental, and social factors and in particular the goal of providing a decent home and satisfying living environment for every Californian. An agency shall prepare a statement of overriding considerations as described in Section 15093 to reflect the ultimate balancing of competing public objectives when the agency decides to approve a project that will cause one or more significant effects on the environment.
1. Change without regulatory effect amending NOTE filed 10-6-2005 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2005, No. 40).
Note: Authority cited: Section 21083, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 21000, 21001, 21002, 21002.1 and 21081, Public Resources Code; San Francisco Ecology Center v. City and County of San Francisco, (1975) 48 Cal. App. 3d 584; Laurel Hills Homeowners Association v. City Council, (1978) 83 Cal. App. 3d 515.
