Definitions

The public agency with the primary responsibility for carrying out or approving a project. For the Cannabis Program EIR, the Lead Agency is the County of San Diego, Planning and Development Services.

A public agency with discretionary authority over a project, or a portion of it, but which has not been designated as the Lead Agency. For the EIR, the Responsible Agency is the Department of Cannabis Control.

A notice sent by the lead agency to notify the responsible agencies, trustee agencies, and involved federal agencies that the lead agency to prepare an EIR. This is the first step in the EIR process.

Scoping is the first step in the EIR process. Scoping is designed to examine a project early in the EIR review process. During the scoping process, the public and agencies are encouraged to provide input. Scoping is intended to identify the range of issues stemming from the proposed project, alternatives, and mitigation measures.

The Draft EIR is the first review document released as part of the EIR process. The Draft EIR is an informational document that details any significant environmental effects that the proposed project may cause and potential ways to minimize or mitigate those effects. The Draft EIR also includes a reasonable range of alternatives to the proposed project.

The Final EIR consists of: (1) the draft EIR, (2) comments and recommendations received on the Draft EIR; (3) the responses of the lead agency to the significant environmental points raised during the public comment period; (4) a list of individuals and agencies who commented on the draft EIR; (5) any additional information added by the lead agency (ex. revisions to the Draft EIR and Appendices).

Project Alternatives are project designs that vary from the proposed project. The designs meet most of the proposed project’s objectives while still lessening environmental impacts.

A substantial, or potentially substantial, harmful change in any of the physical conditions within the Cannabis Program area including land, air, water, minerals, flora, fauna, ambient noise, and objects of historic and aesthetic significance. Economic or social changes by are not considered a significant effect on the environment.

Measures to lessen, or minimize, significant environmental impacts of the Cannabis Program on the physical environment. An example would be requiring pre-construction biological surveys for projects proposed in certain sensitive habitats.