Frequently Asked Questions

The State of California (State) has emphasized reducing GHG emissions and preparing for the associated weather changes that can affect sea-level rise, wildfires, water supply, and other risks. Assembly Bill 1279, signed in 2022, outlines targets to achieve net zero carbon emissions or be ‘carbon neutral’ as soon as possible and ensure that statewide anthropogenic emissions are reduced to at least 85% by 2045.

In addition to the State mandate, the 2011 General Plan Update (2011 GPU) Program Environmental Impact Report adopted several mitigation measures to minimize the significant effects of climate change in connection with the build out of the General Plan, including the development of a CAP to reduce GHG emissions consistent with State targets applicable at that time.

The CAP is a planning document that contains a series of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next 30 years. These measures are administered through multiple County departments and focus on activities that occur within the unincorporated area of the region, and within County-owned facilities, regardless of location.

Review the Draft CAP here. 

The California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA (pronounced “SEE-kwuh”), is a state law created in 1970. It requires all California state and local public agencies to study the potential significant environmental impacts of a proposed project prior to approval.

The objectives of CEQA are to:

• Disclose potential significant environmental impacts
• Identify ways to avoid or reduce significant environmental impacts
• Prevent environmental damage by requiring implementation of feasible alternatives or mitigation measures
• Foster interagency coordination and public participation
• Show that the agency is considering environmental implications of actions prior to making decisions

View the CEQA Training Video for an overview of CEQA for community members and stakeholders.

The Draft SEIR analyzes the potential environmental impacts from CAP implementation. It also addresses the court’s ruling on the County’s 2018 CAP and will supplement the 2011 General Plan Update Programmatic EIR.

The project entails the County’s CAP that includes measures and actions to reduce GHG emissions from the unincorporated county and County operations. The CAP necessitates changes to Goal COS-20 and Policy COS-20.1 of the 2011 County of San Diego General Plan Update (GPU) and mitigation adopted in the certified Final Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for the 2011 GPU (Mitigation Measures CC-1.2, CC-1.7, and CC-1.8). 

As a result, an associated action of the project is a General Plan Amendment to the 2011 GPU, which includes revised mitigation measures and a revised Mitigation, Monitoring, and Reporting Program for the 2011 GPU PEIR. The project also includes a threshold of significance for GHG emissions and revised Guidelines for Determining Significance for Climate Change, as well as a CAP Consistency Review Checklist. 

All of these actions constitute the project analyzed in the Draft SEIR.

The Draft SEIR identified potentially significant environmental impacts to the following issue areas: Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Hydrology and Water Quality, Noise, Transportation, Cultural and Paleontological Resources, Land Use and Planning, and Tribal Cultural Resources.

All project documents, including the Draft SEIR, can be viewed online by clicking here. Instructions for accessing printed copies of the Draft SEIR are also available on the website.

Comments on the Draft SEIR must be received no later than January 5, 2024, at 4:00 PM and may be submitted using three options:

• Through Engage San Diego using the online “SEIR Comment Form" feature; OR
• E-mail at CAP@sdcounty.ca.govwith “SEIR public comment” in the subject line; OR
• Mail written comments to the attention of Meghan Kelly at the County of San Diego PDS, 5510 Overland Avenue, Suite 310, San Diego, CA 92123