Pre-Conference Workshops

CEQA Workshop

Workshop length: Half-day, Jan 10, 8:30 am -Noon

 Presenter: Keith G. Wagner is a partner in the law firm Lippe Gaffney Wagner LLP, and a 2000 graduate with top honors of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Hall School of Law, UC Davis, California. Mr. Wagner's practices focuses on representing citizen groups and non-profit organizations in land use and environmental protection matters. Mr. Wagner successfully represented CNPS in the case CNPS v. City of Rancho Cordova, and its negotiations with the University of California regarding the siting of the UC Merced campus. Mr. Wagner also serves as the Chair of CNPS' Litigation Committee.

Workshop content

This half-day workshop will present an overview of the CEQA process, and how local citizens can effectively use the CEQA process to protect native plants and plant communities. This workshop is co-sponsored by the Planning and Conservation League, a statewide leader in defending and strengthening CEQA's important public participation and environmental protection purposes.

Workshop Goals

• Understanding what actions/activities constitute a CEQA “Project”
• Understanding the Differing Public Participation Processes for CEQA Exemptions, Negative Declarations and EIRs
• Learning strategies for effective CEQA comments that persuade decisionmakers and, where necessary, the Courts.
• Understanding How Developers and Project Applicants Game the CEQA System to Co-Opt and Corrupt Public Officials
• Understanding the Public’s Critical Role as Defenders and Private Enforcers of CEQA

Outline of major topics

1. Overview of CEQA’s process
2. Negative declaration / Mitigated negative declaration
3. Environmental Impact Report
4. Certification, Project Decision, and Recirculation
5. Legal challenge of an agency’s decision
6. Legislative Hostility to CEQA In an Era of Corporate Greed and Hegemony
7. Closing activities / reflection