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t LEA Advisory #22 June T,1`l095 f Page 2 there is a unique set of circumstances which will determine the appropriate method to reach CEQA compliance. Changes and Existing CEQA Documents In some situations there may be existing CEQA documentation, such as an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), or a Negative Declaration (ND) that adequately addresses the environmental concerns associated with the proposed changes. Only after carefully comparing the project description in the environmental document with the proposed changes, should it be determined that the analysis in the existing document adequately addresses or evaluates the effects associated with the changes. If a previously developed document is being used to support the changes, the specific requirements to determine its adequacy are detailed in CEQA Guideline §15162 (Refer to the attachment for the full text of CCR §15162). In summary the criteria are as follows; ■ Substantial changes in the project , ■ Substantial changes to the circumstances under which the project is undertaken, ■ New information of substantial importance. If a subsequent document is not required, an addendum to an existing document may be necessary. An addendum would be used to make minor changes or additions to the original environmental document. An addendum should be developed only if the criteria requiring subsequent documentation are found not to be applicable. CEQA Guideline §15164 describes aspects associated with an addendum (Refer to the attachment for the full text of CCR §15164). Lead and Resnonsible Agencies The Lead Agency is usually the agency with the first approval and/or broadest approval over a project (i.e. land use permit). If a public agency is carrying out a project they can be Lead Agency (i.e. an expansion of a county operated landfill). A Responsible Agency has a secondary and/or a more limited approval. There may be situations when a Responsible Agency may need to be the Lead Agency for a project. An example of how this might occur for a solid waste facility project is when a planning department determines that a local use permit is not required. In this case the Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) may find that they have the first and/or broadest approval over the project and would need to act as Lead Agency. Changes and CEQA Exemption(s) A lead agency may find that a change is exempt from CEQA analysis (See CEQA Guidelines §15061, and §15300 - §15329 regarding exemptions). The exemption determination and the supporting analysis leading to this determination must be included in the permit package submitted to CIWMB. The proposed Notice of Exemption, or the equivalent (for example a letter or memo containing information detailed in §15062(a](1,2,and 3]), should be used for this purpose. Please be advised that