Comprehensive Update of the Ventura County Initial Study Assessment Guidelines and Ventura County CEQA Implementation Manual (Case No. PL24-0099)

The County of Ventura is proposing comprehensive updates to the Ventura County Initial Study Assessment Guidelines (ISAGs) and the Ventura County California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Implementation Manual. These documents ensure that the County uses consistent procedures and evaluation criteria when examining the physical impacts of a public or private project on the environment within the County’s unincorporated areas. Key updates to the Implementation Manual include integrating updated CEQA requirements, procedures to amend the document in the future, and County agency responsibilities. Key updates to the ISAGs include consolidated sections of similar topics, removal of certain sections, alignment with Appendix G in the State CEQA Guidelines, updated thresholds and methods for analyzing potential project impacts (including the Noise and Vibration Assessment Guidelines, which is a supplemental guidance document), and incorporation of certain General Plan programs and policies.