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Caltrans > SER

Last Updated: Tuesday, February 7, 2012 5:25 PM

SER - What's New

Postings on this page will be highlighted for 90 days. For future reference, go to the appropriate ser section.



Forms & Templates

1-26-12: The SER Forms and Templates webpage was updated to provide the most recent versions of the NOD and NOE forms, which were both revised by the State Clearinghouse to include the project applicant pursuant to AB 320 (Statutes of 2011). Links to these forms in Chapters 34, 35, 36, and 37 have been updated as well.

07-12-11: The revised Annotated Outlines (AOs) have been posted on the SER. The following AO sections have been updated:

  • Air Quality section: updated to reflect the latest guidance, as well as updated links and tables, including the addition of an attainment status column to the State and Federal Criteria Air Pollutant Standards, Effects, and Sources Table.
  • Biological Environment section: The Wetlands and Other Waters subsection was updated to highlight federal CWA Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines, and to add links to current USACE manuals and guidance. USACE RGL 05-02 was added to this subsection, and along with RGL 08-02, provides the specifics of the time frame for the validity of jurisdictional determinations (JDs). The T&E Species subsection was updated to specify that per 50 CFR 402.12(e) federal endangered species lists should not be older than 180 days. T&E Species Guidance was also revised to clarify essential fish habitat requirements pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976.
  • Climate Change section (joint documents only): updated to reflect the current status of legislation, as well as updated links and graphics. The methodology for completing climate change analysis remains the same as the previous AO version.
  • Land Use section: guidance was updated to highlight the need to assess the consistency of project alternatives with State, Regional, and Local Plans and to document the assessment. Noise section: updated per the new California DOT noise policy protocol approved by FHWA for new or reconstruction highway projects. This new Protocol becomes effective on July 13, 2011 for all Federal Aid projects.
  • Paleontology section: updated pursuant to the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (16 USC 470aaa).
  • Water Quality and Stormwater Runoff section: updated to more fully integrate the requirements of U.S. EPA's Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines (U.S. EPA CFR 40 Part 230) into guidance for compliance with the federal CWA

06-21-11: NEPA/CEQA Re-Validation form was revised in the second category under NEPA Conclusion- Validity to clarify that with additional documentation, the original ED or CE remains valid.

MOUs/MOAs

No updates at this time

new iconOther Guidance

09-12-2011: Caltrans staff and consultants preparing compliance documents under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act are encouraged to use the "Tract Housing in California, 1945-1973: A Context for National Register Evaluation" document posted in the "Other Guidance" section of the SER for the survey and evaluation of post-World War II houses and housing tracts.

09-07-11: The Division of Environmental Analysis (DEA) has developed the "Alternatives Analysis Frequently Asked Questions" to provide guidance on the development of alternatives, including requirements for NEPA documents, requirements for CEQA documents, when avoidance alternatives are required, the difference between a design option and an alternative, and other important considerations.

06-09-11: Guidance on Incorporating Sea Level Rise is now available. This guidance provides a framework for determining when and how to address sea level rise impacts on the Department's projects during the planning and project initiation phases. The planning scenarios used in this guidance are consistent with those recommended by the Coastal Ocean Climate Action Team.

Policy Memos

08-16-11: Project Initiation Documents and the Preliminary Environmental Analysis Report, Kelly C. Dunlap, July 28, 2011. This policy memo clarifies when a PEAR is needed and reinforces the level of detail necessary for a PEAR. The intent of the PEAR is to provide a concise report outlining the issues for the environmental document, and any assumptions made in relation to those issues.

08-04-11: Policy Implications of Sunnyvale West Neighborhood Association et al v. City of Sunnyvale, 190 Cal. App. 4th 1351 (2010), Kelly C. Dunlap, July 28, 2011. This policy memo discusses the requirement to compare environmental impacts of a proposed project to baseline conditions as required by CEQA, and it clarifies the Department's approach for traffic modeling in regard to the proposed build project and baseline conditions.

06-23-11: Clarification Regarding Federal Endangered Species List Validity Jay Norvell, June 22, 2011. A policy memo was released to clarify that per 50 CFR 402.12(e), federal endangered species lists should not be older than 180 days.

New Item Icon Volume 1 - New/Revised Content

2-6-12: Chapters 35, 36, and 37 have been updated to reflect changes pursuant to AB 209 (Statutes of 2011), which amended CEQA to require that the Notice of Availability specify how the environmental document shall be provided in electronic format.

1-9-12: SER Volume I Chapters 35, 36 and 37 have been updated to reflect the increase in Department of Fish and Game's CEQA document filing fees effective January 1, 2012.

08-18-2011: Changes to Chapter 38 are as follows:

  • Quality Control:
    • Resource/Technical Specialist Review was slightly modified to state that where there is no consultation/coordination involved on an issue, no comment received on that issue, and no other reason to update the information on that resource/technical specialty area between the draft and final environmental document, no technical specialist review of that issue area is required for the final environmental document.
    • Technical Editor review was modified to clarify that no Caltrans technical editor review is required for an environmental document prepared by a local agency or its consultant. The local agency and its consultant are responsible for technical editing of the environmental documents they prepare.
  • Statewide Audit Coordinator changed from Scott Williams to Cindy Adams.
  • Various minor wording changes throughout to reflect that the Pilot Program is no longer new.

08-16-11: Project Initiation Documents and the Preliminary Environmental Analysis Report, Kelly C. Dunlap, July 28, 2011. This policy memo clarifies when a PEAR is needed and reinforces the level of detail necessary for a PEAR. The intent of the PEAR is to provide a concise report outlining the issues for the environmental document, and any assumptions made in relation to those issues.

06-28-11: SER Volume 1, Chapter 14, Biological Resources, Volume 3, Chapter 3, Waters of the U.S. and the State, and the ED Review Checklist form have been updated per Jay Norvell's June 22, 2011 memo: "Clarification Regarding FESA List Validity".

6/16/11: Chapter 12 has been revised to include the requirements of the new Noise Protocol (May 2011).

New Item Icon Volume 4 - Community Impact Assessment

10-24-11: Volume 4 of the Environmental Handbook-Community Impact Assessment has been updated to include recent methodologies for conducting a Community Impact Assessment. A chapter on Environmental Justice has been included. Information on creating a community profile has been expanded and includes new sources for data. There are also updated processes for analyzing farmland impacts including instructions for completing the required farmland conversion forms.

New Item Icon Training

No updates at this time