The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is California's broadest environmental law, established in 1970. CEQA helps to guide the public decision-making process, develop transparency, and ensure that land-use decisions take the full impact of the development on natural and human environments into account. CEQA applies to all discretionary projects proposed to be conducted or approved by a public agency within California, including private projects requiring discretionary government approval. It is considered one of the most powerful environmental protection laws in the nation.
