INITIAL STUDY ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES (ISAGs)
COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE
Project Overview
Background
The California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, is the state law that requires public agencies, including the County of Ventura, to study and disclose potential environmental impacts of projects and adopt any feasible measures to reduce or eliminate those impacts before a project is approved.
One of the main goals of CEQA is to inform decision-makers and the public about potential environmental impacts of proposed projects. The County of Ventura carries out CEQA through local guidelines that are included in two documents: the Ventura County CEQA Implementation Manual (“Implementation Manual”) and the Ventura County Initial Study Assessment Guidelines (“ISAGs”).
The Implementation Manual and the Ventura County ISAGs ensure that the County uses consistent procedures and evaluation criteria when examining the physical impacts of a public or private project on the environment. The ISAGs allow for a streamlined and transparent process for the public, project applicants, consultants, County staff, and decision-makers to review the environmental effects of a project.
The Project
The Implementation Manual was last updated in 2010 and the ISAGs were last updated in 2011. A comprehensive update to both documents is needed to align these documents with current County policies, CEQA requirements, and other state and federal regulations. The County is currently seeking feedback on the updated Implementation Manual and the ISAGs from April 24, 2025 through May 24, 2025. Comments can be submitted online, or by email, phone, or mail. Click here to find out how to submit your comments.
Public participation is a key element of the CEQA process, so it is important that the community learn about these documents and provide feedback to ensure that the environmental review process continues to be efficient and transparent.
Click here to learn more about the project (PDF).
Get Involved
Please join us at the event below to learn more about the project. County staff will be available to answer questions on the project.
Open House
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Museum of Ventura County
100 E. Main St., Ventura, CA 93001
Comments on the updated Implementation Manual and the ISAGs are accepted from April 24, 2025 through May 24, 2025. Comments can be submitted online, by email, phone, or by mail.
Give Your Input online
Click Hereor Email Your Comments
ISAGS@ventura.orgClick here to download the input form as a PDF.
Updated Initial Study Assessment Guidelines
The Ventura County Initial Study Assessment Guidelines inform the public, project applicants, consultants, and County staff on environmental impact thresholds and ways to determine whether a project has the potential to cause a significant negative effect on the environment. The Assessment Guidelines cover a wide range of topic areas, including air quality, transportation, water quality, biological resources, and many others listed below.
Updates to the Initial Study Assessment Guidelines include clarifications and consolidation of environmental thresholds, methods for impact analysis, and the addition of a glossary and resources to support impact analysis.
Click on the following links to review the updated Assessment Guidelines or explore the updated individual topic areas individually below.
Proposed Updated Document
Resources
Land Use
Hazards
Public Facilities/Services
Agriculture and Forestry Resources
Greenhouse Gases
Biological Resources
Beaches and Coastal Sand Dunes
Water Resources
Paleontological Resources
Mineral Resources
Historical Resources
Archaeological Resources
Tribal Cultural Resources
Land Use and Planning
Population and Housing
Aviation Hazards
Noise and Vibration
Geological Hazards
Wildfire Hazards
Hazardous Materials and Waste
Public Services
Utilities and Service Systems
Transportation
CEQA Implementation Manual
The Ventura County CEQA Implementation Manual was formerly titled the Administrative Supplement to the State CEQA Guidelines. The Ventura County CEQA Implementation Manual includes procedures to comply with CEQA, such as filing public notices of proposed projects. Key updates to the CEQA Implementation Manual include revisions to incorporate the most current CEQA requirements, use of technical consultants, and procedures to amend the document.
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Contact Us
Inquiries may be directed to Cast Planner, Jessica Nguyen, at (805) 654-5037 or by e-mail to ISAGS@ventura.org
