What's New

Postings on this page will be highlighted for 90 days.  Postings older than 90 days can be accessed on the Posting History page.

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• 07-02-25 The Environmental Management Office (EMO) has updated the SER Volume 1, Chapter 16 - Climate Change. This new chapter features updated hyperlinks and content as well as changes to federal policies related to climate change. Coming soon, EMO will be posting updated capacity increasing and non-capacity increasing Climate Change Annotated Outlines.

• 06-30-25 The Writing Templates have been updated to reflect the new Environmental Document Annotated Outline. Practitioners are strongly encouraged to use the Writing Templates in tandem with the Annotated Outline to assist them in creating environmental documents that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The updated Writing Templates can be found on the SER Forms and Templates page.

• 06-30-25 The Cultural Studies Office has updated the SER Volume 2 to reflect changes to the 2024 Section 106 Programmatic Agreement (Exhibit 1.1) and Public Resources Code 5024 Memorandum of Understanding (Exhibit 1.2).

• 06-23-25 The Environmental Management Office has created a new Environmental Document Annotated Outline. This new Annotated Outline combines the guidance from the five previously posted Annotated Outlines listed below:
  • Initial Study/Environmental Assessment
  • Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment
  • Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement
  • NEPA Only Environmental Assessment
  • NEPA Only Environmental Impact Statement
  A Summary of Changes document has also been created that lists the major changes made and provides information on when the new Annotated Outline needs to be used. The Summary of Changes document and the new Annotated Outline can be found on the SER Forms and Templates page.

• 05-16-25 New guidance for “Direction Regarding Federal Environmental Changes to Date” has been posted on the SER Other Guidance page. The guidance contains a brief summary of recent changes to NEPA regulations and Executive Orders, and provides guidance on language to be used in NEPA documents.

• 05-09-25 New interim guidance on “Change to Effect Analysis under NEPA and Instructions on Cumulative Impact Analysis under CEQA” has been posted on the updated Guidance for Preparers of Cumulative Impact Analysis webpage.

• 04-17-25 The Air Quality Project-Level Conformity Process Flowchart is updated to provide information on current processes.

• 04-01-25 DEA has updated its guidance "Environmental Requirements for Encroachment Permits" to include information on utility installations and to add clarifying information regarding "the whole of the action." 

In addition, the SER Forms and Templates page has been reorganized to allow for easier navigation.