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LAW OFFICES OF <br />BEST BEST & KRIEGER LLP <br />reflect more accurately the pre -project environmental conditions. As long as lead agency explains <br />the reason for the change and indicates why a different date is appropriate, it may use this approach. <br />This case reiterates the well-established principle that an EIR must contain analysis <br />in addition to raw data. When an EIR lacks such analysis, a decision based only on the raw data may <br />be considered an abuse of discretion. <br />In Sherwin Williams Company v. South Coast Air Quality Management District <br />(2001) 86 Cal. App. 4th 1258, the Court found that the requirements of CEQA were satisfied when <br />the California Air Resources Board (ARB) approved more stringent paint regulations that had been <br />adopted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District as part of its certified regulatory <br />program. Although the ARB had not conducted separate environmental analysis of the new <br />regulations, the Court held that the ARB's action of approving the paint regulations did not constitute <br />a "project" because the definition of "project" does not extend to each of the several approvals <br />sequentially issued by different governmental agencies where there are no changes to the EIR or new <br />adverse information. <br />In Eller Media Company v. City of Los Angeles (2001) 87 Cal. App. 4th 1217, the <br />plaintiff sought to have its applications for permits to construct three outdoor billboard structures <br />deemed approved because the City had failed to make a determination on the applications within the <br />time limits prescribed in the Permit Streamlining Act. However, the provisions of the Permit <br />Streamlining Act that result in a project being deemed approved when the public agency fails to act <br />on the application prior to the deadline are not triggered until CEQA review is complete. The <br />plaintiffs allegation that CEQA analysis was not performed in a timely manner was insufficient to <br />deem the applications approved, and plaintiffs action was therefore dismissed. <br />In Berkeley Keep Jets Over the Bay Committee v. Board of Port Commissioners <br />(2001) 91 Cal. App. 4th 1344, the Court made it clear that public agencies are required, under <br />CEQA, to make a good faith effort at disclosure by using the best available data to assess a project's <br />environmental impacts. The plaintiffs challenged the Board of Port Commissioners' certification of <br />an EIR for an airport development plan designed to accommodate anticipated growth in passenger <br />and cargo activity at Oakland International Airport. The Court found the EIR inadequate on several <br />grounds, including the Port's reliance on outdated and inaccurate data in assessing the increased <br />emission of toxic air contaminants from airplane engines. The Port had received comments on the <br />draft EIR suggesting that the figures it was using to represent the levels of toxic air contaminants <br />were outdated and it should use more recent figures which the California Air Resources Board <br />considered to be the best available data for jet exhaust. However, the Port continued to rely on an <br />earlier -published document, which indicated substantially lower levels of toxic air contaminant <br />emissions from jet exhaust. The Court held that the Port did not meet the standard of a "good faith <br />effort of full disclosure" required by CEQA because the Port was aware of more accurate data but <br />rejected it without sufficient explanation. <br />In Napa Citizens for Honest Government v. Napa County Board of Supervisors <br />(2001) 91 Cal. App. 4th 342, the Court ruled that a public agency may delete an earlier -adopted <br />mitigation measure as long as it states a legitimate reason for such action and supports that statement <br />R'�TUB\Cn Y,6259(3 <br />