A proceeding was initiated to clarify and modify the Commission's application of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to telephone carriers. Currently there is considerable inconsistency in the implementation of this law, since large carriers (ILECs, and CLECs) licensed before a certain date are exempt from requirements to regulate the environmental effects of utility actions (among other provisions). Those exempt from CEQA are required only to satisfy local permitting requirements (for example, when digging a trench). Guidelines for application approvals for new entrants with regard to CEQA are unclear; DRA has suggested a combination of local and PUC environmental oversight for new market entrants.
For questions, please contact Natalie Billingsley at 415 703-1368. The docket is R.06-10-006.
About
Commissioner Assigned: John Bohn on October 11, 2006
ALJ Assigned: Myra J. Prestidge on March 9, 2007
Filer Requested Category:
Preliminary Category: Quasi-legislative
Commission Designated Category:
Filed By: CPUC - TELECOMMUNICATION
The Order Instituting Rulemaking was issued on October 5, 2006. DRA’s Opening Comments were filed on November 9, 2006, and Reply Comments on November 21, 2006.
Workshops were held beginning on December 15, 2006, January 24, 2007 and February 27, 2007, and additional comments were filed after a fourth meet-and-confer.