15043. AUTHORITY TO APPROVE PROJECTS DESPITE SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS

A public agency may approve a project even though the project would cause a significant effect on the environment if the agency makes a fully informed and publicly disclosed decision that:

• (a) There is no feasible way to lessen or avoid the significant effect (see Section 15091); and

• (b) Specifically identified expected benefits from the project outweigh the policy of reducing or avoiding significant environmental impacts of the project. (See: Section 15093.)

Note: Authority cited: Section 21083, Public Resources Code; Reference: Sections 21002 and 21002.1, Public Resources Code; San Francisco Ecology Center v. City and County of San Francisco , (1975) 48 Cal. App. 3d 584; San Diego Trust & Savings Bank v. Friends of Gill , (1981) 121 Cal. App. 3d 203.

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