15053. DESIGNATION — CEQA Statute and Guidelines (2025

(a) If there is a dispute over which of several agencies should be the Lead Agency for a project, the disputing agencies should consult with each other in an effort to resolve the dispute prior to submitting it to the Office of Planning and Research. If an agreement cannot be reached, any of the disputing public agencies, or the applicant if a private project is involved, may submit the dispute to the Office of Planning and Research for resolution.

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Association of Environmental Professionals 2025

CEQA Guidelines

(b) For purposes of this section, a “dispute” means a contested, active difference of opinion between two or more public agencies as to which of those agencies shall prepare any necessary environmental document. A dispute exists where each of those agencies claims that it either has or does not have the obligation to prepare that environmental document.
(c) The Office of Planning and Research shall designate a Lead Agency within 21 days after receiving a completed request to resolve a dispute. The Office of Planning and Research shall not designate a lead agency in the absence of a dispute.
(d) Regulations adopted by the Office of Planning and Research for resolving Lead Agency disputes may be found in Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Sections 16000 et seq.
(e) Designation of a Lead Agency by the Office of Planning and Research shall be based on consideration of the criteria in Section 15051 as well as the capacity of the agency to adequately fulfill the requirements of CEQA.

Note: Authority cited: Section 21083, Public Resources Code; Reference: Section 21165, Public Resources Code; California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Sections 16000–16041.