California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: Gypsum Canyon Veterans Cemetery.

Assembly Member Quirk-Silva's proposal to exempt the Gypsum Canyon Veterans Cemetery from California Environmental Quality Act requirements aims to expedite construction of Orange County's first veterans cemetery. The exemption would apply to all activities and approvals necessary for completing the cemetery project, with the provision set to expire on January 1, 2030.

The bill's findings note that Orange County, home to over 90,000 veterans and multiple military bases, remains the state's largest county without a veterans cemetery. Local support includes formal resolutions from the county and all 34 cities, along with endorsement from the Veterans Alliance of Orange County. The County has deeded 200 acres of public land to the Orange County Cemetery District for the project, which includes both veterans and public cemetery sections.

Prior environmental reviews include a 2005 planning-level environmental impact report and a 2024 EIR addendum approved by the Anaheim City Council. The bill's authors assert that the cemetery represents less intensive land use than previously analyzed scenarios, making additional CEQA review unnecessary. The Orange County Board of Supervisors, Cemetery District, and Department of Veterans Affairs have collaborated on development and operational planning for the facility.

The legislation includes an urgency clause for immediate implementation upon passage, requiring a two-thirds vote threshold. While local agencies must determine which activities qualify for the exemption, the bill specifies that associated costs can be covered through local service charges and fees rather than state funding.