California Environmental Quality Act: expedited judicial review: sustainable aviation fuel projects.

Assembly Member Blanca Rubio's legislation expands California's environmental review streamlining provisions to include sustainable aviation fuel projects, allowing the Governor to certify up to three such facilities for expedited judicial review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The measure adds these projects to existing categories of infrastructure developments eligible for streamlined environmental review, provided they meet strict emissions and environmental protection requirements.

Under the bill's provisions, qualifying sustainable aviation fuel projects must manufacture, process, store, distribute, or transport aviation fuel that meets established industry standards without using fossil fuels in production. Projects involving existing major emission sources must demonstrate reduced air pollution compared to baseline conditions, while new facilities cannot cause significant air quality impacts as determined by local air districts.

The legislation maintains existing requirements for certified projects, including concurrent preparation of administrative records during environmental review and resolution of legal challenges within 270 days. Project applicants must cover costs associated with judicial proceedings and record preparation. The measure also requires projects to avoid or minimize environmental impacts in disadvantaged communities and implement any necessary mitigation measures that directly benefit affected areas.

For private sustainable aviation fuel projects, applicants must demonstrate through binding commitments that their developments will not result in net increases in greenhouse gas emissions, including from employee transportation. The bill authorizes the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation to issue guidelines for project applications and certification, though these guidelines are exempt from standard rulemaking procedures.