McQueen

1. Introduction

California state government officials are required “to make decisions with environmental consequences in mind” by the California Environmen tal Quality Act (CEQA), Public Resources Code section 21000 et seq. (Bozung v. Local Agency Formation Com. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 263, 283 [ 118 Cal.Rptr. 249 , 529 P.2d 1017 ].) Public agencies should give at least preliminary consideration to the possible environmental effects of any proposed activity which is not exempt from CEQA by statute or administrative regulation. (§§ 15002, subd. (k), 15061, subd. (a); Code, §§ 21080, subd. (c), 21100, 21151; No Oil, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles (1974) 13 Cal.3d 68, 74 [ 118 Cal.Rptr. 34 , 529 P.2d 66 ]; City of Carmel-by-the-Sea v. Board of Supervisors (1986) 183 Cal.App.3d 229, 240 [ 227 Cal.Rptr. 899 ].)

Loren McQueen (petitioner) challenges the decision of the Board of Directors of the Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District (the district) to file a notice of CEQA exemption for its activities described below. The issue is whether the district undertook a project within the meaning of CEQA and if so, its nature.

Petitioner appeals after the superior court essentially denied…