Technical Reports: Environmental Impact Reports

Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs), also known as Environmental Impact Statements, are published by government agencies to meet reporting requirements for development projects in environmentally-sensitive areas. These reports identify potential negative impacts of development and describe mitigating measures or alternatives to the initial proposal.

Within California, EIRs and related documents are frequently disseminated under the authority of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). 

The EIRs in the UCSB Library collection are listed in UC Library Search. Others can be located by searching Melvyl and requesting the document via Interlibrary Loan. To find these materials, search the name of the project or site along with the words environmental impact. 

California Reports

• Cal/EPA Library - Environmental Impact Report Database
• CEQAnet
  • Indexes CEQA documents submitted for state review since 1990, and includes information about researching older projects. Many of these materials can be requested via ILL.
• Check with libraries near the project site and SDPL for local government documents and archival holdings.
• The California State Library has a large uncataloged collection filed by State Clearinghouse number.

Outside of California

• National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP)
  • Site for free EPA print and digital documents.
• EPA National Library Catalog
• BLM Library
• NUtran (Northwestern University Transportation Library)
  • Many of the items in this collection can be requested via ILL.
• ESPIS