AB 1139: California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: public access: nonmotorized recreation.

The bill aims to extend an exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to allow public access to certain areas used for nonmotorized recreation. This exemption would permit changes in use that involve minimal physical alterations and improvements to the affected area, as long as a natural resource management plan is adopted. The plan must identify resources and management strategies for the area and be based on substantial evidence. The exemption would apply to counties, in addition to park districts and the Great Redwood Trail Agency. Lead agencies must make findings based on substantial evidence that the criteria for the exemption are met and that there is sufficient funding to implement the natural resource management plan. However, the bill also provides an exception for situations where it is reasonably foreseeable that providing public access within a park or op…