Cupertino releases environmental review of proposed Apple campus

By Chris O’Brien

June 6, 2013 12 AM PT

The city of Cupertino released Thursday a massive environmental impact review on Apple’s proposed new campus that’s a keystone of the review process.

The document does not take an official position on Apple’s proposal. Rather, it attempts to evaluate Apple’s planned campus across criteria such as traffic and air quality. The review is mandated by state law.

“This represents the next step on what will be a series of steps in the public review process,” said Rick Kitson, Cupertino’s director of public and environmental affairs.

STORY: Apple will outgrow new campus in Cupertino before it’s built

The EIR compares the impact of Apple’s plan against several scenarios, such as not building anything, building less or building in a different configuration. It also makes detailed suggestions for how the city and the company might mitigate the impact of various options.

Now that the EIR has been posted, the public has 45 days to comment on the findings. Those comments will also be taken into consideration during the planning process, Kitson said.

“Apple is proud to call Cupertino our home and we are committed to supporting the economy, culture and environment here,” said Apple spokeswoman Amy Amy Bessette. “Apple Campus 2 includes cutting-edge energy conservation technology and it will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy. We’re also tripling the green space on the site of our new campus, creating a landscape that will be environmentally responsible, an incredible place to work and a great addition to the neighborhood.”

While the impact of the EIR is unclear, this phase could determine if Apple can meet its target of occupying the new campus beginning in 2016. If the city demands major revisions based on the report, the company could face additional delays and costs.

The release of the EIR comes just two days after Apple released its own report on its economic impact on the city of Cupertino.