Negative Declaration Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Negative Declaration.

Negative Declaration (noun)

A "Negative Declaration" is a formal statement compiled and issued by a government authority or municipality. It suggests that the planned project or activity will not significantly harm the environment, and therefore, the project's sponsor does not need to provide a detailed Environmental Impact Report. This declaration generally results from an initial environmental study that finds no substantial evidence of major environmental damage.