What type of exemption is identified by the California legislature as not subject to CEQA procedures and policies?

The correct identification of the type of exemption that is not subject to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) procedures and policies is a statutory exemption. Statutory exemptions are specifically established by the California legislature through statutes and are meant to streamline or eliminate the need for environmental review under CEQA for certain types of projects or actions.

These exemptions are based on the nature of the activity rather than its potential environmental impacts. This means that once a project falls within the scope of a statutory exemption, it does not require an environmental impact report (EIR) or negative declaration, regardless of its potential effects on the environment. Examples of statutory exemptions can include projects like specific types of public services or minor alterations to existing facilities.

Categorical exemptions, on the other hand, are derived from regulations and are used for specific categories of projects that generally do not have a significant effect on the environment, but they still do require that certain criteria be met to qualify for the exemption. Environmental exemptions and project exemptions are less commonly referenced terms in the context of CEQA; statutory exemptions are the primary focus when discussing exemptions explicitly stated or conferred by legislative action.