Requirements for Office Acting As Responsible Agency.

(a)

The Office shall be a responsible agency under CEQA with respect to any project which requires a certificate of need, which is not exempt from the requirements of CEQA, which is not ministerial with respect to the certificate of need/exemption process, and for which the Office is not the lead agency.

(b)

When acting as a responsible agency, the Office shall provide to the lead agency such consultation and comments as may be requested, in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3, Division 6, Title 14, California Administrative Code. Whenever possible and appropriate, the Office shall propose changes in a project which would mitigate any significant environmental effect of the project.