Time to read: about 2 minutes When it comes to getting developments approved in Menlo Park, one of the largest obstacles many development proposals face is what's called an Environmental Impact Report. Applicants have to analyze and report on various ways their project and its construction will impact the surrounding environment, quantifying the impacts of everything from air pollution to traffic. Community members are able to participate in this process by raising topics they'd like to be analyzed when a "notice of preparation" is released at the start of the process. They may also comment on the analysis that has been done when the draft environmental impact report is released.