(a) Any local government or governing authority intending to submit an LCP or LRDP for certification shall submit any draft environment documents, including an Initial Environmental Study, Draft Environmental Impact Report, or Draft Negative Declaration concerning the LCP or LRDP to the office of the Commission as soon as practicable after such are prepared.

(b) The executive director shall review such documents, determine what comments should be made on behalf of the Commission, and forward such documents to the local government or governing authority. The Commission at its discretion, may hold a public hearing on any environmental document submitted and direct the staff to make whatever comments, or to obtain whatever additional information, the Commission deems appropriate.

With regard to LCPs, if the draft environmental impact report is submitted in conjunction with the preliminary review procedure set forth in Section 13517, the draft environmental documents may be submitted together with the proposed local coastal program as a single document, and the Commission may hold a hearing on the draft environmental document(s) at the same time as the advisory review hearing.