Nothing in this article shall preclude the use of an exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act or the preparation of a negative declaration or mitigated negative declaration in accordance with that Act where the facts pertaining to a proposed transmission corridor zone do not support a fair argument otherwise. Every application shall nevertheless be subject to the same procedural requirements for an informational hearing, prehearing conference, one or more evidentiary hearings as needed, a proposed decision, and a final decision.