Natural environment - water, air, biota, T/E, soils, aesthetics
Build environment - traffic, noise, historical/cultural, land use, agriculture, housing recreation, utilities
Human health - natural disaster risks, hazardous materials, disease
Nonphysical environment - economic/social, psychological
Other - biodiversity, sustainability, transboundary, global Lead agency
EA (optional) - may do not required
Publish Notice of Intent (NOI) in Federal Register and newspaper etc.
-description of action, alternatives, scoping process, contact info
-first formal step
Scoping - solicit input from public and other agencies on issues and impacts
-extent of action: connected, similar, cumulative
-range of alternatives: No-action, reasonable alternatives, mitigation measures
-types of impacts: direct, indirect, cumulative
-other environmental laws: statutory redundancy & functional equivalency, CEQ guidance, 7 step process
-meetings: not required but often most efficient
-report
Draft EIS
Circulate and review draft EIS
-publish in federal register if of national concern otherwise locally
-must conduct public hearing
-"quick review"; process and merit
-participating in the NEPA process: inform, negotiate, litigate
-circulation
-required to file Notice of Draft EIS in Fed Reg
-45 day comment period, but may be extended
File Draft of EIS with EPA (previously CEQ)
-each Friday EPA lists EISs in Federal Register
-EPA Office of Federal Activities Website
EPA review
-actual environmental impact
-adequacy of the EIS
Public hearing (if necessary)
Prepare Final EIS
-must contain response to all comments received and discuss opposing views
Circulate FEIS
File FEIS with EPA
Adopt FEIS
Make Agency Decision - 30 after EPA file of FEIS
Record of Decision (ROD) - why agency has taken the proposed action
Supplement to EIS
-significant changes
-new circumstances
-handled in same manner as EIS - doesn't require scoping: NOI not needed
-focus only on sections that are altered
Trends
-2000 EISs filed in 1999
-around 500/year currently In summary, the purpose and need section in the EIS lays out why the proposed action, with its inherent costs and environmental impacts, is being pursued. If property described, it also limits the range of alternatives which may be considered reasonable, prudent, and practicable. If property described, at also limits the range of alternatives which may be considered reasonable, prudent, and practicable. In compliance with the CEQ regulations...Further, it demonstrates the problems that will result if the project is not implemented