What is an environmental assessment?
An environmental assessment (EA) is a concise public document that is prepared when a categorical exclusion cannot be applied and a proposed major Federal action is not anticipated to have reasonably foreseeable significant effects or the significance of reasonably foreseeable effects is unknown. An EA supports a Federal agency in making a determination as to whether to sign a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) or to instead prepare a more detailed environmental impact statement (EIS) and sign a record of decision (ROD). Service EAs are prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. § 4321, et seq.), the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) NEPA Implementing Regulations (43 CFR 46) and the DOI Handbook of NEPA Implementing Procedures (516 DM 1).
Pursuant to the NEPA and consistent with the DOI Handbook of NEPA Implementing Procedures (516 DM 1.5)(b)(1)), Service EAs include the following:
- A statement of purpose and need that briefly summarizes the underlying purpose and need for the proposed agency action;
- Proposed action and alternatives to the extent required by the NEPA section 102(2)(H); and
- Reasonably foreseeable effects of the proposed action and action alternatives.
Pursuant to the NEPA section 107, an EA is required to be no more than 75 pages and is typically to be completed in one year or less. The lead agency may extend the one-year deadline in writing and, as applicable, in consultation with any applicant, as well as any joint-lead, cooperating and participating agencies (as applicable), and may establish a new deadline that provides only so much additional time as is necessary to complete the EA.
What is a finding of no significant impact?
A finding of no significant impact (FONSI) is a concise public document that summarizes how the proposed action described in the EA does not have a reasonably foreseeable significant effect and that preparation of an EIS is not required. The FONSI either includes the EA or incorporates it by reference. Consistent with the DOI Handbook of NEPA Implementing Procedures (516 DM 1.6(a)), the FONSI states the authority for and describes any mitigation and applicable monitoring or enforcement provisions. If the proposed action will not have reasonably foreseeable significant effects due to mitigation, the mitigated FONSI will identify the mitigation measures that would be undertaken to avoid reasonably foreseeable significant effects and the mechanisms to ensure their implementation. Once completed, the EA and FONSI are made publicly available.
What is a record of decision?
A record of decision (ROD) is a concise public document that summarizes the agency findings in the EIS and reasoning for making the Federal decision. Consistent with the DOI Handbook of NEPA Implementing Procedures (516 DM 6.1(v)), the ROD describes the alternatives considered, discusses any preferences among alternatives based on relevant factors including economic and technical considerations and Service statutory mission, and states whether all practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm from the alternative selected have been adopted, and, if not, why they were not. A ROD may include or incorporate by reference a mitigation, monitoring, or enforcement plan as appropriate. Once completed, the EIS and ROD are made publicly available.
