| The National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) process requires the preparation of various documents
to help ensure a thorough decision-making process for projects with
federal funding. The figure on
the next page presents a capsulized overview of the NEPA process and
documentation of the decision-making process. The Environmental Assessment
(EA) process helps determine if an action will have a significant impact.
If not, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is prepared and decision-makers
decide whether or not to continue with the proposed action. If the action
would have a significant impact, then an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) helps decision-makers weigh those impacts for a balanced decision
on the appropriate course of action. Notice of intent to prepare an
EIS, scoping processes, and periods for review and comment are steps
in the public participation process. For the proposed Billings Bypass,
MDT consultation with FHWA has determined that an EIS should be prepared.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS DEFINITIONS
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)
The purposes of this Act, as stated in Sec. 2 [42 USC § 4321] are:
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To declare a national policy which will encourage
productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment
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To promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate
damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health
and welfare of man
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To enrich the understanding of the ecological
systems and natural resources important to the Nation
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To establish a Council on Environmental Quality
Scoping
Scoping is an integral part of environmental analysis involving examination of a proposed action and its possible effects; establishing the depth of environmental analysis needed; and determining data requirements and analysis procedures. The public is encouraged to participate and submit comments on proposed projects during the scoping period. Especially valuable at this early stage are public concerns regarding potential environmental impacts of a proposed action.
Environmental Assessment (EA)
A NEPA compliance document used to determine if an action would have a significant effect on the human environment. An EA is prepared when significant environmental impacts are not anticipated or when there is a question as to the extent of the impacts. If the assessment confirms that the proposed action will have no significant impacts, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) will be prepared; if there are significant impacts, a more detailed analysis process will be performed and findings will be documented in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). An EA covers the same topics and issues as an EIS, only in a more streamlined process. Public comments can be submitted within 30 days of release of an EA. These comments are considered prior to making the final decision and are responded to in an appendix to the EA.
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
A NEPA compliance document which affirms that an EA evaluated alternatives and found that a proposed action would have no significant impact on the human environment.
Notice of Intent (NOI)
A notice printed in the Federal Register announcing that an EIS will
be prepared. (40 CFR 1508.22)
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
A formal public document prepared to analyze the impacts on the environment
of a proposed project or action and released for comment and review.
An EIS is prepared, instead of an EA, when significant environmental
impacts are anticipated. Public comments can be submitted within 45
days after the release of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).
These comments are considered prior to making the final decision and
are responded to in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).
Record of Decision (ROD)
After an EIS has been completed, the Federal agency documents its decision
in a ROD. This document contains a brief explanation of the alternatives,
factors considered by the agency in its decision, mitigation
measures, and a monitoring and enforcement program for the measures.
Categorical Exclusion (CE)
A number of categories of action have been determined from prior experience
and analysis to result in no significant impact to the environment.
If a proposed action falls into one of these categories, and if no extraordinary
circumstances exist which might cause a significant impact in the specific
case, these actions can be "categorically excluded" from documentation
in an EA or EIS. Unlike an EA or EIS, there is no formal pre-decision
public and agency comment period with a categorical exclusion. |
