Utah Taxonomy

Environmental assessment

Environmental assessment
Under the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) an Environmental Assessment (EA) is compiled to determine the need for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). An EA (sometimes identified as an Environmental Impact Assessment) is a concise public document for which a Federal agency is responsible used to predict the environmental consequences of a plan, policy, program, or project to briefly provide sufficient evidence and analysis for determining whether to prepare an EIS or provide a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The EA becomes a draft public document when notice of it is published. There is a 15 day review period (30 days under exceptional circumstances).
The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The Act provides a national policy for protecting the environment by establishing an informed decisionmaking process for Federal activities that have potential impact on the environment. Officials may use one of three paths to assist in decisionmaking. They may develop and issue: a categorical exclusion (CE), an environmental assessment (EA), or an environmental impact statement (EIS). A categorical exclusion (CE) is a determination that a category of actions does not have the potential to signifi cantly affect the environment and, therefore, neither an EA nor an EIS needs to be prepared. CEs allow for immediate action to be taken, but the situations under which they may be used are limited. An environmental assessment (EA) is a concise public document that provides sufficient evidence and analysis for determining whether a proposed Federal action will have a signifi cant impact on the environment. An EA must include information detailing: the need for the proposed action; alternatives to the proposed action, including a “no-action” alternative; the potential environmental effects of the proposed action and its alternatives; and a list of agencies and individuals consulted. An EA requires advanced planning, takes months to complete, and involves the public in the decisionmaking process. If the agency fi nds no significant impacts are likely to occur from the preferred action during the assessment process, WS officials prepare a decision document called a “finding of no significant impact” (FONSI). A FONSI document explains the agency’s reasons for this conclusion. An environmental impact statement (EIS) is a more detailed public document that is prepared if (1) a proposal’s effects on the quality of the environment are expected to be significant; (2) an EA indicates that one is warranted; or (3) the proposed action is one that requires an EIS due to agency regulations. It describes the potential environmental effects of the proposed action, explains what steps may be taken to minimize any negative impacts, and offers at least two alternative actions. Developing an EIS is a formalized process that requires advanced planning, substantial public participation, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency review. The process may take 1 or more years to complete. After publishing a final EIS, offcials may proceed with a decision document called a “record of decision” (ROD), which identifi es the program’s selected environmentally preferred alternative. It also details related program commitments, such as specific enforcement and monitoring activities. After publishing a ROD, officials may proceed with the selected action.
Environmental assessments commenced in the 1960s, as part of increasing environmental awareness.

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Date of creation
21-Apr-2015
Accepted term
14-Jan-2019
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0
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12
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