Otherwise, the agency must then conduct a full-scale EIS. If the EA indicates that no significant impact is likely, then the agency can release a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and carry on with the proposed action. The finding of the EA determines whether an EIS is required. If the action may or may not cause a significant impact, the agency can first prepare a smaller, shorter document called an Environmental Assessment (EA).
#Eis parts full
Not all federal actions require a full EIS. These factors may include actions that receive federal funding, federal licensing or authorization, or that are subject to federal control. In many instances an action may be deemed subject to NEPA's EIS requirement even though the action is not specifically sponsored by a federal agency. The statement should use an interdisciplinary approach so that it accurately assesses both the physical and social impacts of the proposed development. An EIS should be created in a timely manner as soon as the agency is planning development or is presented with a proposal for development. In particular, an EIS acts as an enforcement mechanism to ensure that the federal government adheres to the goals and policies outlined in the NEPA. It also encourages communication and cooperation between all the actors involved in environmental decisions, including government officials, private businesses, and citizens. The NEPA was the first piece of legislation that created a comprehensive method to assess potential and existing environmental risks at once. The purpose of the NEPA is to promote informed decision-making by federal agencies by making "detailed information concerning significant environmental impacts" available to both agency leaders and the public. Preliminary versions of these documents are officially known as a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) or draft environmental impact report (DEIR). One of the primary authors of the act is Lynton K. For example, in California, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) must be submitted to the state for certain actions, as described in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). state governments require that a document similar to an EIS be submitted to the state for certain actions. It describes the positive and negative environmental effects of a proposed action, and it usually also lists one or more alternative actions that may be chosen instead of the action described in the EIS. For worldwide perspective on environmental impact statements, see Environmental impact assessment.Īn environmental impact statement ( EIS), under United States environmental law, is a document required by the 1969 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for certain actions "significantly affecting the quality of the human environment". This article is about environmental impact statements under United States federal law.