DOE NEPA Documents
All of the documents in this section are available to members of the public. Below are definitions/explanations of some of the different types of documents.
Environmental Assessment (EA) - A concise public document that a Federal agency prepares under the National Environmental Policy Act to provide sufficient evidence and analysis to determine whether a proposed agency action would require preparation of an environmental impact statement or a finding of no significant impact.
Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) - The detailed written statement that is required by section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act for a proposed major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) - A public document issued by a Federal agency briefly presenting the reasons why an action for which the agency has prepared an environmental assessment will not have a significant effect on the human environment and, therefore, will not require preparation of an environmental impact statement.
Floodplain and Wetlands Assessment and Floodplain Statement of Finding – A Floodplain and Wetlands Assessment is an evaluation that DOE prepares under DOE Floodplain-Wetlands Environmental Review Requirements (10 CFR Part 1022) consisting of a description of a proposed action, a discussion of its potential effects on the floodplain or wetland, and consideration of alternatives. A Floodplain Statements of Findings is a brief document issued pursuant to 10 CFR 1022.14 that describes the results of the floodplain assessment.
Mitigation Action Plan – A document DOE prepares in accordance with DOE NEPA regulations (10 CFR 1021.331) that describes the plan for implementing commitments made in a DOE environmental impact statement and its associated record of decision, or, when appropriate, an EA or FONSI, to mitigate adverse environmental impacts associated with an action.
Notice of Availability & Notice of Intent – A Notice of Intent (NOI) is a formal announcement of intent to prepare an EIS as defined in Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1508.22). DOE publishes NOIs in the Federal Register in accordance with DOE NEPA regulations (10 CFR 1021.311). A Notice of Availability is a formal notice, published in the Federal Register, that announces the issuance and public availability of a draft or final EIS. The Environmental Protection Agency Notice of Availability is the official public notification of an EIS; a DOE Notice of Availability is an optional notice used to provide information to the public.
Record of Decision (ROD) - A concise public document that records a federal agency's decision(s) concerning a proposed action for which the agency has prepared an environmental impact statement (See CEQ and DOE NEPA regulations at 40 CFR 1505.2 and 10 CFR 1021.315, respectively).
Special Environmental Analyses (SEA) - A document that DOE prepares after consulting with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) for alternative arrangements under 40 CFR 1506.11, Emergencies, which applies where emergency circumstances make it necessary to take action without preparing an EIS. The SEA examines the environmental impacts of the emergency action(s) and considers alternatives that include mitigation measures.
Supplement Analysis – A document that DOE prepares in accordance with DOE NEPA regulations (10 CFR 1021.314(c)) used to determine whether a supplemental or new EIS should be prepared pursuant to CEQ NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1502.9(c).
|
