Department of the Interior
Departmental Manual
Effective Date: 1/24/97
Series: Intergovernmental Affairs
Part 511: Coordination with State and Local Governments
Chapter 7: Environmental Impact
Originating Office: Office of Acquisition and Property Management
511 DM 7
7.1 Background. The Department's procedures for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) adopt the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and are included in 516 DM 1-7, National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. This chapter complements those procedures.
7.2 Procedures. Based on 516 DM 1.5, bureaus and offices will use to the maximum extent possible existing notification, coordination and review mechanisms.
A. Executive Order 12372 Process - To the extent feasible, the Department will work with States to integrate handling of the NEPA consultative process with the official State review process.
(1) When the State has agreed to incorporate the review of NEPA documents in its process, the State will designate the single point of contact with responsibility for: (a) assuring that appropriate State, metropolitan, regional and local agencies authorized to develop and enforce environmental standards are informed of such projects, and (b) serving as the focal point for obtaining information and comments on Federal and Federally assisted projects.
(2) In the case of major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, bureaus and offices will send copies of environmental impact statements to the State single point of contact for review and comment. These actions may be Federal assistance projects, direct Federal development projects, or Federal leases, licenses or permits.
(3) In the case of Federal assistance projects, applicants may be required to submit to the State single point of contact an analysis of the anticipated environmental effects of the proposed project. Applicants are made aware of this requirement by bureau distributed application materials, in preapplication conferences, or in response to inquiries regarding application procedures.
B. No Executive Order 12372 Process - If a State has not established a process, or the program or activity has not been selected for a State process, the bureau or office is responsible for assuring that requirements for managing the NEPA process are met in accordance with 516 DM.
C. Other Environmental Review and Consultation Requirements - Bureaus and offices should refer to a list of related environmental review and consultation requirements which is published as a supplementary directive by the Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance.
1/24/97 #3134
Replaces 4/3/84 #2565