[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 31]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR1503.4]

[Page 883]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
               CHAPTER V--COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
 
PART 1503_COMMENTING--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  1503.4  Response to comments.

    (a) An agency preparing a final environmental impact statement shall 
assess and consider comments both individually and collectively, and 
shall respond by one or more of the means listed below, stating its 
response in the final statement. Possible responses are to:
    (1) Modify alternatives including the proposed action.
    (2) Develop and evaluate alternatives not previously given serious 
consideration by the agency.
    (3) Supplement, improve, or modify its analyses.
    (4) Make factual corrections.
    (5) Explain why the comments do not warrant further agency response, 
citing the sources, authorities, or reasons which support the agency's 
position and, if appropriate, indicate those circumstances which would 
trigger agency reappraisal or further response.
    (b) All substantive comments received on the draft statement (or 
summaries thereof where the response has been exceptionally voluminous), 
should be attached to the final statement whether or not the comment is 
thought to merit individual discussion by the agency in the text of the 
statement.
    (c) If changes in response to comments are minor and are confined to 
the responses described in paragraphs (a)(4) and (5) of this section, 
agencies may write them on errata sheets and attach them to the 
statement instead of rewriting the draft statement. In such cases only 
the comments, the responses, and the changes and not the final statement 
need be circulated (Sec.  1502.19). The entire document with a new cover 
sheet shall be filed as the final statement (Sec.  1506.9).