The SO/HFO establishes a NEPA organization with designated responsibilities as outlined in DOE O 451.1B, Admin. Change 3, in order to comply with NEPA requirements.

The SO/HFO officially designates an NCO for their immediate organization. If the SO/HFO has not named a permanent NCO, they may negotiate for NCO support from the SC ISC via a service agreement. The Office of Science Integrated Support Center Service Plan is used as a guide for obtaining that support.

The NCO prepares a public participation plan, tiering from the SC Site Office and SC‑Wide plans as applicable. See Procedure 9, Conducting Public Participation Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The NCO prepares a quality assurance (QA) plan, tiering from the SC Site Office and SC‑Wide plans as applicable. See Procedure 10, Preparing Quality Assurance (QA) Plans for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Process.

NOTE:  One important aspect of the QA Plan is the work processes. The NCO adopts the SC NEPA procedures. Organizational units prepare supplementary local procedures as needed to address their concerns/needs. The QA Plan (as well as the Public Participation Plans) may include (1) SC Site Office specific scoping procedures for EAs and EISs and (2) an Environmental Checklist used for screening Federal actions for the potential for significant impacts (see Procedure 2, Establishing the Level of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Review and Documentation). As necessary, the NCO obtains guidance from the SC ISC NCOs or the SC NCO.

The NCO ensures adequate technical and legal support is available, either in‑house or through arrangement with the SC ISC. The Office of Science Integrated Support Center Service Plan is used as a guide for obtaining support

The NCO applies integrated safety management and environmental management systems’ principles to the NEPA process. See Aligning National Environmental Policy Act Processes with Environmental Management Systems, A Guide for NEPA and EMS Practitioners.

The HFO ensures that records are maintained and disposed of in accordance with Procedure 14, Maintaining Administrative Records for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Process, and the SC Management System: Records Management.

It is recommended that every five years the NCO perform an internal self assessment or arrange for an independent external assessment of their NEPA Program. See Paragraph 5d(1) of DOE O 451.1B, Admin. Change 3.