Environmental assessments: Uncertainties in implementation
A review of the regulations, guidance, statutes, and case law affecting Environmental Assessment (EA) preparation has identified a number of uncertainties that, if clarified, would facilitate EA preparation and National Environmental Policy ACT (NEPA) implementation. Recommendations are made for clarifying the uncertainties regarding EA preparation to help EAs fulfill their intended role in the NEPA process and to thereby facilitate NEPA implementation in general. The CEQ should report annually on the total number of EAs prepared each year in the United States. The current CEQ guidance, as well as requirements for EAs found in other environmental review laws, should be codified into the CEQ regulations. At the same time, existing requirements in the regulations should be collected into a new section dealing exclusively with EAs. The existing regulations should be changed to eliminate the analysis of alternatives in an EA; such as analysis is not usually critical to the decision at hand and is not required by NEPA for EAs resulting in Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSIs). Uncertainties related to identifying significant effects could be addressed by requiring greater public and agency involvement in the EA process before decisions are made. 15 refs.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 5559513
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8708184-1; ON: DE88002782
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
COMPLIANCE
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
DECISION MAKING
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
EVALUATION
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
IMPLEMENTATION
LAWS
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT
NORTH AMERICA
RECOMMENDATIONS
USA