EAFONSI Template



United States Department of Agriculture Forest ServiceTitle of ProjectEnvironmental AssessmentName Ranger District, Name National Forest, Name County, StateMonth Year*Optional: Insert > Picture. Format > Wrap Text > In Line with Text Consider using a photo of the project area or proposed activities. Remove box and insert graphic. 508 Compliance: Right-click Photo > Format Picture > Alt Text > Type Title and description of photoPhoto goes herePhoto goes hereFor More Information Contact: Responsible Official NameDistrict or Forest Name Address Address Phone: Email:Fax:NOTE: Blue text consists of instructions, items to change related to your project, and guidance (including handbook direction). Please delete all blue text instructions, and change residual blue text you need to retain to black. These notes relate directly to Forest Service Handbook (FSH) direction at 1909.15, Chapter 40. There are a number of sections that traditionally get included in an EA, but are not required by law. Some of those optional sections are: Table of Contents, Summary, Background, Affected Environment, List of Document Preparers, Decision Framework, Public Involvement Opportunities, Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources, and Comparison of Alternatives. [NOTE: This paragraph has a line space setting of 60 pt; if this setting leaves too much space after completing your content, right-click on the paragraph and adjust “space after” accordingly. 508 compliance calls for adjusting line space settings rather than adding in blank lines to accommodate document readers. This applies to the whole document.]*Description: If images are inserted on the first page, describe the content of the photo and the photo credit (who took the picture).U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.Contents TOC \o "1-1" \h \z \t "Heading 2,2,Heading 3,3" Contents PAGEREF _Toc363133845 \h iiIntroduction PAGEREF _Toc363133846 \h 1Proposed Project Location PAGEREF _Toc363133847 \h 1Need for the Proposal PAGEREF _Toc363133848 \h 1Public Involvement and Tribal Consultation PAGEREF _Toc363133849 \h 2Proposed Action and Alternatives PAGEREF _Toc363133850 \h 3Proposed Action PAGEREF _Toc363133851 \h 3Alternative [X] PAGEREF _Toc363133852 \h 3Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives PAGEREF _Toc363133853 \h 4Resource Heading PAGEREF _Toc363133854 \h 4Resource Heading PAGEREF _Toc363133855 \h 5Finding of No Significant Impact PAGEREF _Toc363133856 \h 6Context PAGEREF _Toc363133857 \h 6Intensity PAGEREF _Toc363133858 \h 6References PAGEREF _Toc363133859 \h 9List of Tables TOC \h \z \t "Caption Table,1" \c "Table" Table 1. Sample table format PAGEREF _Toc363133860 \h 5List of Figures TOC \h \z \t "Caption Figure" \c Figure 1. Vicinity map PAGEREF _Toc363133861 \h 1To refresh table of contents, list of tables, or list of figures, click on the table and press F9. Choose entire table for best results.IntroductionWe are proposing to [summarize proposed activities] on [XX] acres. These actions are proposed to be implemented on the [Name] Ranger District of the [Name] National Forest. We prepared this environmental assessment (EA) to determine whether implementation of [summarize proposed activities] may significantly affect the quality of the human environment and thereby require the preparation of an environmental impact statement. By preparing this EA, we are fulfilling agency policy and direction to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). For more details of the proposed action, see the Proposed Action and Alternatives section of this document.Proposed Project LocationThe project area is located [provide verbal description (applicable descriptions may be: watershed, land ownership and ongoing uses, acreage size, geographical context, vegetation types, etc.) and map].Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 1. Vicinity mapInsert vicinity mapNeed for the ProposalThe need for action discusses the relationship between the desired condition and the existing condition in order to answer the questions: “Why consider taking any action?” And more specifically: Why here? Why now? By regulation, only the need for the proposal must be described in the EA. If choosing to include a distinct purpose statement as well, describe a broad purpose (objective) and specific needs. The purpose and need statement defines the scope and objectives of the proposal, as tied to the programmatic goals of the forest plan. A well-defined purpose and need statement narrows the range of alternatives that may need to be developed in the “alternatives” section. Likewise, the breadth or narrowness of the need for action has a substantial influence in the scope of the subsequent analysis (FSH 1909.15, sec. 41.21). This proposal is needed because….Public Involvement and Tribal ConsultationList Federal, State, and local agencies, and non-Forest Service individuals with whom the responsible official engaged in discussions as part of the NEPA process. In addition, the EA may note the total number of individuals and groups that were notified on the availability of the EA in a library, World-Wide Web, or other locations.List the federally recognized Tribes that were engaged in government-to-government consultation for this project. The Forest Service consulted the following individuals, Federal, State, tribal, and local agencies during the development of this EA:[If desired, insert agency names and Tribes with a reference to any resource sections that cite responses to consultation in their report (for example, tribal responses in the Heritage report, determinations in TES reports, etc.)]Proposed Action and AlternativesThe EA shall briefly describe the proposed action and alterative(s) that meet the need for action. No specific number of alternatives is required or prescribed (36 CFR 220.7(b)(2)). NEPA requires that the agency study, develop, and describe appropriate alternatives to recommend courses of action in any proposal which involves unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources. If no unresolved conflicts exists, the EA need only analyze the proposed action and proceed without consideration of additional topics (36 CFR 220.7(b)(2)(i)). A stand-alone no-action alternative is not required. However, the effect of taking no action should correlate closely with the purpose and need, providing a compelling reason for taking action in the first place.If applicable, summarize how a proposal or alternative was changed through collaboration and analysis. Incorporate by reference any existing documents regarding alternative development (1909.15, 41.22). Where applicable, use maps, tables, figures, charts, photos, etc. to convey the proposed activities and alternatives in a way that can be clearly understood. The proposed action and following alternatives were considered:Proposed ActionClearly state the proposed action and describe any connected actions. The proposed action should address each aspect of the following question: Who will do what, when and where will it occur, and how will the actions be implemented? [Body Text style]Alternative [X][Body Text style]Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and AlternativesThe EA shall briefly provide sufficient evidence and analysis, including the environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternative(s), to determine whether to prepare either an EIS or a finding of no significant impact (FONSI). The purpose of an EA is not only to disclose impacts, but to evaluate those impacts in the context of NEPA significance.In order to tie directly to the FONSI, the EA shall describe the impacts of the proposed action and any alternatives in terms of context (society as a whole (human, national), the affected region, the affected interests, and the locality) and intensity (severity of the impact) as described in the definition of “significantly” at 40 CFR 1508.27. Impacts (direct, indirect, and cumulative) of alternatives may be discussed together, in comparison, or separately. If potential effects of several alternatives are the same, the effects discussion may describe those effects as being the same and focus on describing where effects differ.This section summarizes the potential impacts of the proposed action and alternatives for each impacted resource. Resources that were not impacted and therefore not further analyzed include: [list]. Resource Heading As there is no national standard for how the environmental impacts section is organized, follow regional guidance. There is no requirement for an “Affected Environment” section of an EA. Where applicable and to improve the readability of the document, summarize existing conditions, describe the relationship between the proposed action/alternatives and desired conditions (how does it meet the need for action?), and incorporate by reference any existing documents that provide further detail on environmental impacts (1909.15, 41.22). For each alternative, analyze and document the effectiveness of the mitigation measures that would result from implementing each alternative, including the no-action alternative. Where applicable, use maps, tables, figures, charts, photos, etc. to convey the impacts of the proposed action and alternatives in a way that can be clearly understood. [Body Text style]Table SEQ Table \* ARABIC 1. Sample table format [Tables and figures in the document are linked to the Table of Contents using “Insert Caption” function under the “References” tab.]Table HeadingTable HeadingTable HeadingTable HeadingTable CellTable CellTable CellTable CellTable CellTable CellTable CellTable CellTable CellTable CellTable CellTable CellTable CellTable CellTable CellTable CellSample bullet formatting:xxxyyyzzzResource Heading Refer to FONSI intensity factors and regional guidance to determine if the following disclosures are necessary for your project: prime farmlands, forest lands, and range lands; floodplains and wetlands; environmental justice; irretrievable or irreversible commitment of resources; potential or unusual expenditures of energy; conflicts with other plans, policies, or jurisdictions; etc. [Body Text style]Finding of No Significant ImpactCEQ regulations define a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) as a document by a Federal agency briefly presenting the reasons why an action, not otherwise excluded (§1508.4), will not have a significant effect on the human environment and for which an environmental impact statement therefore will not be prepared. It shall include the environmental assessment or a summary of it and shall note any other environmental documents related to it (§1501.7(a)(5)). Combining the FONSI with the EA avoids having to summarize the effects analysis in the FONSI, thereby allowing you to cite in the same document the respective pages where the significance factor is discussed in the analysis (40 CFR 1508.13). Although the FONSI has often been combined with a decision notice, it is not in itself a decision document. Rather, consider the FONSI the outcome of the EA process, and document your finding for the proposed action and alternatives. In accordance with the project-level objections process, the EA, draft FONSI, and draft decision notice are made available to the public at the start of the objection period. If the selected alternative after resolution of objections is a modification of what was analyzed in the EA, update the FONSI document to reflect the change. As the responsible official, I am responsible for evaluating the effects of the project relative to the definition of significance established by the CEQ Regulations (40 CFR 1508.13). I have reviewed and considered the EA and documentation included in the project record, and I have determined that [the proposed action and alternatives] will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. As a result, no environmental impact statement will be prepared. My rationale for this finding is as follows, organized by sub-section of the CEQ definition of significance cited above. Context For the proposed action and alternatives the context of the environmental effects is based on the environmental analysis in this EA.This discussion of the project’s context provides meaning to the intensity of effects described below to support the rationale for a finding of no significant impact related to each factor. Describe the context of the effects of the proposal and alternatives as needed, and when doing so provides additional understanding of the rationale for a finding of no significant impact. You may address relevant contexts here in this section or below in the rationale when a context applies to a specific intensity factor. Intensity Intensity is a measure of the severity, extent, or quantity of effects, and is based on information from the effects analysis of this EA and the references in the project record. The effects of this project have been appropriately and thoroughly considered with an analysis that is responsive to concerns and issues raised by the public. The agency has taken a hard look at the environmental effects using relevant scientific information and knowledge of site-specific conditions gained from field visits. My finding of no significant impact is based on the context of the project and intensity of effects using the ten factors identified in 40 CFR 1508.27(b). Impacts that may be both beneficial and adverse. A significant effect may exist even if the Federal agency believes that on balance the effect will be beneficial.Note: Demonstrate that the beneficial effects of the proposal have not overshadowed the agency’s hard look for potential significant adverse effects. [Insert rationale (a logical basis for determining if intensity of effects taken in the contexts of the project will or will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment, and how mitigation measures may affect this finding) and citations (location in the EA where discussed or referenced)]The degree to which the proposed action affects public health or safety. [Insert rationale & citations]Unique characteristics of the geographic area such as the proximity to historical or cultural resources, parklands, prime farmlands, wetlands, wild and scenic rivers, or ecologically critical areas.[Insert rationale & citations]The degree to which the effects on the quality of the human environment are likely to be highly controversial.Note: The term “controversial” in this context refers to cases where substantial scientific dispute exits as to the size, nature, or effects of a major Federal action on some human environmental factor, rather than to public opposition of a proposed action or alternative. [Insert rationale & citations]The degree to which the possible effects on the human environment are highly uncertain or involve unique or unknown risks.[Insert rationale & citations]The degree to which the action may establish precedent for future actions with significant effects or represents a decision in principle about a future consideration. [Insert rationale & citations]Whether the action is related to other actions with individually insignificant but cumulatively significant impacts. Significance exists if it is reasonable to anticipate a cumulatively significant impact on the environment. Significance cannot be avoided by terming an action temporary or by breaking it down into small component parts.[Insert rationale & citations]The degree to which the action may adversely affect districts, sites, highways, structures, or objects listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or may cause loss or destruction of significant scientific, cultural, or historical resources.[Insert rationale & citations]The degree to which the action may adversely affect an endangered or threatened species or its habitat that has been determined to be critical under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.[Insert rationale & citations, and reference consultation determinations from the relevant resource analyses in the EA]Whether the action threatens a violation of Federal, State, or local law or requirements imposed for the protection of the environment.[Insert rationale & citations]ReferencesRefer to the GPO Style Manual for assistance with writing and editing your content.Refer to the 508 Quick Reference Guide for assistance with making your electronic documents accessible.Refer to the Federal Plain Language Guidelines for assistance with improving communication to the public. Refer to the APA Style Guide for assistance with formatting your references. ................
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