NEPA--Environmental Impact Statement



1510665-114300United States Department ofAgricultureForest ServiceMACROBUTTON NoMacro [Month] MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Year]TIPS for using this EIS Document Template:Select FILE+OPEN to open this document templateSelect FILE+SAVE AS and rename the fileSelect FILE+PROPERTIES+SUMMARY and update the informationPOINT+CLICK+TYPE on bracketed blue text MACROBUTTON NoMacro [TEXT] to fill in requested data (for blue text longer than 1-line length select the text and type over it with new information)Apply STYLES to new text to change format (i.e., Body Text, Heading 1, List Bullet, etc.)To change text color from BLUE to BLACK highlight the text and select FORMAT+FONT+FONT COLOR+AUTOMATIC Shortcut Keys:CTRL+1change ALL BLUE text to BLACKALT+Nnormal view (page width)ALT+Rreduced view (full page)CTRL+ALT+1Heading 1 styleCTRL+ALT+2Heading 2 styleCTRL+ALT+3Heading 3 styleCTRL+ALT+4Heading 4 styleCTRL+SHFT+NNormal styleCTRL+A+F9Update the Table of ContentsTo delete this frame, click on it with your pointer tool and press DELETE.0135890[Draft, Final, Draft Supplemental or Final Supplemental] Environmental Impact StatementMACROBUTTON NoMacro [Project Title]MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Your Ranger District, Your National Forest]MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Your County, State]MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Legal Description if Applicable]The 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 of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should 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, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.MACROBUTTON NoMacro [INSERT PROJECT NAME]MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Draft, Final, Draft Supplemental or Final Supplemental]Environmental Impact StatementMACROBUTTON NoMacro [County(ies), State(s), and other jurisdictions if applicable)]Lead Agency: USDA Forest ServiceCooperating Agencies: MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Insert any cooperating agency names] Responsible Official:MACROBUTTON NoMacro [NAME AND TITLE] MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Address] For Information Contact:MACROBUTTON NoMacro [NAME AND TITLE] MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Address]MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Telephone number] Abstract: [Insert 1 paragraph abstract on the environmental impact statement, including the alternatives considered and identification of the preferred alternative(s) if one or more exists]MACROBUTTON NoMacro [FOR DRAFTS ONLY :Reviewers should provide the Forest Service with their comments during the review period of the draft environmental impact statement. This will enable the Forest Service to analyze and respond to the comments at one time and to use information acquired in the preparation of the final environmental impact statement, thus avoiding undue delay in the decisionmaking process. Reviewers have an obligation to structure their participation in the National Environmental Policy Act process so that it is meaningful and alerts the agency to the reviewers’ position and contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Environmental objections that could have been raised at the draft stage may be waived if not raised until after completion of the final environmental impact statement. City of Angoon v. Hodel (9th Circuit, l986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Comments on the draft environmental impact statement should be specific and should address the adequacy of the statement and the merits of the alternatives discussed (40 CFR 1503.3).Send Comments to:MACROBUTTON NoMacro [NAME AND TITLE] MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Address]Date Comments Must Be Received:MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Date] ]SummaryThe MACROBUTTON NoMacro [X] National Forest proposes to MACROBUTTON NoMacro [summarize proposal]. The area affected by the proposal includes MACROBUTTON NoMacro [briefly describe the affected environment]. This action is needed, because MACROBUTTON NoMacro [summarize the need for action].[Describe the background leading up to the proposal, public involvement efforts, and major issues raised.] These issues led the agency to develop alternatives to the proposed action including:MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Briefly describe each alternative]Major conclusions include: MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Briefly explain or display conclusions as related to impacts.]Based upon the effects of the alternatives, the responsible official will decide MACROBUTTON NoMacro [insert brief description of decision to be made]. Table of Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z Summary PAGEREF _Toc19351343 \h iiChapter 1. Purpose of and Need for Action PAGEREF _Toc19351344 \h 1Document Structure PAGEREF _Toc19351345 \h 1Background PAGEREF _Toc19351346 \h 1Purpose and Need for Action PAGEREF _Toc19351347 \h 1Proposed Action PAGEREF _Toc19351348 \h 2Decision Framework PAGEREF _Toc19351349 \h 2Public Involvement PAGEREF _Toc19351350 \h 2Issues PAGEREF _Toc19351351 \h 2Other Related Efforts PAGEREF _Toc19351352 \h 3Chapter 2. Alternatives, Including the proposed action PAGEREF _Toc19351353 \h 3Introduction PAGEREF _Toc19351354 \h 3Alternatives Considered in Detail PAGEREF _Toc19351355 \h 3Alternative 1 PAGEREF _Toc19351356 \h 3Alternative 2 PAGEREF _Toc19351357 \h 4Alternative …. PAGEREF _Toc19351358 \h 5Mitigation Common to All Alternatives PAGEREF _Toc19351359 \h 5Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study PAGEREF _Toc19351360 \h 5Comparison of Alternatives PAGEREF _Toc19351361 \h 6Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences PAGEREF _Toc19351362 \h 6MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Topic #1] PAGEREF _Toc19351363 \h 6MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Topic …] PAGEREF _Toc19351364 \h 6Short-term Uses and Long-term Productivity PAGEREF _Toc19351365 \h 7Unavoidable Adverse Effects PAGEREF _Toc19351366 \h 7Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources PAGEREF _Toc19351367 \h 7Cumulative Effects PAGEREF _Toc19351368 \h 7Other Required Disclosures PAGEREF _Toc19351369 \h 7Chapter 4. Consultation and Coordination PAGEREF _Toc19351370 \h 8Preparers and Contributors PAGEREF _Toc19351371 \h 8Distribution of the Environmental Impact Statement PAGEREF _Toc19351372 \h 8Index PAGEREF _Toc19351373 \h 8Appendices (if any) PAGEREF _Toc19351374 \h 9Response to Public Comment (for Final EISs) PAGEREF _Toc19351375 \h 9List of Tables and Figures TOC \h \z \t "Plain Text" \c Figure 1. Insert Map Title. PAGEREF _Toc517087648 \h 4Figure 2. Insert Map Title. PAGEREF _Toc517087649 \h 4Figure 3. Insert Map Title. PAGEREF _Toc517087650 \h 5Chapter 1. Purpose of and Need for ActionDocument StructureThe Forest Service has prepared this Environmental Impact Statement in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other relevant Federal and State laws and regulations. This Environmental Impact Statement discloses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts that would result from the proposed action and alternatives. The document is organized into four chapters: Chapter 1. Purpose and Need for Action: The chapter includes information on the history of the project proposal, the purpose of and need for the project, and the agency’s proposal for achieving that purpose and need. This section also details how the Forest Service informed the public of the proposal and how the public responded. Chapter 2. Alternatives, including the Proposed Action: This chapter provides a more detailed description of the agency’s proposed action as well as alternative methods for achieving the stated purpose. These alternatives were developed based on significant issues raised by the public and other agencies. This discussion also includes mitigation measures. Finally, this section provides a summary table of the environmental consequences associated with each alternative. Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences: This chapter describes the environmental effects of implementing the proposed action and other alternatives. This analysis is organized by [insert topic (i.e., resource area, significant issues, environmental component)]. Chapter 4. Consultation and Coordination: This chapter provides a list of preparers and agencies consulted during the development of the environmental impact statement. Appendices: The appendices provide more detailed information to support the analyses presented in the environmental impact statement.Index: The index provides page numbers by document topic.Additional documentation, including more detailed analyses of project-area resources, may be found in the project planning record located at MACROBUTTON NoMacro [X].BackgroundMACROBUTTON NoMacro [Provide the history of events leading up to the project proposal.] Purpose and Need for ActionThe purpose of this initiative is to MACROBUTTON NoMacro [insert objectives]. This action is needed, because MACROBUTTON NoMacro [insert need for action in that location at this specific time]. This action responds to the goals and objectives outlined in the MACROBUTTON NoMacro [X] Forest Plan, and helps move the project area towards desired conditions described in that plan (MACROBUTTON NoMacro [insert reference to Forest Plan]). [Describe specific linkages to the Forest Plan if appropriate. Reference any pre-NEPA or “plan-to-project” assessments that identified the need.]Proposed ActionThe action proposed by the Forest Service to meet the purpose and need is MACROBUTTON NoMacro [insert brief description of the proposed action.] Decision FrameworkGiven the purpose and need, the deciding official reviews the proposed action, the other alternatives, and the environmental consequences in order to make the following decisions:[insert questions that the deciding official must answer when making the final decision].Public InvolvementThe Notice of Intent (NOI) was published in the Federal Register on MACROBUTTON NoMacro [insert dates]. The NOI asked for public comment on the proposal from MACROBUTTON NoMacro [insert dates]. In addition, as part of the public involvement process, the agency [insert description of public involvement efforts and reference to documents in record detailing results]. Using the comments from the public, other agencies, and MACROBUTTON NoMacro [insert others such as tribes, depending on the situation] (see Issues section), the interdisciplinary team developed a list of issues to address. IssuesThe Forest Service separated the issues into two groups: significant and non-significant issues. Significant issues were defined as those directly or indirectly caused by implementing the proposed action. Non-significant issues were identified as those: 1) outside the scope of the proposed action; 2) already decided by law, regulation, Forest Plan, or other higher level decision; 3) irrelevant to the decision to be made; or 4) conjectural and not supported by scientific or factual evidence. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA regulations explain this delineation in Sec. 1501.7, “…identify and eliminate from detailed study the issues which are not significant or which have been covered by prior environmental review (Sec. 1506.3)…”. A list of non-significant issues and reasons regarding their categorization as non-significant may be found at MACROBUTTON NoMacro [X] in the record.As for significant issues, the Forest Service identified the following issues during scoping:[Insert Issue #1]: [Describe issue and identify any indicators that can be used to measure whether that issue can be remedied by implementing different alternatives or mitigation measures][Insert Issue #…]: [Describe issue and identify any indicators that can be used to measure whether that issue can be remedied by implementing different alternatives or mitigation measures]Other Related Efforts[Insert descriptions of any other related efforts that will affect the proposed action or the decision to be made.]Chapter 2. Alternatives, Including the proposed actionIntroductionThis chapter describes and compares the alternatives considered for the MACROBUTTON NoMacro [insert project name]. It includes a description and map of each alternative considered. This section also presents the alternatives in comparative form, sharply defining the differences between each alternative and providing a clear basis for choice among options by the decision maker and the public. Some of the information used to compare the alternatives is based upon the design of the alternative (i.e., helicopter logging versus the use of skid trails) and some of the information is based upon the environmental, social and economic effects of implementing each alternative (i.e., the amount of erosion caused by helicopter logging versus skidding). Alternatives Considered in DetailThe Forest Service developed MACROBUTTON NoMacro [X] alternatives, including the No Action and Proposed Action alternatives, in response to issues raised by the public. Alternative 1 No Action Under the No Action alternative, current management plans would continue to guide management of the project area. No MACROBUTTON NoMacro [insert project activities] would be implemented to accomplish project goals. Figure 1. MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Insert Map Title]. Alternative 2 The Proposed Action[Describe the Proposed Action including mitigation—should be the same action proposed in the NOI] Figure 2. MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Insert Map Title]. Alternative …. MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Describe the alternative including mitigation] Figure 3. MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Insert Map Title]. Mitigation Common to All AlternativesThe Forest Service also developed the following mitigation measures to be used as part of all of the action alternatives. MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Describe mitigation measures] Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed StudyFederal agencies are required by NEPA to rigorously explore and objectively evaluate all reasonable alternatives and to briefly discuss the reasons for eliminating any alternatives that were not developed in detail (40 CFR 1502.14). Public comments received in response to the Proposed Action provided suggestions for alternative methods for achieving the purpose and need. Some of these alternatives may have been outside the scope of MACROBUTTON NoMacro [insert need], duplicative of the alternatives considered in detail, or determined to be components that would cause unnecessary environmental harm. Therefore, a number of alternatives were considered, but dismissed from detailed consideration for reasons summarized below MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Edit text specifically for the circumstances of this project]. MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Describe alternatives considered but eliminated from detailed study] Comparison of AlternativesThis section provides a summary of the effects of implementing each alternative. Information in the table is focused on activities and effects where different levels of effects or outputs can be distinguished quantitatively or qualitatively among alternatives. Table MACROBUTTON NoMacro [X]. MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Title of Chart].Alternative 1Alternative 2Alternative 3Alternative 4[Item to Compare 1][Item to Compare 2][Item to Compare 3][Item to Compare 4][Item to Compare 5][Item to Compare 6]Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental ConsequencesThis Chapter summarizes the physical, biological, social, and economic environments of the project area and the effects of implementing each alternative on that environment. It also presents the scientific and analytical basis for the comparison of alternatives presented in the alternatives chapter.MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Topic #1][Insert overview of the affected environment, description of effects to that environment and any table or figures necessary to help describe the effects. Use indicators developed for each issue in the Issues section to compare effects by alternative. Include direct, indirect, and cumulative effects.]MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Topic …][Insert overview of the affected environment, description of effects to that environment and any table or figures necessary to help describe the effects. Use the same indicators described for each issue in the Issues section to explain the effects by alternative. Include direct, indirect, and cumulative effects.]Short-term Uses and Long-term ProductivityNEPA requires consideration of “the relationship between short-term uses of man’s environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity” (40 CFR 1502.16). As declared by the Congress, this includes using all practicable means and measures, including financial and technical assistance, in a manner calculated to foster and promote the general welfare, to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans (NEPA Section 101).[Reference the environmental consequences discussions related to the relationships between short-term uses and long-term productivity.]Unavoidable Adverse Effects[Insert a description of any adverse effects that are unavoidable for each alternative and reference the effects described in the environmental consequences ‘topics’ discussion.]Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of ResourcesIrreversible commitments of resources are those that cannot be regained, such as the extinction of a species or the removal of mined ore. Irretrievable commitments are those that are lost for a period of time such as the temporary loss of timber productivity in forested areas that are kept clear for use as a power line rights-of-way or road.[Insert a description of any irreversible or irretrievable effects by alternative and reference the effects described in the environmental consequences ‘topics’ discussion.]Cumulative Effects[Cumulative effects should be addressed in the environmental consequences ‘topics’ discussion. Reference these discussions here. If applicable, discuss any inter-relationships of cumulative effects between ‘topic’ areas as well as inter-relationships with any other projects, policies, or recent decisions.]Other Required DisclosuresNEPA at 40 CFR 1502.25(a) directs “to the fullest extent possible, agencies shall prepare draft environmental impact statements concurrently with and integrated with …other environmental review laws and executive orders.” [Insert a description of how the Forest Service has consulted with or is not required to consult with the agencies listed below as required under the following Acts and laws:Fish and Wildlife Service under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act for causing water to be impounded or diverted;National Historic Preservation Act for causing ground disturbing actions in historical places;U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service in accordance with the ESA implementing regulations for projects with threatened or endangered species; andAny applicable state and county laws affected by the alternatives.]Chapter 4. Consultation and CoordinationPreparers and Contributors The Forest Service consulted the following individuals, Federal, State, and local agencies, tribes and non-Forest Service persons during the development of this environmental assessment:ID TEAM MEMBERS:MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Insert names]FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AGENCIES:MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Insert names]TRIBES:MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Insert names]OTHERS:MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Insert names]Distribution of the Environmental Impact Statement This environmental impact statement has been distributed to individuals who specifically requested a copy of the document [{for final environmental impact statements only} and those who submitted substantive comments on the draft environmental impact statement]. In addition, copies have been sent to the following Federal agencies, federally recognized tribes, Sate and local governments, and organizations representing a wide range of views regarding MACROBUTTON NoMacro [insert purpose].[Insert names of any Federal agency which has jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to any environmental impact involved and any appropriate Federal, State. or local agency authorized to develop and enforce environmental standards; any person, organization, or agency requesting the entire environmental impact statement; and in the case of a final environmental impact statement any person, organization, or agency which submitted substantive comments.] IndexMACROBUTTON NoMacro [Insert an index.]Appendices (if any)[Insert any material that is essential to the understanding of the environmental impact statement.]Response to Public Comment (for Final EISs)MACROBUTTON NoMacro [Insert responses to public comment.] ................
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