Origins and development - Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment - page 35

policies and controls
— effects of alternatives, including proposed action
— energy requirements and conservation potential of various alternatives and mitigation
measures
— natural or depletable resource requirements and conservation of various alternatives and
mitigation measures
— effects on urban quality, historic and cultural resources, and built environment
— means to mitigate adverse impacts
(h) List of preparers
(i) List of agencies, etc. to which copies of EIS are sent
(j) Index
(k) Appendices, including supporting data
A draft EIS is then prepared, and is reviewed and commented on by the relevant agencies
and the public. These comments are taken into account in the subsequent preparation of a
final EIS. An EIS is normally presented in the format shown in Table 2.2. In an attempt
to be comprehensive, early EISs tended to be so bulky as to be virtually unreadable. The
CEQ guidelines consequently emphasize the need to concentrate only on important issues
and to prepare readable documents: “The text of final environmental impact statements
shall normally be less than 150 pages…Environmental impact statements shall be written
in plain language…” (§1502.7-8)
The public is involved in this process, both at the scoping stage and after publication of
the draft and final EISs:
Agencies shall: (a) Make diligent efforts to involve the public in preparing
and implementing NEPA procedures…(b) Provide public notice of
NEPA-related hearings, public meetings and the availability of
environmental documents… (c) Hold or sponsor public
hearings…whenever appropriate…(d) Solicit appropriate information
from the public. (e) Explain in its procedures where interested persons can
get information or status reports…(f) Make environmental impact
statements, the comments received, and any underlying documents
available to the public pursuant to the provisions of the Freedom of
Information Act…(§1506.6)
Finally, a decision is made about whether the proposed action should be permitted:
Agencies shall adopt procedures to ensure that decisions are made in
accordance with the policies and purposes of the Act. Such procedures
shall include but not be limited to: (a) Implementing procedures under
section 102(2) to achieve the requirements of sections 101 and