Multilevel Environmental Impact Analysis - Environmental Impact Analysis: Process and Methods - page 231

alternative. In this case, insufficient detail regarding components of the elec-
trical energy generation alternatives was available, thus the time was not
“ripe for a decision.”
Actual case studies are summarized in Section 6.3 to demonstrate the effi-
ciency and effectiveness that can result from multilevel environmental analy-
ses. As demonstrated in the examples, a systematic and progressive approach
to the development of the proposed action and environmental impact analy-
sis is critical to success. Also important to successful implementation of multi-
level analysis are positive and productive cooperation and coordination with
stakeholders. The importance of the environmental analysis team develop-
ing a comprehensive understanding of the issues, a description of the action
adequate for the level of decision to be made, and a sufficient technical envi-
ronmental impact prediction is also demonstrated in the case studies.

6.2 Multilevel Environmental Impact Analysis Approaches

A number of multilevel environmental impact analysis approaches have
been developed promoting efficiency and effectiveness and fostering pro-
ductive stakeholder participation. These range from the simple to the com-
plex, with categorical exclusion (CATEX), as discussed in Section 3.6 being
perhaps the simplest, and examples of other relatively simple approaches
discussed in the following sections. Strategic environmental assessment is
a more complex approach and warrants a more comprehensive discussion
(Section 6.4).

6.2.1 Inclusion by Reference

Reference to a previously conducted analysis that has been fully developed
and accepted is another simple form of multilevel environmental impact
analysis. As the requirements and methods for comprehensive environmen-
tal impact analysis have grown and matured, environmental evaluations of
many diverse types of actions in many geographic locations and land use
types have been conducted. This approach draws on the description of the
affected environment (e.g., the type of vegetation, the current transportation
system, rare and endangered species; see Section 5.2) from a recent environ-
mental analysis for the same area which can be briefly summarized and the
previous document referenced. For example, the evaluation of endangered
species would not have to be repeated if a recent environmental analysis
in the same area concluded there were no rare or endangered species in the
area based on a comprehensive investigation. Subsequent environmental
analysis for the same area could simply cite the conclusions and reference
the original document after demonstrating that no land use or other changes