Phase 1 of NEPA

Question 1

What is phase 1 of NEPA

Answer 1

Screening for NEPA’s Applicability

Question 2

When a federal agency intends to carryout, fund, or
approve a proposed action, it must first determine
whether NEPA applies to that action. These actions could…

Answer 2

• Fall outside of NEPA’s requirements
• Fall within a category of activities that the federal
  the agency has determined should be excluded from NEPA (known as “categorical exclusions”)
• Are otherwise exempt from NEPA

Question 3

What is the purpose of the EA

Answer 3

1. Provide evidence and analysis
   sufficient to determine whether an EIS is
   required
2. Aid a federal agency’s compliance with
   NEPA when no EIS is necessary
3. Facilitate preparation of an EIS when
   one is necessary

Question 4

According to CEQ NEPA Regulations,
an EA must discuss the following:

Answer 4

The need for the proposed action (Purpose
and Need)
2. The proposed action and alternatives as
required by NEPA
3. The probable environmental impacts of the
proposed action and alternatives
4. The agencies and persons consulted during
the preparation of the EA

Question 5

What does a purpose of and need for action need?

Answer 5

• purpose and need statement
• desired conditions
• existing conditions

Question 6

What are the parts of a proposed action?

Answer 6

Who
What
How
Where
When

Question 7

What are the types of actions

Answer 7

Proposals or parts of proposals
which are related to each other closely
enough to be, in effect, a single course of
action shall be evaluated in a single impact
statement.
May be:
(1) Connected actions
(2) Cumulative Actions
(3) Similar Actions

Question 8

What are connected actions

Answer 8

Closely related actions that:
- Automatically trigger other actions, or
- Cannot or will not proceed unless other actions are taken previously or simultaneously, or
- Are interdependent parts of a larger action and depend on the larger action for their justification

Question 9

What are similar actions

Answer 9

Similar actions, when viewed with other
reasonably foreseeable or proposed agency
actions, have similarities that provide a basis
for evaluating their environmental
consequences together, such as common
timing and geography.

Question 10

What are cumulative actions

Answer 10

Cumulative Actions, when viewed with other
Proposed Actions, have cumulatively significant
environmental impacts; and, therefore, should be
discussed in the same environmental impact
statement

Question 11

Do connected actions need to be included in the same proposed action?

Answer 11

Must be included

Question 12

Do similar actions need to be included in the same proposed action?

Answer 12

May be included

Question 13

Do cumulative actions need to be included in the same proposed action?

Answer 13

Must be included in the same EIS

Question 14

What must be included in Writing the Proposed Action Description

Answer 14

• Include who, what, how, where, and when
• Include all connected actions
• Include any similar or cumulative actions as
  determined by responsible official.