Chapter20,EnvironmentalImpactStatementsandRelated.docVIP

Forest Service Handbook national headquarters (wo) Washington, DC fsH 1909.15 – national environmental policy act HANDBOOK chapteR 20 – environmental impact statements and related documents Amendment No.: 1909.15-2011-5 Effective Date: September 14, 2011 Duration: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed. Approved: FAYE L. KRUEGER Associate Deputy Chief, NFS Date Approved: 09/09/2011 Posting Instructions: Amendments are numbered consecutively by handbook number and calendar year. Post by document; remove the entire document and replace it with this amendment. Retain this transmittal as the first page(s) of this document. The last amendment to this handbook was 1909.15-2011-4 to 1909.15_zero_code. New Document 1909.15_20 24 Pages Superseded Document(s) by Issuance Number and Effective Date 1909.15_20 (Amendment 1909.15-2011-2, 04/01/2011) 25 Pages Digest: 22.1 - Removes “Distribution” from the section title as it implies a requirement for distribution of notices of intent (NOI) that is not intended. Also, updates the hyperlink to Field Unit Checklist for Processing Notices. 22.2 - Changes “may” to “should” to encourage issuance of corrected NOIs when there are major changes and removes the unintended implied requirement for distribution of NOIs. Also, removes the requirement to distribute notices of intent. 22.3 - Removes the “Exhibit 01” heading and makes minor text edits and paragraph alignment for clarity. 24.1 - Adds a reminder that paper copies of environmental impact statements filed with EPA’s Office of Federal Activities must be bound. Table of Contents 21 - FACTORS TO CONSIDER 3 21.1 - Whether to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 3 21.2 - Classes of Actions Normally Requiring Environmental Impact Statements 4 22 - NOTICES OF INTENT 5 22.1 - Preparation of Notices of Intent (NOI) 5 22.2 - Correction of Notices of Intent 6 22.3 - Withdrawal of a Notice of Intent 7 23 - UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMP