| The NEPA Task Force Report to
the Council on Environmental Quality
Modernizing NEPA Implementation Table of Contents Cover Table of Contents Preface EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1: TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SECURITY a.. 1.1 Government Initiatives b.. 1.2 NEPA-Process Tracking System c.. 1.3 Information Needs for NEPA Analyses a.. 1.3.1 Information Sources b.. 1.3.2 Sharing Information Resources c.. 1.3.3 Initiatives Foster NEPA Information Resources d.. 1.4 Communications and Public Access to Information a.. 1.4.1 Communication Mechanisms b.. 1.4.2 Increased Public Interest e.. 1.5 NEPA and Information Quality a.. 1.5.1 Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 b.. 1.5.2 Information Quality Control f.. 1.6 NEPA and Information Security g.. 1.7 Concerns about Using Information Technology h.. 1.8 Barriers to Using Information Technology a.. 1.8.1 Vision b.. 1.8.2 Change c.. 1.8.3 Interoperability d.. 1.8.4 Accessibility i.. 1.9 Issues and Recommendations j.. 1.10 Summary of Recommendations CHAPTER 2: FEDERAL AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL COLLABORATION a.. 2.1 Characteristics of Successful Collaborative Practices a.. 2.1.1 Vision b.. 2.1.2 Trust c.. 2.1.3 Communication b.. 2.2 When and How to Create Collaborative Agreements c.. 2.3 Collaborative Training d.. 2.4 Issues and Recommendations e.. 2.5 Summary of Recommendations CHAPTER 3: PROGRAMMATIC ANALYSES AND TIERING a.. 3.1 Types of Programmatic NEPA Documents b.. 3.2 Scope of Programmatic Analyses c.. 3.3 Content of Programmatic Documents d.. 3.4 Longevity of Programmatic Documents e.. 3.5 Links to Adaptive Management and Environmental Management Systems f.. 3.6 Issues and Recommendations g.. 3.7 Summary of Recommendations CHAPTER 4: ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING a.. 4.1 NEPA Adaptive Management Model a.. 4.1.1 Convening an Adaptive Management Work Group b.. 4.2 Using Adaptive Management a.. 4.2.1 Adaptive Management Benefits b.. 4.2.2 Adaptive Management Concerns c.. 4.2.3 Adaptive Management Pilot Study c.. 4.3 Planning Adaptive Management a.. 4.3.1 Key Factors and Approaches to Adaptive Management b.. 4.3.2 Oversight and Public Involvement in Adaptive Management d.. 4.4 Documenting Adaptive Management a.. 4.4.1 Cumulative Effects of Adaptive Management e.. 4.5 Implementing Adaptive Management f.. 4.6 Environmental Management Systems a.. 4.6.1 Integrating Adaptive Management and EMS g.. 4.7 Issues and Recommendations h.. 4.8 Summary of Recommendations CHAPTER 5: CATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS a.. 5.1 INTRODUCTION b.. 5.2 Categorical Exclusion Development and Revision a.. 5.2.1 Supporting a Determination of No Significant b.. 5.2.2 Importance of the Administrative Record c.. 5.2.3 Benchmarking Categorical Exclusion d.. 5.2.4 Regional Categorical Exclusions c.. 5.3 Categorical Exclusion Approval Process a.. 5.3.1 Informal CEQ Consultation b.. 5.3.2 Formal CEQ Review c.. 5.3.3 Public Involvement d.. 5.4 Resource Constraints e.. 5.5 Issues and Recommendations f.. 5.6 Summary of Recommendations CHAPTER 6: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS a.. 6.1 EA and FONSI Use a.. 6.1.1 Small and Large EAs b.. 6.1.2 Judical Review c.. 6.1.3 EA Checklists and Forms d.. 6.1.4 When to Complete an EA b.. 6.2 Mitigated EAs and FONSIs c.. 6.3 EA Alternatives Analysis d.. 6.4 EA Public Involvement e.. 6.5 Issues and Recommendations f.. 6.6 Summary of Recommendations CHAPTER 7: ADDITIONAL AREAS OF CONSIDERATION a.. 7.1 Additional Topics Raised a.. 7.1.1 Public Opinion b.. 7.1.2 Agency Critiques c.. 7.1.3 Agency Trust and Credibility d.. 7.1.4 Resource Allocation e.. 7.1.5 Definitions f.. 7.1.6 Legal Standards of Review g.. 7.1.7 Process Management h.. 7.1.8 Effects Analysis i.. 7.1.9 Supplemental Reviews j.. 7.1.10 Delegation of NEPA Responsibilities b.. 7.2 Four Additional Issues and Recommendations a.. 7.2.1 Coordinating Compliance with Other Laws b.. 7.2.2 Alternatives c.. 7.2.3 Social, Cultural, and Economic Analyses d.. 7.2.4 Disputes and Post-decisional Reviews c.. 7.3 Three General Recommendations a.. 7.3.1 Increase Staff b.. 7.3.2 Annual Legal Forums c.. 7.3.3 Develop Handbook d.. 7.4 Summary of Additional Recommendations CONCLUSION REFERENCES APPENDICES A-E a.. APPENDIX A b.. APPENDIX B c.. APPENDIX C d.. APPENDIX D e.. APPENDIX E |