Title 7

SECTION 799.53

799.53 Contents of an EIS.

§ 799.53 Contents of an EIS.

(a) FSA will prepare the EIS as specified in 40 CFR part 1502 and in section 102 of NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4332).

(b) The EIS should include at least the following:

(1) An FSA cover sheet;

(2) An executive summary explaining the major conclusions, areas of controversy, and the issues to be resolved;

(3) A table of contents;

(4) List of acronyms and abbreviations;

(5) A brief statement explaining the purpose and need of the proposed action;

(6) A detailed discussion of the environmental impacts of the proposed action and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, a description and brief analysis of the alternatives considered but eliminated from further consideration, the no-action alternative, FSA's preferred alternative(s), and discussion of appropriate mitigation measures;

(7) A discussion of the affected environment;

(8) A detailed discussion of:

(i) The direct and indirect environmental consequences, including any cumulative impacts, of the proposed action and of the alternatives;

(ii) Unavoidable adverse environmental effects;

(iii) The relationship between local short-term uses of the environment and long-term ecosystem productivity;

(iv) Any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources;

(vi) Possible conflicts with the objectives of Federal, regional, State, local, regional, and Tribal land use plans, policies, and controls for the area concerned;

(vii) Energy and natural depletable resource requirements, including, but not limited to natural gas and oil, and conservation potential of the alternatives and mitigation measures; and

(viii) Urban quality, historic, and cultural resources and the design of the built environment, including the reuse and conservation potential of the alternatives and mitigation measures;

(9) In the draft EIS, a list of all Federal permits, licenses, and other entitlements that must be obtained for implementation of the proposed action;

(10) A list of preparers;

(11) Persons and agencies contacted;

(12) References, if appropriate;

(13) Glossary, if appropriate;

(14) Index;

(15) Appendixes, if any;

(16) A list of agencies, organizations, and persons to whom copies of the EIS are sent; and

(17) In the final EIS, a response to substantive comments on environmental issues.

(c) FSA may have a contractor prepare an EIS as specified in 40 CFR 1506.5(c). If FSA has a contractor prepare an EIS, FSA will:

(1) Require the contractor to sign a disclosure statement specifying it has no financial or other interest in the outcome of the proposed action, which will be included in the administrative record; and

(2) Furnish guidance and participate in the preparation of the EIS, and independently evaluate the EIS before its approval.

---