Title 7

SECTION 650.8

650.8 When to prepare an environmental assessment (EA).

§ 650.8 When to prepare an environmental assessment (EA).

An environmental assessment (EA) is to be prepared for:

(a) Land and water resource projects that are not included in § 650.7(a) (1) through (4) for which State and local units of government receive Federal technical and financial assistance from NRCS (7 CFR parts 620 through 623; and 640 through 643); and

(b) Other actions that the EE reveals may be a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.

(1) A program EA is to be prepared when NRCS has determined, based on the environmental evaluation, that a program EIS is not required and the program and actions to implement the program are not categorically excluded; and

(2) A program EA may also be prepared to aid in NRCS decision-making and to aid in compliance with NEPA.

(d) The RFO, through the process of tiering, is to determine if a site-specific EA or EIS is required for an action that is included in a program EA or EIS.

[44 FR 50579, Aug. 29, 1979, as amended at 73 FR 35886, June 25, 2008]