Laserfiche WebLink
23 <br />1502.6 Interdisciplinary preparation. <br />Environmental impact statements shall be prepared using aninter-disciplinary approach <br />which will insure the integrated use of the natural and social sciences and the environmental <br />design arts (section 102(2)(A) of the Act). The disciplines of the preparers shall be <br />appropriate to the scope and issues identified in the scoping process (SS 1501.7). <br />1502.7 Page limits. <br />The text of final environmental impact statements (e.g., paragraphs (d) through (g) of SS <br />1502.10) shall normally be less than 150 pages and for proposals of unusual scope or <br />complexity shall normally be less than 300 pages. <br />1502.8 Writing. <br />Environmental impact statements shall be written in plain language and may use <br />appropriate graphics so that decisionmakers and the public can readily understand them. <br />Agencies should employ writers of clear prose or editors to write, review, or edit statements, <br />which will be based upon the analysis and supporting data from the natural and social sci- <br />ences and the environmental design arts. <br />1502.9 Draft, final, and supplemental statements. <br />Except for proposals for legislation as provided in SS 1506.8 environmental impact <br />statements shall be prepared in two stages and may be supplemented. <br />(a) Draft environmental impact statements shall be prepared in accordance with the scope <br />decided upon in the scoping process. The lead agency shall work with the cooperating <br />agencies and shall obtain comments as required in Part 1503 of this chapter. The draft <br />statement must fulfill and satisfy to the fullest extent possible the requirements established for <br />final statements in section 102(2)(C) of the Act. If a draft statement is so inadequate as to <br />preclude meaningful analysis, the agency shall prepare and circulate a revised draft of the <br />appropriate portion. The agency shall make every effort to disclose and discuss at ap- <br />propriate points in the draft statement all major points of view on the environmental impacts <br />of the alternatives including the proposed action. <br />(b) Final environmental impact statements shall respond to comments as required in Part <br />1503 of this chapter. The agency shall discuss at appropriate points in the final statement <br />any responsible opposing view which was not adequately discussed in the draft statement and <br />shall indicate the agency's response to the issues raised. <br />(c) Agencies: <br />(1) Shall prepare supplements to either draft or final environmental impact statements if: <br />(i) The agency makes substantial changes in the proposed action that are relevant to <br />environmental concerns; or <br />(ii) There are significant new circumstances or information relevant to environmental <br />concerns and bearing on the proposed action or its impacts. <br />(2) May also prepare supplements when the agency determines that the purposes of the <br />