9629

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9629
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Title: Selected NEPA Documents.
• USFW Year: 1993.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

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when the effect will be to cut down on bulk without impeding agency and public review of
the action. The incorporated material shall be cited in the statement and its content briefly
described. No material may be incorporated by reference unless it is reasonably available for
inspection by potentially interested persons within the time allowed for comment. Material
based on proprietary data which is itself not available for review and comment shall not be
incorporated by reference.
1502.22 Incomplete or unavailable information.
When an agency is evaluating significant adverse effects on the human environment in an
environmental impact statement and there are gaps in relevant information or scientific
uncertainty, the agency shall always make clear that such information is lacking or that
uncertainty exists.
(a) If the information relevant to adverse impacts is essential to a reasoned choice among
alternatives and is not known and the overall costs of obtaining it are not exorbitant, the
agency shall include the information in the environmental impact statement.
(b) If (1) the information relevant to adverse impacts is essential to a reasoned choice
among alternatives and is not known and the overall costs of obtaining it are exorbitant or (2)
the information relevant to adverse impacts is important to the decision arid the means to
obtain it are not known (e.g., the means for. obtaining it are beyond the state of the art) the
agency shall weigh the need for the action against the risk and severity of possible adverse
impacts were the action to proceed in the face of uncertainty. If the agency proceeds, it shall
include a worst case analysis and an indication of the probability or improbability of its
occurrence.
1502.23 Cost-benefit analysis.
If acost-benefit analysis relevant to the choice among environmentally different
alternatives is being considered for the proposed action, it shall be incorporated by reference
or appended to the statement as an aid in evaluating the environmental consequences. To
assess the adequacy of compliance with sec. 102(2)(B) of the Act the statement shall, when a
cost benefit analysis is prepared, discuss the relationship between that analysis and any
analyses of unquantified environmental impacts, values, and amenities. For purposes of
complying with the Act, the weighing of the merits and drawbacks of the various alternatives
need not be displayed in a monetary cost-benefit analysis and should not be when there are
important qualitative considerations. In any event, an environmental impact statement should
at least indicate those considerations, including factors not related to environmental quality,
which are likely to be relevant and important to a decision.
1502.24 Methodology and scientific accuracy.
Agencies shall insure the professional integrity, including scientific integrity, of the
discussions and analyses in environmental impact statements. They shall identify any
methodologies used and shall make explicit reference by footnote to the scientific and other
sources relied upon for conclusions in the statement. An agency may place discussion of