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38 <br />environmental assessment, the agency, besides fulfilling the requirements of paragraph (a) of <br />this section, shall make its own evaluation of the environmental issues and take responsibility <br />for the scope and content of the environmental assessment. <br />(c) Environmental impact statements. Except as provided in SS 1506.2 and 1506.3 any <br />environmental impact statement prepared pursuant to the requirements of NEPA shall be <br />prepared directly by or by a contractor selected by the lead agency or where appropriate <br />under SS 1501.6(b), a cooperating agency. It is the intent of these regulations that the <br />contractor be chosen solely by the lead agency, or by the lead agency in cooperation with <br />cooperating agencies, or where appropriate by a cooperating agency to avoid any conflict of <br />interest. Contractors shall execute a disclosure statement prepared by the lead agency, or <br />where appropriate the cooperating agency, specifying that they have no fmancial or other <br />interest in the outcome of the project. If the document is prepared by contract, the responsi- <br />ble Federal official shall furnish guidance and participate in the preparation and shall <br />independently evaluate the statement prior to its approval and take responsibility for its scope <br />and contents. Nothing in this section is intended to prohibit any agency from requesting any <br />person to submit information to it or to prohibit any person from submitting information to <br />any agency. <br />1506.6 Public involvement. <br />Agencies shall: <br />(a) Make diligent efforts to involve the public in preparing and implementing their NEPA <br />procedures. <br />(b) Provide public notice of NEPA-related hearings, public meetings, and the availability <br />of environmental documents so as to inform those persons and agencies who may be in- <br />terested or affected. <br />(1) In all cases the agency shall mail notice to those who have requested it on an <br />individual action. <br />(2) In the case of an action with effects of national concern notice shall <br />include publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER and notice by mail to national <br />organizations reasonably expected to be interested in the matter and may include listing in the <br />102 Monitor. An agency engaged in rulemaking may provide notice by mail to national <br />organizations who have requested that notice regularly be provided. Agencies shall maintain <br />a list of such organizations. <br />(3) In the case of an action with effects primarily of local concern the notice may include: <br />(i) Notice to State and areawide clearinghouses pursuant to OMB Circular A-95 <br />(Revised). <br />(ii) Notice to Indian tribes when effects may occur on reservations. <br />(iii) Following the affected State's public notice procedures for comparable <br />actions. <br />(iv) Publication in local newspapers (in papers of general circulation rather than <br />legal papers). <br />(v) Notice through other local media. <br />(vi) Notice to potentially interested community organizations including small <br />