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

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
58
Environmental aualiri Part 550 National Environmental Policv Rct
Chanter 3 Documenting and Implementing Decisions 550 FW 3 3C(2)la)
la) To facilitate internal inter-program review and final
approval when a FONSI is to be signed at the Service
Washington or Regional Office level.
(bl To document a normally categorically excluded
action that may be controversial.
(c) To document emergency NEPA actions pursuant to
40 CFR 1506.17 .
(61 Distribution of the EAS
Ia) The EAS is part of the Service's NEPA administrative
record for an action. Although it is not normally
distributed to the public, the Service shall provide a copy
of the EAS to the public whenever requested in the same
manner as other NEPA environmental documents 140 CFR
1506.6(f)).
Id) When, after the review of an EA, a decision is
made to publish an NOI in the Federal Resister
announcing the decision to prepare an EIS.
le) When a proposed action is not approved because
of unacceptable environmental damage, or violation of
Service mandates, policy, regulations, or procedures.
(f) Whenever additional internal review and/or
documentation of the NEPA administrative record is
desirable.
(3) Corrtent of the EAS. The EAS will consist of a
one-page document indicating the proposal, the Service
decision, references to supporting documents (if any),
and a signature block. The format of the EAS should
be in~ accordance with Exhibit 4.
f4) Processing the EAS. The EAS will accompany the
decision documents for the action through the surname
and signature process. The EAS will be signed no
sooner than when the decision is made on a
categorical exclusion, or when the ROD or FONSI is
signed.
(5) Signature Approval of the FAS. The signature
approval blocks (Exhibit 4) may be modified to
accommodate the Service office where final signature
approval occurs.
(a1 At the freld office level, the signature block would
normally include the signature and date of the
originator and the field office supervisor.
Ib) At the Regional Office level, the signature block
would normally include the signature and date of the
originator, the Regional Environmental Coordinator,
appropriate Assistant Regional Director(s) or their
designees, and the Regional Director.
(c1 At the Washington Office level, the signature block
would normally include the signature and date of the
originator, the Washington Office Environmental
Coordinator, the appropriate Assistant Director(s) or
their designees, and the Director.
(b) The original EAS should be maintained by the Service
office originating the action.
(cl A copy of the EAS should be provided to each Service
office indicated on the signature block; the Washington
Office or Regional Office Environmental Coordinator, as
appropriate; and other affected Service offices.
3.4 Implementing and Monitoring the Decision. Until the
Service issues the ROD or FONSI, as appropriate, no
action concerning the proposal shall be taken (40 CFR
1506.1). When the Service implements an action, that
action must be carried out in substantially the same
manner as addressed in the ROD or FONSI. Mitigation and
other conditions committed as part of the decision should
be implemented. The Service may provide for monitoring
to assure that decisions are carried out, and should do so
in important cases 140 CFR 7 505.3).
03/29/96 FWM 248 ENVIRONMENTAL aUALITY
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