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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C. Initiation of Formal Scoping. Initiation of an agency's scoping
process formally commences with Federal Register publication of a notice of
intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS. CEQ's NEPA regulations intend for
coordination to take place as fully as possible prior to release of a draft
EIS. At a minimum, Service input into the scoping process and our
responses to the NOI should indicate our general jurisdictional and/or
environmental concerns, proposed resolutions, or our no objection to
project implementation if it is determined there will be little or no
impact on fish and wildlife resources. -If .the proposed action may affect
any resources for which the Service has jurisdictional responsibility, the
lead agency must be notified at this time and a process established for
resolving any concerns. Replies to NOIs may be made directly to the lead
agency by the project leader pursuant to 505 FW 1.6(6)(8).
D. Service Participation in Scoping.
(I) Service personnel should normally attend scoping meetings. If
attendance is precluded due to travel restrictions or other commitments,
written Service comments from the field level should be provided in
accordance with instructions in the scoping invitation or public notice.
(2) If the Service is aware that a proposed project may have potential,
significant impacts on fish and wildlife resources under the jurisdiction
of the Service (e.g., national wildlife refuges, endangered species), the
Service field office should advise the sponsoring agency that the Service
will be participating in the scoping process and may wish (or requests) to
be a cooperating agency.
(3) Service participation in scoping should be coordinated with the
appropriate State agencies with regard to the conservation of fish and
wildlife resources of mutual interest.
(4) All Service reports and project recommendations must be provided to
the lead agency to permit incorporation into project plans, including the
draft EIS.
(5) Service reports resulting from participation in the scoping process
will be coordinated with other reports or compliance required by the Fish
and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA), Endangered Species Act, and other
laws.
(6) Service input into scoping processes should be documented in EISs, and
Service comments should point out any omissions or discrepancies in the use
of this input. The Service NEPA Reference Handbook contains a sample
Service comment letter to the lead Federal agency on its NOI~to prepare an
EIS.
2.4 Resolving federal Agency Planning Inconsistencies.
A. This section describes general guidance for resolving agency
differences. For example, the Service may believe another agency's actions
are inconsistent with CEQ's NEPA regulations. The Service may have clearly
indicated to the agency that their proposed action is "major or