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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(2) If the Service is a cooperating agency, or if the Service has
otherwise been a participant in the scoping process for a proposed action,
review of the draft EIS is needed only to the extent that it ensures our
concerns have been correctly addressed.
(3) When controlled documents arrive far review, they should be quickly
scanned to determine deadlines and relative priority, and the review should
be assigned immediately. If the immediate determination indicates a low
priority and a potential for a "no comment" response, the reviewer should
follow through with a quick reply.
(4) "No Comments" on draft EISs and on proposed Chief's Reports must be
made in writing.
(5) Field office review schedules should ensure that intermediate offices
such as the Regional Office, lead collating bureau, REO, OEPC, DHC, and
other appropriate Washington Office entities are allowed adequate time to
briefly review proposed comments. Potential mail delays and holiday and
weekend "down time" should be factored in both DHC's mail schedule and the
reviewer's schedule, to the extent possible. DHC shall ensure that the
most expeditious mailing system is used, to include routine use of daily
bulk "overnight" mail to the Regions, faxed copies, and other appropriate
electronic mail transmission, as warranted.
L. Extensions of Time. Organizational responsibilities for meeting
deadlines and for requesting extensions of time are described in
505 FW 1.6.
(1) Extensions of review deadlines will occasionally be needed because of
unusual routing or mail delays, required field studies, necessary
coordination with other Federal or State agencies, or the discovery of
unforeseen problems with the proposed action. The need for any extension
must be determined early in the review process and should be requested not
later than three days after receipt of the controlled document. The nearer
the deadline, the more difficult it is to obtain extensions. An extension
should be requested only when it is expected that substantive comments will
be made, or substantive field inspection or coordination is needed. It is
usually not appropriate or possible to get an extension on a final EIS
unless needed in an attempt to avoid CEQ referral.
(2} Extensions of time on OEPC-controlled documents must be made in a
request to the lead Federal agency. Unless otherwise directed, this is
done by DOI (OEPC or REO, as appropriate).
(3) Extensions of time will be negotiated by the REC with OEPC or the REO,
as appropriate. Extensions of one week or less can generally be requested
and confirmed verbally. Requests for extension in excess of two weeks must
be made in writing for OOI confirmation to the action agency. This letter
request will be prepared and processed by DHC. However, the requesting
field office must be prepared to offer explicit justification for lengthy
extensions. Some examples of good reasons are the need to attend public
meetings scheduled after the comment due date or the need for additional
coordination with State resource agencies. The Washington Office