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94 <br />(1) The Corps of Engineers defines their policy and procedures for <br />implementing NEPA in 33 CFR 230. Under these procedures, the Corps <br />integrates NEPA requirements with other planning and environmental review <br />and consultation requirements. NEPA review activities generally occur <br />during Feasibility Studies, which follow Reconnaissance Studies, in the <br />Corps planning process. When an EIS is required, it will occur as a <br />separate section bound in the Feasibility Report. When commenting on these <br />combined documents, which are "ER"-controlled, the FWCA response to the <br />planning document should be separated from the EIS comments, but may. be <br />presented in the same letter. <br />(2) Comments to the Department's Office of Environmental Policy and <br />Compliance (OEPC) should also include the Service's opinion as to the <br />environmental acceptability of the proposed action, and make note of <br />previous Service assistance and comments. Any Service reports or documents <br />referenced must be attached, unless previously submitted to the lead <br />agency. Service comments to OEPC should close with an offer of continued <br />coordination with the field office (address and telephone number should be <br />provided). <br />(3) At the termination of Feasibility Studies, the Chief of Engineers <br />prepares a proposed report based on findings of the District Engineer and <br />Division Engineer, which recommends the plan the Chief will propose to <br />Congress for authorization. The proposed Chief's Report is generally two <br />or three pages and summarizes and approves or disapproves the findings and <br />recommendations of the Division and District Engineers. The supporting <br />documents to the proposed Chief's Report vary but usually include the <br />reports of the Division Engineer as well as the District Engineer's <br />Feasibility Report and final EIS. <br />(4) The Service is required to complete the review of the final EIS within <br />30 days, but has 90 days to complete the Federal/State agency review of the <br />proposed Chief's Report. These comments are normally contained in one <br />letter, but must be in separate sections. The comments for both reviews <br />should normally be submitted to the Corps within the 30-day period. Should <br />the Service need to make comments on ESA compliance, these comments should <br />be in a separate section of the letter. <br />(5) Review of the proposed Chief's Report and final EIS should determine <br />whether Service recommendations are included in the Chief's <br />recommendations. Service comments on the proposed Chief's Report should, <br />at a minimum, address the following concerns. <br />(a) Whether the proposed Chief's Report adequately addresses Service <br />concerns and recommendations (i.e., mitigation, ESA compliance). <br />(b) Whether the Service supports the Chief's recommended plan. <br />(6) Comments should present a definite Service position on the proposed <br />Chief's Report and on the project. Where the Service has major unsatisfied <br />concerns, a concise and complete justification of our position, consistent <br />with the FWCA Report, should be provided. Service comments should clearly <br />and forcefully urge the tn~ef to include modifications deemed necessary to <br />