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CHAPTER II GENERAL APPROACH TO THE WORK National Environmental Policy Act .~' ~" ,'-' t~~ The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is the basic National charter for protection of the environment. It establishes policy, sets goals and provides means for carrying out the policy. Section l02(2)(c) required Federal agencies to act in accordance with the spirit of the law and to pre- pare an environmental report on any major Federal action. The NEPA process is intended to help public officials make informed decisions that are based on understanding the potential environmental consequences. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) published regulations for implementation of the act that set forth the directives to achieve the above goal. These regulations, which took effect July 30, 1979 (published November 29, 1978), stress concentration on truly significant environmental issues rather than amassing of information. They also require early public involvement, early availability of environmental information, and the con- sideration of mitigation of environmental impacts. In addition, CEQ regula- tions mandate a scoping process to help identify significant issues and a com- parative analysis of all reasonable alternatives. Procedures, page limits, and formats are also suggested. Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act Title II of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (Public Law 93-320) passed on June 24, 1974, directed the Secretary of the Interior to implement a salinity control policy adopted for the Colorado River. The policy essentially adopted the "Conclusions and Recommendations" published in the Proceedings of the Reconvened Seventh Session of the Conference in the Matter of Pollution of the Interstate Waters of the Colorado River and lts Tributaries in the States of California, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming, held in Denver, Colorado, April 26-27, 1972, under the authority of Section 10 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1160) and approved by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency on June 9, 1972. The Secretary was further directed to expedite the investi- gation, planning, and implementation of the salinity control program generally as described in Chapter VI of the Secretary's report entitled, Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program, February 1972. He was further directed to expedite completion of planning reports on l2 units. The Big Sandy River Unit was included in the l2 named units (a thirteenth [Meeker Dome] was later added) that required planning reports to be completed and submitted ,to the Congress with the Secretary's recommendations. Feasibility level investiga- tions for the Big Sandy River Unit and other Title II units were specifically authorized by Public Law 96-375 (October 3, 1980). :-,"'1:"-, ~, . :~' ""4-." Fish and wildlife Coordination Act The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 40l as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.) requires Water and Power to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service early in the planning process on water resource development projects which could impact fish and wildlife resources. The Fish and Wild- life Service, in conjunction with the State wildlife resource agency, is 8 ......., :",~-<.') ~J O)lt82