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<br />" <br /> <br />legislation and other major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, a <br />detailed statement by the responsible official. <br /> <br />'11~ <br /> <br />Prior to motnng any detailed statement" the responsible Federal official must consult with and obtain <br />the comments of any Federal agency which has jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to any <br />environmental impact involved. <br /> <br />IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW: Regulations for implementing the procedural proyisions of NEPA <br />(40 CPR PartS 15()()..1508) outline in detail how a Federal agency must comply ,with the goals of NEPA. <br />Specific objectives oftbis regulation include the development of documents that identify environmental issues <br />and mechanisms that produce involvement by the public in the planning and decision mo tnng process. <br /> <br />INVOLVEMENT BY INDIAN TRIBES IN THE NEPA PROCESS: In general, a Federal age!ICY consults <br />early in the, planning process to ensure that. its planning and deci$ions refIectenvironmental values. Each <br />agency must also provide for cases where actions are planned by private applicants or other non-Federal <br />entities before Federal involvement so that the Federal agency Consults early with appropriate Indian Tribes <br />when its own involvement is reasonably foreseeable [1501.2( d)(2)J. <br /> <br />Any affected Indian Tribe must be invited to participate in, the process for determining the scope of <br />issues to be addresses in an environmental, impact statement (EIS) [1501.7(1)J. lbeEIS must, amo!lg other <br />things, address possible conflicts be~een the proposed action and the objectives of an Indian Tribe as the <br />action concerns land use plans, policies, and controls for the affected reservation [1502. 16(c)J. <br /> <br />After preparing a draft EIS and before preparing a final EIS, an agency must request the comments <br />of Indian Tribes, when the effects may be on a: reservation [1503.1(2)(II)J. ' <br /> <br />An agency must provide public notice of NEP A-related hearings, public meetings, and the availability <br />of environmental documents to Indian Tribes when effects occur on reservations [1506.6(b)(3)(n)J <br /> <br />~~~f~; <br /> <br />Under Part 1508, Terminology and Index, of the NEPA regulations, Indian,Tribes may ,by agreement <br />with thelead Federalagency, be involved in the NEPA process as "cooperating agencies" when the anticipated <br />effects are on a reservation [1508.5]. <br /> <br />BOW TI:IE COlU'S PARTICIPATES: As a Federal agency, the Corps is reSpoJlSjble for the implemelltatioll'. <br />and completion of all applicable aspects of the NEP A process. It may be thll lead Federal agellcy 1aking <br />primaIy responsibility fQr preparation of an environmentaI document or it may assume a lesser role. The Corps <br />may undertake, the preparation of an environmental documellt or it may oversee its preparatioll, partii:uIarly , <br />in a regulatory C!lpacity. ' <br /> <br />PARTNERS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS PROGRAM <br /> <br />WHAT THE CORPS CAN DO: The Partners for Environmental Progress (PEP) Program is geared to <br />helping small and disadvantaged communities 1'1I:amine water-related environmental infrastructure services ' <br />traditionally provided by the public sector and identify potential public/private partnership opportunities. <br /> <br />28 <br />