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<br />> <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Reclamation Instructions <br /> <br />Part 376 Environmental Quality - <br />Preservation and Enhancement <br /> <br />Series 350 General Instructions <br /> <br />376.5.3 <br /> <br />CHAPTER 5 3TATEMENT OF ENVIP.ONMENTAL IMPACT <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />uncompleted feature of a proj ect has significant environmental impact, <br />alternatives must be considered and an environrrlental statenEmt must <br />be prepared. <br /> <br />It is essential that the Act be applied as effectively as possible. The <br />application may require alteratioL1s in features of the project to which <br />resources have not yet been unalterably committed. The ongoing program <br />or uncompleted feature of a project need not be stopped or delayed pending <br />preparation of the statement. However, if an ongoing project entails indi- <br />vidual major features or separable operating entities not yet authorized <br />or not yet funded for start of construction, an 8TI"Jircmrnental stateml2nt is <br />necessary if it is determined that any of the incremental features have a <br />significant environmental impact. <br /> <br />In deciding between an overall project enlJirorunental statement or an indi- <br />vidual feature environmental statem~ntJ the rule to apply is that the over- <br />all proj ect environmental statement is preferred. <br /> <br />. 3 Purpose of Statement. The environmental impact statement p}'ovides a means <br />for giving environmental impact careful and appropriate review in the decision- <br />~aJdng process. Environmental statements summarize the salient features of <br />a prc'posed project or action program. They describe the environmental setting <br />_. and provide concise, factual information concerning I!A1ternatives to the Pro- <br />Q..os~d ~c!ion TI where unresolved environmental issues are raised. <br /> <br />The environmental statement must have ?ufficient detail to allow re3ponsible <br />officials to understand the effects of a proposed action anc1to make accurate <br />decisions regarding protection and enhancement of environmental values. Thr:; <br />statement should reflect the measures taken to create and maintair.. conditions <br />un.der vlhich man and nature can exist in productive harmony. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. 4 Definitions. <br /> <br />A. "L'.'lajol' Federal Actions Siqnifi'::antlj Affecting the Quality of tr,c Human <br />EnvL'onment" (quoted from the Act) is to be constllled with a Vlew to the <br />overall"c:lmulative impact'of the action proposed, and of furtheT actions <br />contempl2.ted. Such actions may be localized in their impact, h:.t, ~f the <br />components of the environment or its uniqueness may be s~gnifl~_~S:_ <br />~cted, the st8.~ement is to be prepared. <br /> <br />Significant effects inc!de those that degrade or enl1ance the qualit)' Of <br />. the environment; curtail or extend the range of bepeficial llSes of the <br />environment; or 1i.e..rve SLI01't term, to the disadvantage of long term} <br />environmental goals. Significa;Lt effects can-also ir,clude actions whic.h <br />may be both benefjcial and detrimE:ntal. Significant effe.:::ts on the quality <br />of the human environment include impact!? that directly and indirectly <br />affect human beings. .. <br /> <br />B. Draft Environmental Statement. This document, to be as complete as <br />possible, is circulated to Federal, State, and local agencies and to any <br />public or private entity having an expressed interest, for their review <br />and comment as to its accuracy and completeness. It should accompany <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />376-4 - 1/12172 <br />