1909.15_0_Code
Page 1 of 3
FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK
DENVER, CO
FSH 1909.15 - ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND PROCEDURES HANDBOOK
R2 Supplement No. 1909.15-93-1
Effective June 30, 1993
POSTING NOTICE: Supplements to this title are numbered consecutively. Post by
document name. Remove entire document and replace with this supplement.
Retain this transmittal as the first page of this document. The last supplement to
this Handbook was Supplement No.1 to Zero Code.
Page Code
04--1
Superseded Sheets
1
Supplements Covered
R2 Supplement 03, 03/87
Document Name
1909.15_0
Digest:
Updates to Electronic Format.
ELIZABETH ESTILL
Regional Forester
Superseded New
(Number of Pages)
3
R2 SUPPLEMENT 1909.15
EFFECTIVE 6/30/93
1909.15_0_Code
Page 2 of 3
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND PROCEDURES HANDBOOK
ZERO CODE
04 - RESPONSIBILITY.
The following establishes processes, time schedules, and responsibilities for
Regional Office review of NEPA documents requiring the Regional Forester's
signature or approval.
All draft and final NEPA documents (Categorically Exclusions, Environmental
Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements, Decision Notices and Records
of Decision,) requiring the Regional Forester's signature will be submitted directly
to the Regional Environmental Coordinator (1950) for log-in, distribution to
technical review staffs (including OGC), review for compliance with NEPA and
vulnerability to litigation, and for return to the Forests or forwarding to the
Regional Forester for signature.
All documents submitted for review and signature will be accompanied by one or
more completed "Checklists" for the appropriate document type.
The Environmental Coordination staff will serve as the central control point for
ensuring that documents are reviewed, that the Regional Office Interdisciplinary
Team is convened for review when necessary, that the documents are tracked
through the review and approval process, and that disposition is made of the
documents in timely fashion.
All NEPA documents in draft and final form will receive review, and either be
returned to the submitting unit or passed on for signature within 30 days. The only
exceptions to this time limit will be documents which require Regional
Interdisciplinary Team review or lengthy legal review.
The Environmental Coordinator, or responsible staff unit will determine whether or
not Regional Interdisciplinary Team and/or Office of General Counsel review of a
document is required within two weeks for receipt of the document, and will notify
the submitting unit. The Regional Environmental Coordinator normally will first
attempt to have all documents reviewed by Regional Office technical staff before
passing documents to OGC or requesting RO Interdisciplinary Team Review. The
Regional Environmental Coordinator will ensure that Interdisciplinary Team
review proceeds in a timely fashion.
Each Director will designate a staff Environmental Coordinator who will be
responsible for ensuring that documents receive adequate review within the staff
unit, within the 30 day time period. Staff units should prepare and assemble all
review comments in final form for Regional Forester approval or for return to the
submitting unit. Staff Environmental Coordinators will return the documents and
review comments to the Regional Environmental Coordinator for final disposition.
The Regional Environmental Coordinator is responsible for the following:
R2 SUPPLEMENT 1909.15
EFFECTIVE 6/30/93
1909.15_0_Code
Page 3 of 3
Log-In and tracking of all Nepa documents requiring the Regional Forester's
signature, throughout the review and signature processes,
Distribution of these documents to technical staffs and Office of General
Counsel for further review,
Convocation of Regional Interdisciplinary Team when needed,
Collection of comments from reviewing staff or Regional Interdisciplinary
Team, and return to submitting unit.
Review of documents for compliance with NEPA and vulnerability to
litigation, and
Scheduling and screening functions for Office of general Counsel.
The Environmental Coordination staff will serve as the central control point for
tracking the documents, but will have no control over the content or application of
review standards by other Regional Office technical staff or Office of General
Counsel staff. These reviews will be the responsibility of the appropriate Director
or Counsel.