United States Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
Title of Project
Environmental Assessment
Name Ranger District, Name National Forest, Name County, State
Month Year
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For More Information Contact:
Responsible Official Name
District or Forest Name
Address
Address
Phone:
Email:
Fax:
NOTE: Blue text consists of instructions, items to change related to your project, and guidance
(including handbook direction). Please delete all blue text instructions, and change residual blue
text you need to retain to black. These notes relate directly to Forest Service Handbook (FSH)
direction at 1909.15, Chapter 40. There are a number of sections that traditionally get included in
an EA, but are not required by law. Some of those optional sections are: Table of Contents,
Summary, Background, Affected Environment, List of Document Preparers, Decision
Framework, Public Involvement Opportunities, Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of
Resources, and Comparison of Alternatives.
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is available.
Contents
Contents ............................................................................................................................................ i
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Proposed Project Location .......................................................................................................... 1
Need for the Proposal ...................................................................................................................... 1
Public Involvement and Tribal Consultation ................................................................................... 2
Proposed Action and Alternatives ................................................................................................... 3
Proposed Action .......................................................................................................................... 3
Alternative [X] ............................................................................................................................ 3
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action and Alternatives................................................... 4
Resource Heading ....................................................................................................................... 4
Resource Heading ....................................................................................................................... 5
Finding of No Significant Impact .................................................................................................... 6
Context ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Intensity....................................................................................................................................... 6
References ....................................................................................................................................... 9
List of Tables
Table 1. Sample table format........................................................................................................... 5
List of Figures
Figure 1. Vicinity map..................................................................................................................... 1
To refresh table of contents, list of tables, or list of figures, click on the table and press F9.
Choose entire table for best results.
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Name Ranger District, Name National Forest
Introduction
We are proposing to [summarize proposed activities] on [XX] acres. These actions
are proposed to be implemented on the [Name] Ranger District of the [Name]
National Forest.
We prepared this environmental assessment (EA) to determine whether implementation of
[summarize proposed activities] may significantly affect the quality of the human environment
and thereby require the preparation of an environmental impact statement. By preparing this EA,
we are fulfilling agency policy and direction to comply with the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA). For more details of the proposed action, see the Proposed Action and Alternatives
section of this document.
Proposed Project Location
The project area is located [provide verbal description (applicable descriptions may be:
watershed, land ownership and ongoing uses, acreage size, geographical context, vegetation
types, etc.) and map].
Figure 1. Vicinity map
Insert vicinity map
Need for the Proposal
The need for action discusses the relationship between the desired condition and the existing
condition in order to answer the questions: “Why consider taking any action?” And more
specifically: Why here? Why now?
By regulation, only the need for the proposal must be described in the EA. If choosing to
include a distinct purpose statement as well, describe a broad purpose (objective) and specific
needs. The purpose and need statement defines the scope and objectives of the proposal, as
tied to the programmatic goals of the forest plan.2 A well-defined purpose and need statement
narrows the range of alternatives that may need to be developed in the “alternatives” section.
Likewise, the breadth or narrowness of the need for action has a substantial influence in the
scope of the subsequent analysis (FSH 1909.15, sec. 41.21).
This proposal is needed because….
2
A forest plan is not the only means of supporting a need for action. Other applicable documents may be
monitoring reports, other plans, assessments, site visits, etc.
1
Project Name
Public Involvement and Tribal Consultation
List Federal, State, and local agencies, and non-Forest Service individuals with whom the
responsible official engaged in discussions as part of the NEPA process. In addition, the EA
may note the total number of individuals and groups that were notified on the availability of
the EA in a library, World-Wide Web, or other locations.
List the federally recognized Tribes that were engaged in government-to-government
consultation for this project.
The Forest Service consulted the following individuals, Federal, State, tribal, and local agencies
during the development of this EA:
[If desired, insert agency names and Tribes with a reference to any resource sections that cite
responses to consultation in their report (for example, tribal responses in the Heritage report,
determinations in TES reports, etc.)]
2
Name Ranger District, Name National Forest
Proposed Action and Alternatives
The EA shall briefly describe the proposed action and alterative(s) that meet the need for
action. No specific number of alternatives is required or prescribed (36 CFR 220.7(b)(2)).
NEPA requires that the agency study, develop, and describe appropriate alternatives to
recommend courses of action in any proposal which involves unresolved conflicts concerning
alternative uses of available resources. If no unresolved conflicts exists, the EA need only
analyze the proposed action and proceed without consideration of additional topics (36 CFR
220.7(b)(2)(i)).
A stand-alone no-action alternative is not required. However, the effect of taking no
action should correlate closely with the purpose and need, providing a compelling reason
for taking action in the first place.
If applicable, summarize how a proposal or alternative was changed through
collaboration and analysis. Incorporate by reference any existing documents regarding
alternative development (1909.15, 41.22).
Where applicable, use maps, tables, figures, charts, photos, etc. to convey the proposed
activities and alternatives in a way that can be clearly understood.
The proposed action and following alternatives were considered:
Proposed Action
Clearly state the proposed action and describe any connected actions. The proposed action should
address each aspect of the following question: Who will do what, when and where will it occur,
and how will the actions be implemented?
[Body Text style]
Alternative [X]
[Body Text style]
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Project Name
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
and Alternatives
The EA shall briefly provide sufficient evidence and analysis, including the
environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternative(s), to determine whether to
prepare either an EIS or a finding of no significant impact (FONSI).3 The purpose of an
EA is not only to disclose impacts, but to evaluate those impacts in the context of NEPA
significance.
In order to tie directly to the FONSI, the EA shall describe the impacts of the proposed
action and any alternatives in terms of context (society as a whole (human, national), the
affected region, the affected interests, and the locality) and intensity (severity of the
impact) as described in the definition of “significantly” at 40 CFR 1508.27.
Impacts (direct, indirect, and cumulative) of alternatives may be discussed together, in
comparison, or separately. If potential effects of several alternatives are the same, the
effects discussion may describe those effects as being the same and focus on describing
where effects differ.4
This section summarizes the potential impacts of the proposed action and alternatives for each
impacted resource. Resources that were not impacted and therefore not further analyzed include:
[list].
Resource Heading
As there is no national standard for how the environmental impacts section is organized,
follow regional guidance.
There is no requirement for an “Affected Environment” section of an EA. Where applicable
and to improve the readability of the document, summarize existing conditions, describe the
relationship between the proposed action/alternatives and desired conditions (how does it
meet the need for action?), and incorporate by reference any existing documents that provide
further detail on environmental impacts (1909.15, 41.22). For each alternative, analyze and
document the effectiveness of the mitigation measures that would result from implementing
each alternative, including the no-action alternative.
Where applicable, use maps, tables, figures, charts, photos, etc. to convey the impacts of
the proposed action and alternatives in a way that can be clearly understood.
[Body Text style]
3
Disclose the environmental effects of any adaptive management strategy (and effects of adaptive
management adjustments). Further guidance on adaptive management strategies is provided at
1909.15, sec. 14.1.
4
Tiering: EAs may tier to EISs or EAs of broader scope to eliminate repetitive discussions. In such a case,
you need only summarize and incorporate by reference the issues discussed in the broader EIS or EA, then
focus on disclosing the issues specific to this subsequent action (1909.15, 42.1).
4
Name Ranger District, Name National Forest
Table 1. Sample table format
[Tables and figures in the document are linked to the Table of Contents using “Insert Caption” function under
the “References” tab.]
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Resource Heading
Refer to FONSI intensity factors and regional guidance to determine if the following disclosures
are necessary for your project: prime farmlands, forest lands, and range lands; floodplains and
wetlands; environmental justice; irretrievable or irreversible commitment of resources; potential
or unusual expenditures of energy; conflicts with other plans, policies, or jurisdictions; etc.
[Body Text style]
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Project Name
Finding of No Significant Impact
CEQ regulations define a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) as a document by a
Federal agency briefly presenting the reasons why an action, not otherwise excluded
(§1508.4), will not have a significant effect on the human environment and for which an
environmental impact statement therefore will not be prepared. It shall include the
environmental assessment or a summary of it and shall note any other environmental
documents related to it (§1501.7(a)(5)).5
Combining the FONSI with the EA avoids having to summarize the effects analysis in the
FONSI, thereby allowing you to cite in the same document the respective pages where the
significance factor is discussed in the analysis (40 CFR 1508.13). Although the FONSI has
often been combined with a decision notice, it is not in itself a decision document. Rather,
consider the FONSI the outcome of the EA process, and document your finding for the
proposed action and alternatives. In accordance with the project-level objections process, the
EA, draft FONSI, and draft decision notice are made available to the public at the start of the
objection period. If the selected alternative after resolution of objections is a modification of
what was analyzed in the EA, update the FONSI document to reflect the change.
As the responsible official, I am responsible for evaluating the effects of the project relative to the
definition of significance established by the CEQ Regulations (40 CFR 1508.13). I have reviewed
and considered the EA and documentation included in the project record, and I have determined
that [the proposed action and alternatives] will not have a significant effect on the quality of the
human environment. As a result, no environmental impact statement will be prepared. My
rationale for this finding is as follows, organized by sub-section of the CEQ definition of
significance cited above.
Context
For the proposed action and alternatives the context of the environmental effects is based on the
environmental analysis in this EA.
This discussion of the project’s context provides meaning to the intensity of effects described
below to support the rationale for a finding of no significant impact related to each factor.
Describe the context of the effects of the proposal and alternatives as needed, and when doing
so provides additional understanding of the rationale for a finding of no significant impact.
You may address relevant contexts here in this section or below in the rationale when a
context applies to a specific intensity factor.
Intensity
Intensity is a measure of the severity, extent, or quantity of effects, and is based on information
from the effects analysis of this EA and the references in the project record. The effects of this
project have been appropriately and thoroughly considered with an analysis that is responsive to
concerns and issues raised by the public. The agency has taken a hard look at the environmental
effects using relevant scientific information and knowledge of site-specific conditions gained
5
Refer to CEQ's 40 Most Asked Questions #37-39 for more information about the FONSI including
expected level of detail, providing to the public for review (default when combined with the EA), and
mitigation measures imposed in FONSIs.
6
Name Ranger District, Name National Forest
from field visits. My finding of no significant impact is based on the context of the project and
intensity of effects using the ten factors identified in 40 CFR 1508.27(b).
1. Impacts that may be both beneficial and adverse. A significant effect may exist even if the
Federal agency believes that on balance the effect will be beneficial.
Note: Demonstrate that the beneficial effects of the proposal have not overshadowed the
agency’s hard look for potential significant adverse effects.
[Insert rationale (a logical basis for determining if intensity of effects taken in the contexts of
the project will or will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment,
and how mitigation measures may affect this finding) and citations (location in the EA where
discussed or referenced)]
2. The degree to which the proposed action affects public health or safety.
[Insert rationale & citations]
3. Unique characteristics of the geographic area such as the proximity to historical or cultural
resources, parklands, prime farmlands, wetlands, wild and scenic rivers, or ecologically
critical areas.
[Insert rationale & citations]
4. The degree to which the effects on the quality of the human environment are likely to be
highly controversial.
Note: The term “controversial” in this context refers to cases where substantial scientific
dispute exits as to the size, nature, or effects of a major Federal action on some human
environmental factor, rather than to public opposition of a proposed action or alternative.
[Insert rationale & citations]
5. The degree to which the possible effects on the human environment are highly uncertain or
involve unique or unknown risks.
[Insert rationale & citations]
6. The degree to which the action may establish precedent for future actions with significant
effects or represents a decision in principle about a future consideration.
[Insert rationale & citations]
7. Whether the action is related to other actions with individually insignificant but cumulatively
significant impacts. Significance exists if it is reasonable to anticipate a cumulatively
significant impact on the environment. Significance cannot be avoided by terming an action
temporary or by breaking it down into small component parts.
[Insert rationale & citations]
8. The degree to which the action may adversely affect districts, sites, highways, structures, or
objects listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or may cause
loss or destruction of significant scientific, cultural, or historical resources.
[Insert rationale & citations]
7
Project Name
9. The degree to which the action may adversely affect an endangered or threatened species or
its habitat that has been determined to be critical under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
[Insert rationale & citations, and reference consultation determinations from the relevant
resource analyses in the EA]
10. Whether the action threatens a violation of Federal, State, or local law or requirements
imposed for the protection of the environment.
[Insert rationale & citations]
8
Name Ranger District, Name National Forest
References
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