Sage Grouse Habitat

Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)

Federal agencies prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) if a proposed major federal action is determined to significantly affect the quality of the human environment. The regulatory requirements for an EIS are more detailed and rigorous than the requirements for an EA.

Summary of the EIS Process An agency publishes a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register. The Notice of Intent informs the public of the upcoming environmental analysis and describes how the public can become involved in the EIS preparation. This Notice of Intent starts the scoping process, which is the period in which the federal agency and the public collaborate to define the range of issues and possible alternatives to be addressed in the EIS.

A draft EIS is published for public review and comment for a minimum of 45 days. Upon close of the comment period, agencies consider all substantive comments and, if necessary, conduct further analyses.

A final EIS is then published, which provides responses to substantive comments.

Publication of the final EIS begins the minimum 30-day "wait period," in which agencies are generally required to wait 30 days before making a final decision on a proposed action. EPA publishes a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register, announcing the availability of both draft and final EISs to the public. Find EISs with open comments or wait periods.

The EIS process ends with the issuance of the Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD: explains the agency's decision, describes the alternatives the agency considered, and discusses the agency's plans for mitigation and monitoring, if necessary.