Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

What is an EIS?

  • A document required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to assess potential environmental impacts of a proposed federal action

  • An EIS provides details on a project’s potential effects on the environment and considerations of reasonable alternatives to mitigate environmental impacts

  • Additional information on the NEPA Review Process can be found on the EPA’s website and the DOE Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance website

Purpose

  • To inform decision-makers and the public about potential environmental effects of a proposed project

  • The regulatory requirements for an EIS are very detailed and more rigorous compared to Environmental Assessments and Categorical Exclusions, which are lesser levels of analysis under NEPA purview

Process

  • There are 5 main steps included in an EIS, including:

    • Notice of Intent

    • Scoping

    • Draft EIS Publication and Public Comment Period

    • Final EIS Publication

    • Record of Decision

  • The public is able to comment on the scope of the EIS during the Public Scoping Period and once the draft EIS is published for public review and comment.

Learn more about the public comment process here.