[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 7, Parts 700 to 899]
[Revised as of January 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR799.7]

[Page 502-503]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
                            CHAPTER VII--FARM
                SERVICE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 799--ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS--COMPLIANCE WITH THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 799.7  Early involvement in private and state and local activities requiring Federal approval.

    (a) The NEPA regulations at 40 CFR 1501.2(d) require agencies to 
provide for early involvement in actions which, while planned by private 
applicants or other non-Federal entities, require some form of Federal 
involvement.
    (b) To implement the requirements of 40 CFR 1501.2(d) with respect 
to these actions FSA shall:
    (1) Prepare, where practicable, generic guidelines describing the 
scope and level of environmental information required from applicants 
seeking assistance from FSA as a basis for evaluating their proposed 
actions, and make these guidelines available upon request.
    (2) Provide such guidance on a project-by-project basis to 
applicants seeking assistance from FSA.
    (3) Upon receipt of an application for agency approval, or 
notification that an application will be filed, consult as required with 
other appropriate parties to initiate and coordinate the necessary 
environmental analyses.
    (c) The responsibilities under this section shall be coordinated by 
the Conservation and Environmental Protection Division of the Farm 
Service Agency, Washington, D.C.
    (d) To facilitate compliance with paragraph (a) of this section, 
private applicants seeking assistance from FSA and other non-Federal 
entities are expected to:
    (1) Contact FSA as early as possible in the planning process for 
guidance on the scope and level of environmental

[[Page 503]]

information required to be submitted in support of their application;
    (2) Conduct any studies which are deemed necessary and appropriate 
by FSA to determine the impact of the proposed action on the human 
environment;
    (3) Consult with appropriate Federal, regional, State and local 
agencies and other potentially interested parties during preliminary 
planning stages to ensure that all environmental factors are identified;
    (4) Submit applications for all Federal, regional, State and local 
approvals as early as possible in the planning process;
    (5) Notify FSA as early as possible of all other Federal, regional, 
State, local and Indian tribe actions required for project completion so 
that FSA may coordinate all Federal environmental reviews; and
    (6) Notify FSA of all known parties potentially affected by or 
interested in the proposed action.