[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 32, Volume 4]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 32CFR651.20]

[Page 407]
 
                       TITLE 32--NATIONAL DEFENSE
 
              CHAPTER V--DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 651--ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF ARMY ACTIONS (AR 200-2)--Table of Contents
 
                    Subpart C--Records and Documents
 
Sec. 651.20  Environmental assessment.

    An EA is intended to assist agency planning and decision-making. 
While required to assess environmental impacts and evaluate their 
significance, it is routinely used as a planning document to evaluate 
environmental impacts, develop alternatives and mitigation measures, and 
allow for agency and public participation. It:
    (a) Briefly provides the decision maker with sufficient evidence and 
analysis for determining whether a FNSI or an EIS should be prepared.
    (b) Assures compliance with NEPA, if an EIS is not required and a CX 
is inappropriate.
    (c) Facilitates preparation of an EIS, if required.
    (d) Includes brief discussions of the need for the proposed action, 
alternatives to the proposed action (NEPA, section 102(2)(e)), 
environmental impacts, and a listing of persons and agencies consulted 
(see Subpart E of this part for requirements).
    (e) The EA provides the proponent, the public, and the decision 
maker with sufficient evidence and analysis for determining whether 
environmental impacts of a proposed action are potentially significant. 
An EA is substantially less rigorous and costly than an EIS, but 
requires sufficient detail to identify and ascertain the significance of 
expected impacts associated with the proposed action and its 
alternatives. The EA can often provide the required ``hard look'' at the 
potential environmental effects of an action, program, or policy within 
1 to 25 pages, depending upon the nature of the action and project-
specific conditions.