[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 40, Volume 28] [Revised as of July 1, 2002] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 40CFR1501.3] [Page 468] TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT CHAPTER V--COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PART 1501--NEPA AND AGENCY PLANNING--Table of Contents Sec. 1501.3 When to prepare an environmental assessment. (a) Agencies shall prepare an environmental assessment (Sec. 1508.9) when necessary under the procedures adopted by individual agencies to supplement these regulations as described in Sec. 1507.3. An assessment is not necessary if the agency has decided to prepare an environmental impact statement. (b) Agencies may prepare an environmental assessment on any action at any time in order to assist agency planning and decisionmaking.