[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 11]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR1794.51]

[Page 1142]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
    CHAPTER XVII--RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 1794--ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES--Table of Contents
 
     Subpart F--Procedure for Environmental Assessments With Scoping
 
Sec. 1794.51  Preparation for scoping.

    (a) As soon as practicable after RUS and the applicant have 
developed a schedule for the environmental review process, RUS shall 
have its notice of intent to prepare an EA or EIS (Sec. 1794.13) 
published in the Federal Register (see 40 CFR 1508.22). The applicant 
shall have published, in a timely manner, a notice similar to RUS' 
notice.
    (b) As part of the early planning, the applicant should consult with 
appropriate Federal, state, and local agencies to inform them of the 
proposed action, identify permits and approvals which must be obtained, 
and administrative procedures which must be followed.
    (c) Before formal scoping is initiated, RUS will require the 
applicant to submit an Alternative Evaluation Study and either a Siting 
Study (generation) or a Macro-Corridor Study (transmission lines).
    (d) The applicant is encouraged to hold public information meetings 
in the general location of the proposed action and any reasonable 
alternatives when such applicant meetings will make the scoping process 
more meaningful. A written summary of the comments made at such meetings 
must be submitted to RUS as soon as practicable after the meetings.