[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 38, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 38CFR26.7]

[Page 539-540]
 
            TITLE 38--PENSIONS, BONUSES, AND VETERANS' RELIEF
 
          CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (CONTINUED)
 
PART 26--ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) 
ACTIONS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 26.7  VA environmental decision making and documents.

    (a) Relevant environmental documents shall accompany other decision 
documents as they proceed through the decision-making process.

[[Page 540]]

    (b) The major decision points for VA actions, by which time the 
necessary environmental documents must be completed, are as follows:
    (1) Leases. Prior to execution of lease agreement.
    (2) Grants. Prior to notification of grant award.
    (3) Policy. Prior to final approval of a policy which substantially 
alters agency programs and which affects the human environment.
    (4) Legislative proposals. Included in any recommendation or report 
to Congress on a legislative proposal which would affect the 
environment. The document must be available in time for Congressional 
hearings and deliberations.
    (5) Major, minor, minor miscellaneous delegated projects, and non-
recurring maintenance projects. Prior to contract award for working 
drawings or prior to in-house initiation of working drawings. If the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs or designee makes a finding of compelling 
need, working drawings may commence prior to completion of the 
environmental compliance process. However, this will not preclude 
completion of environmental compliance prior to construction.
    (6) Land acquisition for development. Prior to the Secretary's 
acceptance of custody and accountability (for Federal lands), or 
acceptance of offer to donate or contract for purchase (for private 
lands).
    (c) Where emergency circumstances make it necessary to take an 
action with significant environmental impact without observing the 
provisions of these regulations, VA must act in accordance with CEQ 
Regulations, 40 CFR 1506.11.

(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321-4370a)

[51 FR 37182, Oct. 20, 1986, as amended at 54 FR 34987, Aug. 23, 1989]