[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 30]
[Revised as of July 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR1506.6]

[Page 764-765]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
               CHAPTER V--COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
 
PART 1506_OTHER REQUIREMENTS OF NEPA--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1506.6  Public involvement.

    Agencies shall:
    (a) Make diligent efforts to involve the public in preparing and 
implementing their NEPA procedures.
    (b) Provide public notice of NEPA-related hearings, public meetings, 
and the availability of environmental documents so as to inform those 
persons and agencies who may be interested or affected.
    (1) In all cases the agency shall mail notice to those who have 
requested it on an individual action.
    (2) In the case of an action with effects of national concern notice 
shall include publication in the Federal Register and notice by mail to 
national organizations reasonably expected to be interested in the 
matter and may include listing in the 102 Monitor. An agency engaged in 
rulemaking may provide notice by mail to national organizations who have 
requested that notice regularly be provided. Agencies shall maintain a 
list of such organizations.
    (3) In the case of an action with effects primarily of local concern 
the notice may include:
    (i) Notice to State and areawide clearinghouses pursuant to OMB 
Circular A-95 (Revised).
    (ii) Notice to Indian tribes when effects may occur on reservations.
    (iii) Following the affected State's public notice procedures for 
comparable actions.
    (iv) Publication in local newspapers (in papers of general 
circulation rather than legal papers).
    (v) Notice through other local media.
    (vi) Notice to potentially interested community organizations 
including small business associations.

[[Page 765]]

    (vii) Publication in newsletters that may be expected to reach 
potentially interested persons.
    (viii) Direct mailing to owners and occupants of nearby or affected 
property.
    (ix) Posting of notice on and off site in the area where the action 
is to be located.
    (c) Hold or sponsor public hearings or public meetings whenever 
appropriate or in accordance with statutory requirements applicable to 
the agency. Criteria shall include whether there is:
    (1) Substantial environmental controversy concerning the proposed 
action or substantial interest in holding the hearing.
    (2) A request for a hearing by another agency with jurisdiction over 
the action supported by reasons why a hearing will be helpful. If a 
draft environmental impact statement is to be considered at a public 
hearing, the agency should make the statement available to the public at 
least 15 days in advance (unless the purpose of the hearing is to 
provide information for the draft environmental impact statement).
    (d) Solicit appropriate information from the public.
    (e) Explain in its procedures where interested persons can get 
information or status reports on environmental impact statements and 
other elements of the NEPA process.
    (f) Make environmental impact statements, the comments received, and 
any underlying documents available to the public pursuant to the 
provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), without 
regard to the exclusion for interagency memoranda where such memoranda 
transmit comments of Federal agencies on the environmental impact of the 
proposed action. Materials to be made available to the public shall be 
provided to the public without charge to the extent practicable, or at a 
fee which is not more than the actual costs of reproducing copies 
required to be sent to other Federal agencies, including the Council.