(a) The Responsible Official must prepare an environmental assessment (EA) (see 40 CFR 1508.9) for a proposed action that is expected to result in environmental impacts and the significance of the impacts is not known. An EA is not required if the proposed action is categorically excluded, or if the Responsible Official has decided to prepare an EIS. (See 40 CFR 1501.3.)
(b) Types of actions that normally require the preparation of an EA include:
(1) The award of wastewater treatment construction grants under Title II of the Clean Water Act;
(2) EPA's issuance of new source NPDES permits under section 402 of the Clean Water Act;
(3) EPA actions involving renovations or new construction of facilities;
(4) Certain grants awarded for special projects authorized by Congress through the Agency's annual Appropriations Act; and
(5) Research and development projects, such as initial field demonstration of a new technology, field trials of a new product or new uses of an existing technology, alteration of a local habitat by physical or chemical means, or actions that may result in the release of radioactive, hazardous, or toxic substances, or biota.
(c) The Responsible Official, or other interested parties, may request changes to the list of actions that normally require the preparation of an EA (i.e., the addition, amendment, or deletion of a type of action).
(d) Consistent with 40 CFR 1508.9, an EA must provide sufficient information and analysis for determining whether to prepare an EIS or to issue a FONSI (see 40 CFR 1508.9(a)), and may include analyses needed for other environmental determinations. The EA must focus on resources that might be impacted and any environmental issues that are of public concern.
(e) An EA must include:
(1) A brief discussion of:
(i) The need for the proposed action;
(ii) The alternatives, including the no action alternative (which must be assessed even when the proposed action is specifically required by legislation or a court order);
(iii) The affected environment, including baseline conditions that may be impacted by the proposed action and alternatives;
(iv) The environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternatives, including any unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources; and
(v) Other applicable environmental laws and executive orders.
(2) A listing or summary of any coordination or consultation undertaken with any federal agency, state or local government, or federally-recognized Indian tribe regarding compliance with applicable laws and executive orders;
(3) Identification and description of any mitigation measures considered, including any mitigation measures that must be adopted to ensure the action will not have significant impacts; and
(4) Incorporation of documents by reference, if appropriate, including, when available, the EID for the action.