Common use of Interagency Project Scoping Clause in Contracts

Interagency Project Scoping. ‌ Effective and early interagency collaboration and cooperation are crucial to the success of the one shared analysis process. Initiation of project coordination and the formal designation of a Project Coordinator are described in Section II. If the steps described in Section II.B have not been taken, they should occur as part of project scoping. During early scoping and consultation, Project Coordinators will identify the issues and concerns listed in Section II.B.2.e. to the maximum extent possible. The Project Coordinators will also identify the decisions that are required by their agency in order for the project to move forward, and whether additional analysis is necessary for these decisions. These needs will be addressed in the analysis done for the project. In identifying the decisions required, the Project Coordinators will identify the anticipated level of NEPA required for their agency to support the decision: Categorical Exclusion (CE), Environmental Assessment (EA), or EIS. Agencies will cooperate in addressing issues as early as possible to identify information needs and avoid late-arising concerns. Resolution of issues will be documented in agency files for reference and consistency through the life of the project.

Interagency Project Scoping. ‌ Effective and early interagency collaboration and cooperation are crucial to the success of the one shared analysis process. Initiation of project coordination and the formal designation of a Project Coordinator are described in Section II. If the steps described in Section II.B have not been taken, they should occur as part of project scoping. During early scoping and consultation, Project Coordinators will identify the issues and concerns listed in Section II.B.2.e. to the maximum extent possible. The Project Coordinators will also identify the decisions that are required by their agency in order for the project to move forward, and whether additional analysis is necessary for these decisions. These needs will be addressed in the analysis done for the project. In identifying the decisions required, the Project Coordinators will identify the anticipated level of NEPA required for their agency to support the decision: Categorical Exclusion (CE), Environmental Assessment (EA), or EIS. Agencies will cooperate in addressing issues as early as possible to identify information needs and avoid late-late- arising concerns. Resolution of issues will be documented in agency files for reference and consistency through the life of the project.