APHIS Factsheet

 Wildlife Services May 2008

The National 

Environmental Policy Act

Wildlife Services (WS), a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service (APHIS), provides Federal 

leadership and expertise to resolve wildlife conflicts 

that threaten the Nation’s agricultural and natural 

resources, human health and safety, and property. 

 WS officials are fully committed to making wellinformed and environmentally responsible decisions 

that excel at meeting the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). WS views the public’s participation as 

an integral part of its environmental decisionmaking.

 In planning and conducting program activities, WS 

closely follows the National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA). NEPA provides a national policy for protecting the environment by establishing an informed 

decisionmaking process for Federal activities that have 

potential impact on the environment. NEPA ensures 

that Federal agencies consider all applicable environmental laws and regulations in their decisionmaking 

before actions are taken. 

Three Paths for Decisionmaking

For WS, the NEPA review process begins when the 

program receives a request for assistance. While 

formulating a proposed response to a request, WS 

officials determine whether the proposed actions 

may have significant environmental effects. Under 

the agency’s NEPA implementing regulationsi, WS 

officials may choose to pursue one of three paths to 

assist in decisionmaking. They may: develop and 

issue a categorical exclusion (CE), an environmental 

assessment (EA), or an environmental impact statement (EIS). Regardless of which path is selected, WS 

completes this process in close consultation and coordination with other Federal, State, and local agencies 

and Tribal governments. 

A categorical exclusion (CE) is a determination 

that a category of actions do not have the potential to 

significantly affect the environment and that neither an 

EA nor EIS need to be prepared. CEs allow for immediate action to be taken, but the situations under which 

they may be used are limited. APHIS’ NEPA implementing regulations identify the criteria for actions that 

may be categorically excluded.

An environmental assessment (EA) is a concise 

document that briefly provides evidence of whether 

or not a proposal may have a significant impact on 

the quality of the human environment. An EA must 

include information detailing: the need for the 

proposed action; alternatives to the proposed action, 

including a “no-action” alternative; the potential 

environmental effects of the proposed action and 

its alternatives; and a list of agencies and persons 

consulted. An EA requires advanced planning, takes 

several months to complete, and involves the public in 

the decisionmaking process.

 If an EA provides evidence that the proposed 

action is not expected to have a significant impact 

on the environment, WS officials prepare a decision 

document called a “finding of no significant impact” 

(FONSI). A FONSI document presents the reasons 

why the agency has reached its conclusion and must 

be prepared before a proposed action is taken. If an 

EA does not result in a FONSI, further analyses and 

documents—including an EIS—may be prepared.

An environmental impact statement (EIS) is a 

detailed document that is prepared if (1) a proposal’s 

effects on the quality of the human environment are 

expected to be significant; (2) an EA indicates that one 

is warranted; or (3) the proposed action is one that 

requires an EIS due to agency regulations. An EIS is 

a formalized process that requires advanced planning, 

substantial public participation, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency review. The process may take 1 

or more years to complete.

 After publishing a final EIS, WS officials may 

proceed with publishing a decision document called a 

“record of decision” (ROD). A ROD document identifies the program’s selected environmentally preferred 

alternative. It also details related program commitments, such as specific enforcement and monitoring 

activities. After publishing a ROD document, WS 

officials may proceed with the selected action.

Public Notification and Involvement

WS NEPA notices and documents can be found at 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nepa.

shtml. Notices are also published in the Federal Register and in local newspapersii. WS often uses additional public outreach methods, such as direct mailing, 

to provide ample opportunity for public participation.

 WS exceeds NEPA requirements for public 

involvement by actively soliciting and responding to 
United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, 

national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital 

status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, 

genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part 

of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance 

program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons 

with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) 

should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice 

and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, 

Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. , 

Washington , D.C. 20250–9410 , or call (800) 795–3272 (voice) or 

(202) 720–6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and 

employer. 

the comments and concerns of citizens during the EA 

process. The formal EIS process provides extensive 

public involvement opportunities.

Additional Information

WS’ environmental compliance staff includes a 

national environmental manager and six regional 

environmental management coordinators. They assist 

with facilitating the program’s NEPA process and with 

answering questions received. For more information, 

visit the Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ or 

contact WS/APHIS/USDA at 4700 River Road, Unit 

87, Riverdale, MD 20737. The telephone number is 

(301) 734-7921.

 The Council on Environmental Quality has published A Citizen’s Guide to the National Environmental 

Policy Act. For this and other guidance documents on 

NEPA, see http://www.nepa.gov/.

i

CEQ NEPA Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508) and 

USDA APHIS NEPA implementing procedures (40 

CFR 372) provide guidance for determining significance and the appropriate level of NEPA compliance.

Federal Register March 21, 2007 (Volume 72, iiNumber 54, Pages 13237-13238)