National Environmental Compliance Handbook

√ if RMS √ if RMS √ if RMS

 Natural Resources Conservation Service

In Section "F" below, analyze, record, and address concerns identified through the Resources Inventory process. 

(See FOTG Section III - Resource Quality Criteria for guidance). 

 U.S. Department of Agriculture

6/2010

NRCS-CPA-52 

F. Resource Concerns 

and Existing / Benchmark 

Conditions

(Analyze and record the 

existing/benchmark 

conditions for each 

identified concern)

E. Need for Action: 

D. Client's Objective(s) (purpose): 

ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION WORKSHEET 

√ if 

does 

NOT 

meet 

QC

No Action

G. Alternatives

√ if 

does 

NOT 

meet 

QC

Amount, Status, Description

(short and long term)

Amount, Status, Description

(short and long term)

SOIL

NOT 

meet

 

QC

√ if 

does 

NOT 

meet 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

Alternative 1 Alternative 2

Amount, Status, Description

(short and long term)

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

No Action Alternative 1 Alternative 2

Resource Concerns

A. Client Name: 

B. Conservation Plan ID # (as applicable): 

C. Identification # (farm, tract, field #, etc as required):

 Program Authority (optional):

H. Effects of Alternatives

NOT 

meet

 

QC

WATER

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

190-VI-NECH, Final Second Edition, 2010
National Environmental Compliance Handbook

HUMAN - Economic and Social Considerations

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

√ if 

does 

NOT 

meet 

QC

Amount, Status, Description

(short and long term)

Amount, Status, Description

(short and long term)

Amount, Status, Description

(short and long term)

No Action Alternative 1 Alternative 2

H. (continued)

√ if 

does 

NOT 

meet 

QC

√ if 

does 

NOT 

meet 

QC

F. Resouce Concerns and 

Existing / Benchmark 

Conditions

(Analyze and record the 

existing/benchmark 

conditions for each 

identified concern)

 AIR

NOT 

meet

 

QC

 PLANTS

NOT 

meet

 

QC

 ANIMALS

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

NOT 

meet

 

QC

190-VI-NECH, Final Second Edition, 2010
National Environmental Compliance Handbook

Easements, Permissions, 

Public Review, or Permits 

Required and Agencies 

Consulted.

●Clean Water Act / Waters of the 

U.S.

●Clean Air Act

●Cultural Resources / Historic 

Properties

●Endangered and Threatened 

Species

In Section "I" complete and attach applicable Environmental Procedures Guide Sheets for documentation. Items with a "●" may require a 

federal permit or consultation/coordination between the lead agency and another government agency. In these cases, effects may need to 

be determined in consultation with another agency. Planning and practice implementation may proceed for practices not involved in 

consultation.

●Migratory Birds/Bald and 

Golden Eagle Protection Act 

●Coastal Zone Management 

Alternative 1 Alternative 2

Alternative 2

J. Impacts to Special Environmental Concerns

√ if 

needs 

further 

action

Status and progress of 

compliance.

(Complete and attach Guide 

Sheets as applicable)

√ if 

needs 

further 

action

No Action Alternative 1

No Action

Status and progress of 

compliance.

(Complete and attach Guide 

Sheets as applicable)

Special Environmental Concerns: Environmental Laws, Executive Orders, policies, etc.

I. Special Environmental 

Concerns

(Document compliance with 

Environmental Laws, 

Executive Orders, policies, 

etc. )

Status and progress of 

compliance.

(Complete and attach Guide 

Sheets as applicable)

√ if 

needs 

further 

action

●Essential Fish Habitat

K. Other Agencies and 

Broad Public Concerns

Floodplain Management

Coral Reefs

Environmental Justice

Riparian Area

●Wetlands

Invasive Species

Prime and Unique Farmlands

●Wild and Scenic Rivers

190-VI-NECH, Final Second Edition, 2010
National Environmental Compliance Handbook

No

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

Signature (NRCS) Title Date

Is the preferred alternative expected to cause significant effects on public health or safety?

Is the preferred alternative expected to significantly effect unique characteristics of the geographic area such as 

proximity to historic or cultural resources, park lands, prime farmlands, wetlands, wild and scenic rivers, or ecologically 

critical areas?

Does the preferred alternative have highly uncertain effects or involve unique or unknown risks on the human 

environment?

Is the preferred alternative known or reasonably expected to have potentially significant environment impacts to the 

quality of the human environment either individually or cumulatively over time?

Does the preferred alternative establish a precedent for future actions with significant impacts or represent a decision 

in principle about a future consideration?

Will the preferred alternative likely have a significant adverse effect on ANY of the special environmental concerns? 

Use the Evaluation Procedure Guide Sheets to assist in this determination. This includes, but is not limited to, 

concerns such as cultural or historical resources, endangered and threatened species, environmental justice, 

wetlands, floodplains, coastal zones, coral reefs, essential fish habitat, wild and scenic rivers, clean air, riparian areas, 

natural areas, and invasive species.

Will the preferred alternative threaten a violation of Federal, State, or local law or requirements for the protection of 

the environment?

P. The information recorded above is based on the best available information:

In the case where a non-NRCS person (i.e. a TSP) assists with planning they are to sign the first signature block and then NRCS is to sign 

the second block as the responsible federal agency for the planning action.

The significance of an action must be analyzed in several contexts such as society as a whole (human, national), the affected region, the 

affected interests, and the locality. 

O. Determination of Significance or Extraordinay Circumstances

Intensity: Refers to the severity of impact. Impacts may be both beneficial and adverse. A significant effect may exist even if the Federal 

agency believes that on balance the effect will be beneficial. Significance cannot be avoided by terming an action temporary or by breaking 

it down into small component parts.

If you answer ANY of the below questions "yes" then contact the State Environmental Liaison as there may be extraordinary 

circumstances and significance issues to consider and a site specific NEPA analysis may be required.

K. (continued)

Other Agencies and Broad 

Public Concerns

No Action Alternative 1 Alternative 2

Title

Are the effects of the preferred alternative on the quality of the human environment likely to be highly controversial?

Signature (TSP if applicable) Date

√ preferred 

alternative

Cumulative Effects 

Narrative (Describe the 

cumulative impacts considered, 

including past, present and 

known future actions regardless 

of who performed the actions)

Yes

L. Mitigation

Supporting 

reason

M. Preferred 

Alternative

N. Context (Record context of alternatives analysis)

190-VI-NECH, Final Second Edition, 2010
National Environmental Compliance Handbook

R.1

R.2

Applicable 

Categorical 

Exclusion(s)

(more than one may 

apply)

The following sections are to be completed by the Responsible Federal Official (RFO)

Q. NEPA Compliance Finding (check one)

The preferred alternative: Action required

1) is not a federal action where the agency has control or responsibility. Document in "R.1" below.

No additional analysis is required

2) is a federal action that is categorically excluded from further environmental 

analysis and there are no extraordinary circumstances. 

Document in "R.2" below.

No additional analysis is required

Signature Title Date

3) is a federal action that has been sufficiently analyzed in an existing Agency state, 

regional, or national NEPA document and there are no predicted significant adverse 

environmental effects or extraordinary circumstances.

Document in "R.1" below.

No additional analysis is required. 

4) is a federal action that has been sufficiently analyzed in another Federal agency's 

NEPA document (EA or EIS) that addresses the proposed NRCS action and its' 

effects and has been formally adopted by NRCS. NRCS is required to prepare and 

publish the agency's own Finding of No Significant Impact for an EA or Record of 

Decision for an EIS when adopting another agency's EA or EIS document. Note: 

This box is not applicable to FSA.

Contact the State Environmental 

Liaison for list of NEPA documents 

formally adopted and available for 

tiering. Document in "R.1" below.

No additional analysis is required

5) is a federal action that has NOT been sufficiently analyzed or may involve 

predicted significant adverse environmental effects or extraordinary circumstances 

and may require an EA or EIS.

Contact the State Environmental 

Liaison. Further NEPA analysis 

required.

R. Rationale Supporting the Finding

Findings 

Documentation

S. Signature of Responsible Federal Official:

I have considered the effects of the alternatives on the Resource Concerns, Economic and Social Considerations, Special 

Environmental Concerns, and Extraordinary Circumstances as defined by Agency regulation and policy. 

Additional notes

190-VI-NECH, Final Second Edition, 2010