## 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 2 Alternative 1

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) Alternative 2 No Action Alternative 1 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 

### Alternative 1 No Action

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 r egion, 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 Fede ral agency believes that on balance the effect will be beneficial. Significance cannot be avoided by terming an action temporary o r 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