Resource Document for Comple�ng Environmental Screening 

March 2024
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Overview

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marke�ng Service (AMS) has developed an 

environmental screening process to review grant projects for environmental compliance with the 

Na�onal Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other Federal environmental statutes. The environmental 

screening process involves two forms: AMS-ENV-A (Environmental Pre-Screening Worksheet) and AMSENV-B (Environmental Screening Worksheet). States and Territories reviewing grant projects for 

environmental compliance should start by comple�ng AMS-ENV-A in its en�rety by answering the 

following pre-screening ques�ons:

A. Does the project involve any ground disturbing ac�vi�es?

B. Does the project involve any vegeta�on or habitat removal?

C. Will the project alter a structure greater than 50-years of age or the general aesthe�c of the 

property (i.e., new interior or exterior configura�on)?

 To help make this determina�on, review online property assessor records, Google 

Earth historical imagery, and any applicant-provided informa�on.

D. Is there an adjacent river, stream, or water body?

 To help make this determina�on, review the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Na�onal 

Wetlands Inventory. 

E. Will there be a permanent increase in noise, odor, or traffic as a result of the project?

F. Will the project increase the emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and/or nitrous oxide 

(increased use of internal combus�on engines, manure management, etc.)?

If you are unable to answer the ques�ons on the AMS-ENV-A with the informa�on provided by the 

applicant, you should contact them before proceeding.

If any of the above are answered “Yes” then AMS-ENV-B should be completed.

The purpose of this resource document is to support the States and Territories with comple�ng the 

environmental review process laid out in AMS-ENV-B by providing a compendium of resources and 

desktop tools that can be used in conjunc�on with the informa�on obtained from the applicant.

Environmental Law and Policy Review

Sec�on 2 of AMS-ENV-B requires effect determina�ons for a variety of environmental resources covered 

under the Na�onal Environmental Policy Act. The user must first determine if the resource is located 

within the area of poten�al effects for a project and secondly if the proposed ac�on has the poten�al to 

impact the resource. The table below presents the environmental resource areas for analysis in Sec�on 

2, a brief overview of the review process, and desktop tools recommended for use.

Environmental Law and Policy Review

Environmental 

Resource Review Process and Desktop Tool(s)

Threatened & 

Endangered Species or 

Review the area of impact for the presence of listed endangered and 

threatened species and their poten�al habitat within the area of poten�al 

effects using the Informa�on for Planning and Consulta�on and Essen�al Fish 
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Cri�cal Habitat and 

Migratory Birds

Habitat Mapper. If a habitat for a listed species does not exist or there is no 

change in land use, a “No Effect” determina�on can be made. 

Cultural or Historic 

Resources

State Historic Preserva�on Office (SHPO)/Tribal Historic Preserva�on Office 

(THPO) evalua�on and consulta�on will need to be completed if the 

altera�on of a structure greater than 50-years of age or the general aesthe�c 

of the property (i.e., new interior or exterior configura�on) is proposed, 

and/or if soil disturbance is occurring in previously undisturbed areas.

Examine the informa�on available through the Na�onal Register of Historic 

Places and make a determina�on as to the effect the proposed ac�on may 

have on any historic proper�es that may be present. Send this determina�on 

along with all project data and informa�on to SHPO/THPO for their review 

and comment (a form leter outlining all informa�on that should be sent to 

SHPO/THPO has been provided). Use the Na�onal Conference of State 

Historic Preserva�on Officers Directory and Tribal Directory Assessment Tool

to determine consul�ng par�es.

AMS must sign leters sent to THPOs. The SHPO/THPO has 30 days to 

respond to your determina�on. 

Coastal Barrier 

Resources

If a proposed ac�vity is located within a Coastal Barrier Resources System, as 

determined using the Coastal Barrier Resources System Mapper, consulta�on 

with USFWS must occur before implemen�ng the ac�vity. The consulta�on 

will determine if the ac�vity is eligible for Federal funding, as shown in the 

Consulta�ons Flow Chart. 

Coastal Zone

All Federal ac�vi�es inside the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) 

boundary, as depicted are automa�cally subject to consistency review and 

require consulta�on for a consistency determina�on.

If the proposed project is located within the coastal zone boundary or could 

poten�ally affect a water resource connected to the coastal zone, a 

consistency determina�on must be prepared and submited to the lead state 

agency. If a poten�al impact exists, an official leter or form from the State’s 

coastal zone management program office accep�ng the coastal consistency 

determina�on must be atached. 

See the CZMA Quick Reference for addi�onal informa�on.

Wilderness Areas

When the proposed ac�vity will take place within one mile of a wilderness 

area, a formal leter of consulta�on and related response should be atached 

along with a map depic�ng the loca�on of the proposed ac�vity in order to 

document that wilderness areas would not be effected by the proposed 

project. 

Wild and Scenic River/

Na�onwide Rivers 

Inventory 

The proposed ac�on may cause an adverse effect to designated Wild and 

Scenic Rivers or Na�onwide Rivers Inventory (NRI) river segments if the 

project:

• is located within 1⁄4 mile from the banks of the river, or 1⁄2 mile for 

Alaska.
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• involves withdrawing water from or discharging water into the river.

• is visible from the river.

• produces noxious odor no�ceable from the river.

• produces objec�onable noise that can be heard on the river.

• alters the free-flowing nature of the river.

• involves a transfer of property adjacent to a river where the deed does 

not have adequate condi�ons or restric�ons for protec�ng the river.

If the project is within a river corridor of a designated Wild and Scenic River 

or NRI river segment, and has the poten�al to adversely affect the river, 

consulta�on with the management agency should be ini�ated.

Na�onal Natural 

Landmarks

Verify if a na�onal natural landmark is located in the vicinity of the proposed 

ac�on. If a na�onal natural landmark is nearby and can poten�ally be 

impacted by the proposed ac�on, consulta�on with the Na�onal Park Service 

should occur to determine if implementa�on of the proposed ac�on would 

adversely affect the protected resource. Poten�al effects would include 

physical destruc�on or altera�on of the property as well as impairing overall 

public enjoyment of the site; that is, reduced visibility, permanently 

increasing noise or odors, or restric�ng access.

Sole Source Aquifers

Iden�fy any sole source aquifer present in the ac�vity area and determine 

whether it may be affected by the proposed ac�vity. If a proposed ac�on 

may affect a sole source aquifer, the regional EPA office should be allowed 

the opportunity to review the ac�vity.

Floodplains

Consult the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Na�onal Flood 

Hazard Layer Viewer and consider the following:

• If the proposed ac�on is determined to be in a floodplain, consider 

loca�on or design alterna�ves, such as eleva�ng structures above the 

base flood level. 

• If there are adverse effects to floodplains that cannot be avoided, 

special public no�ce provisions apply. 

• If the ac�vity requires development in a floodplain, a floodplain 

development permit is required. 

The review of the proposed ac�vity by the local environmental permi�ng 

office serves as consulta�on for floodplain resources.

Note: If the current flood insurance rate map for the area does not exist, or if 

more specific informa�on is needed, contact the FEMA regional office or the 

appropriate State agency established for flood preven�on purposes.
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Wetlands

The review for wetland presence begins with collec�on and review of 

available data, including the Na�onal Wetlands Inventory. 

If a poten�al impact exists, mi�ga�on measures, including reference to 

required permits, management plans, and compliance monitoring, should 

accompany the environmental review.

Obtaining the appropriate permits for the proposed ac�vity is considered 

consulta�on for wetlands. Locate the appropriate U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers Permi�ng Division Office to begin. The applicant is responsible for 

obtaining all requisite permits and covering related costs.

Highly Erodible Land 

and Prime & Unique 

Farmlands

If important land resources could be affected, consulta�on with USDA 

Na�onal Resources Conserva�on Service is required to determine 

appropriate mi�ga�on measures or alterna�ves to the proposed ac�on.

Use the Web Soil Survey to learn more about the site’s soil characteris�cs 

and Soil Data Access Prime and other Important Farmlands to determine if 

prime or unique farmlands are located on or near the site.

303(d) Listed 

Waterway

If a poten�al impact to a listed waterway exists, mi�ga�on measures, 

including reference to required permits, management plans, and compliance 

monitoring, should accompany the environmental review.

Use How’s My Waterway to determine if nearby waterways are impaired.

Environmental Jus�ce 

Communi�es

Determine if the proposed ac�on has the poten�al to impact disadvantaged 

communi�es, using the Climate and Economic Jus�ce Screening Tool and/or 

the Environmental Jus�ce Screening and Mapping Tool (EJScreen).

In addi�on, there are more general tools that can be used to assess mul�ple resource areas or sitespecific and regional condi�ons in one applica�on, including:

• EPA’s NEPAssist is an applica�on that facilitates the environmental review process and project 

planning in rela�on to environmental considera�on by drawing environmental data dynamically 

from EPA GIS databases and web services and providing immediate screening of environmental 

assessment indicators for a user-defined area of interest.

• EPA’s EnviroAtlas Interac�ve Map provides access to 500+ maps and mul�ple analysis tools for 

analyzing watersheds, eleva�on changes, land cover, and more.

Consulta�ons and Coordina�on

Sec�on 3 of AMS-ENV-B requires the user to iden�fy consulta�ons or other coordina�on efforts with 

government agencies that are required to complete the environmental review for the project. 

Documenta�on of these efforts must be included with the completed form. Na�onal Historic 

Preserva�on Act (NHPA) Sec�on 106 consulta�ons with tribes must be completed by the Responsible 

Federal Official. The following are resources that can be used to support consulta�on and coordina�on 

efforts.

Clean Air Act Permi�ng

• EPA maintains the CAA Permi�ng in Your Region webpage, which provides region-specific air 

permi�ng informa�on.
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• EPA’s Nonatainment Areas for Criteria Pollutants (Greenbook) lists air quality nonatainment 

and maintenance areas that may impact the type of permi�ng required.

Clean Water Act Permi�ng

• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Interna�onal Boundary Map is a mapping applica�on where 

users can locate the appropriate regulatory district for Sec�on 404 permi�ng.

Endangered Species Act Permi�ng

• The USFWS “Our Facili�es” Search Tool shows loca�ons of field offices across the U.S.

• The NOAA Fisheries Permits webpage provides permi�ng guidance. 

FEMA Leter of Map Change

• FEMA’s Change Your Flood Zone Designa�on webpage provides informa�on on how to submit a 

Leter of Map Change request.

NHPA Sec�on 106 Consulta�on

• The Na�onal Conference of State Historic Preserva�on Officers Directory provides contact 

informa�on and other details for each State’s Historic Preserva�on Office.

• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Tribal Directory Assessment Tool

(TDAT) is a mapping applica�on where users can locate tribes and associated contact 

informa�on.