Wisconsin Administrative Code › Technical College System Board › Chapter TCS 12 - Wisconsin environmental policy act procedures › Section TCS 12.06 - Contents of an EIS

Current through June 24, 2024
(1) When an EIS is required, a DEIS and an
					FEIS shall be prepared by the board, by the district or by a consultant under
					contract with the board or a district. The board shall supervise and exercise
					final review of any EIS prepared by a district or a consultant. The DEIS shall
					emphasize significant environmental issues identified during the scoping
					process. The FEIS shall be based in part upon comments received on the DEIS and
					on information received from other sources. An EIS shall provide analysis of
					the environmental and economic implications of a proposed action contemplated
					by a district that need board approval. An EIS shall include the following:
(a) A summary of the scoping process used and
					the major issues identified for detailed analysis in the EIS.
(b) A description of the proposed action and
					of the affected environment including the history and background of the
					proposed action, location, type of facility, major dimensions, engineering
					design criteria, general types of materials be used, time schedules, maps and
					diagrams deemed relevant, sources of funding, permits and approvals required,
					and other pertinent information which will adequately allow an assessment of
					the potential environmental impact by persons who want to make
					comments.
(c) An evaluation shall
					be made of the probable environmental consequences, both positive and negative,
					of the proposed action as it relates to the physical and chemical, biological,
					social and cultural, and economic environments. Secondary as well as primary
					consequences to the environment shall be included whenever possible. The
					discussion shall include adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided
					should the proposal be implemented. The EIS shall include impacts which have
					catastrophic consequences, even if their probability of occurrence is low,
					provided that the analysis of the impacts is supported by credible scientific
					evidence, is not based on pure conjecture, and is within the rule of reason.
1. The evaluation of the physical and
					chemical environment shall include consideration of the action's effects upon
					air quality and climate, surface and ground water quality and quantity, noise,
					geological structure, topography, minerals and soils, thermal effects, unique
					land forms and water bodies, and flood and erosion hazards.
2. The evaluation of the biological
					environment shall include consideration of the action's effect upon plant life,
					animal life, fish and wildlife habitat, ecological relationships, endangered
					species, migrations, unique plant and animal associations, human health, and
					hazardous and toxic materials.
3.
					The evaluation of the social and cultural environment shall include
					consideration of the action's effect upon historic and archeological sites,
					parks and recreation areas, local institutions and community service, existing
					and future land uses, community description, housing patterns, neighborhood
					compatibility, displacement of families, businesses and farms, aesthetics,
					potential for shared use of facilities or programs, ethnic, religious or other
					groups, change in population patterns, emergency services, educational
					facilities and local ordinances.
4.
					An evaluation of the economic environment which shall include consideration of
					the action's effect upon tax base, property values, employment, community and
					personal income, business activities and climate, manufacturing, mining and
					industry, agriculture, transportation, public utilities, energy resources, and
					government services and costs.
(d) An evaluation of significant irreversible
					and irretrievable commitments of resources that would be involved in the
					proposed action if implemented, including a statement identifying the extent to
					which the proposed action irreversibly curtails the range of potential uses of
					the environment.
(e) Alternatives
					to the proposed action, including a rigorous exploration and objective
					evaluation of the environmental impacts of all reasonable alternatives,
					particularly those that might avoid all or some of the adverse environmental
					effects of the proposed action. The option of doing nothing shall be included
					as an alternative.
(f) The
					relationship between short-term uses of the environment and the maintenance and
					enhancement of long-term productivity. The EIS shall describe the extent to
					which the proposed action involves tradeoffs between short-term economic gains
					at the expense of long-term environmental productivity or vice versa, and the
					extent to which the proposed action forecloses future options.
(g) The FEIS shall discuss at appropriate
					points any responsible opposing view not adequately discussed in the
					DEIS.
(h) An analysis shall also be
					made of significant direct and indirect energy impacts of the proposed
					action.