For projects involving federal funding actions, environmental review can become an important part of the planning process. Understanding what may be required before a project moves too far into design or development can help teams identify environmental considerations earlier and prepare for the review ahead.
One common level of review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a NEPA environmental assessment, often referred to as an EA. An environmental assessment helps a federal agency determine whether a proposed action may have significant environmental effects and whether a more detailed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is necessary.
For developers, municipalities, energy companies and other project stakeholders, understanding the NEPA process early can help reduce uncertainty and keep environmental requirements from becoming a last-minute obstacle.
What Is a NEPA Environmental Assessment?
NEPA requires federal agencies to consider the environmental effects of certain proposed federal actions before making decisions. Depending on the project and the agency involved, the review can generally follow one of three paths: a Categorical Exclusion, an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement.
An Environmental Assessment falls between a Categorical Exclusion and the more extensive EIS process. It is used to evaluate a proposed action and determine whether its potential environmental effects are significant enough to require an EIS.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an EA generally discusses the purpose and need for the proposed action, alternatives, environmental impacts, and the agencies or individuals consulted during the review.
EPA provides an overview of the NEPA review process here:
https://www.epa.gov/nepa/national-environmental-policy-act-review-process
Because federal agencies maintain their own NEPA procedures, the exact requirements and review process can vary depending on the lead agency and type of project.
When Is a NEPA Environmental Assessment Needed?
Not every project requires an Environmental Assessment.
A federal agency may first determine whether a proposed action qualifies for a Categorical Exclusion. These are categories of actions that normally do not have significant environmental effects and therefore may not require a detailed environmental analysis.
When a Categorical Exclusion does not apply and the significance of potential environmental effects needs to be evaluated, the agency may prepare an Environmental Assessment. An agency may also decide from the outset that a project requires an Environmental Impact Statement when significant effects are anticipated.
Projects that may involve NEPA review can include those connected to federal land, funding, approvals, permits or other federal agency actions.
That makes early coordination especially valuable. Project teams that identify potential federal involvement during planning are in a better position to understand what studies, documentation and agency coordination may be needed before major project decisions are made.
What Does a NEPA Environmental Assessment Include?
The scope of a NEPA Environmental Assessment depends on the proposed action and the agency responsible for the review, but several components are commonly addressed.
Purpose and Need
The assessment describes why the proposed action is being considered and what the project is intended to accomplish. A clearly defined purpose and need helps establish the basis for evaluating the proposed action and potential alternatives.
Alternatives
Depending on the project and applicable requirements, the review may evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed action. Alternatives can help agencies compare different approaches and understand how project decisions could affect environmental resources.
Existing Environmental Conditions
Understanding current site conditions is an important part of evaluating potential effects. Depending on the project, this may involve reviewing or surveying resources such as:
- Wildlife and habitat
- Vegetation
- Wetlands and waterways
- Cultural resources
- Land use
- Soil and geology
- Water resources
- Air quality
- Other environmental considerations relevant to the site
The resources evaluated will depend on the project location, proposed activities and applicable agency requirements.
Potential Environmental Effects
The EA evaluates how the proposed action and relevant alternatives could affect the environment. This analysis gives the reviewing agency information it needs to determine whether potential effects are significant.
Agency Coordination and Consultation
Environmental review can involve coordination with federal, state, Tribal and local agencies as well as consultations required under other environmental laws or regulations.
For project teams, identifying these needs early can be important because field surveys, consultations and agency reviews can affect the overall project schedule.
What Happens During the NEPA Process?
There is no single timeline or exact sequence that applies to every project. However, the NEPA process will typically involve several key stages.
The project and federal action are first defined, including the purpose and need for the proposed action and potential project alternatives.. The project team and lead agency can then identify environmental resources, regulatory considerations and other issues that may need to be evaluated.
Environmental information is gathered through existing records, desktop reviews, field surveys and technical studies as appropriate. Potential environmental effects and alternatives are then evaluated and documented in the EA.
Agency coordination may occur throughout the process, particularly when other permits, consultations or resource-specific reviews are involved.
Once the Environmental Assessment is complete, the federal agency uses the information to determine the appropriate next step.
What Happens After an Environmental Assessment?
A NEPA Environmental Assessment generally leads to one of two outcomes.
If the agency determines that the proposed action will not result in significant environmental effects, it may issue a Finding of No Significant Impact, commonly called a FONSI. A FONSI documents the agency’s conclusion that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required.
If the agency determines that the proposed action may result in significant environmental effects, an Environmental Impact Statement may be required. The EIS process involves a more detailed environmental analysis and formal decision-making process.
This is one reason early environmental planning can provide real value. Identifying potential resource concerns, agency requirements and project constraints before the EA is well underway gives project teams more opportunity to evaluate options and respond appropriately.
How Long Does the NEPA Process Take?
There is no universal timeline for completing a NEPA Environmental Assessment.
The schedule can depend on factors such as:
- Project size and complexity
- Federal agency procedures
- Number of environmental resources involved
- Required biological or cultural resource surveys
- Agency coordination and consultation
- Availability of existing environmental information
- Project changes during the review
- Public involvement requirements
- Additional federal, state or local permits
Seasonal fieldwork can also affect scheduling. Certain biological surveys, for example, may need to occur during specific times of year.
Starting environmental planning early can help project teams identify these requirements before they begin affecting other phases of development.
Early Environmental Planning Can Reduce Project Uncertainty
NEPA review is more than a documentation exercise. The environmental information developed during the process can influence project design, permitting, scheduling and other important decisions.
Project teams that evaluate environmental considerations early can identify potential constraints while there is still flexibility to address them.
Ensolum’s Biological Resource Services team supports projects with NEPA compliance documentation, agency coordination, biological surveys, reporting, monitoring, US Army Corps of Engineers permitting and other environmental services.
Learn more about Ensolum’s Biological Resource Services:
https://www.ensolum.com/services/biological-resource-service
By bringing environmental specialists into the planning process early, project teams can better understand potential requirements, coordinate necessary studies and approach the NEPA review process with more complete information.
Need Support With NEPA Environmental Review?
Every project brings different environmental conditions, regulatory requirements and agency considerations. Ensolum works with clients across multiple industries to provide practical environmental support throughout project planning and development.
If your project may require NEPA documentation, environmental surveys or agency coordination, contact Ensolum to discuss your project and next steps.