In a few cases, the agency may delegate preparation of the state- 

 ment to applicant agencies with statewide jurisdiction (e.g., coastal 

 zone management; state highway departments) [26]. 



Recent legislation has excluded some EPA programs (e.g., the Clean 

 Air Act) and some special projects like the Trans-Alaska Pipeline from 

 the NEPA impact statement requirements [27]. 



For the Fish and Wildlife Service, NEPA provides an opportunity 

 to identify potential violations of other programs the Service monitors 

 and enforces, such as the Endangered Species program, and to provide 

 advice on the most desirable development alternative even when there 

 is no specific statutory enforcement authority in FWS. 



1.2.3 Secretarial Order 2974 



A third vehicle for the intra-departmental coordination is Secre- 

 tarial Order 2974. The order and supporting memoranda outline procedures 

 for coordination of the OCS tract selection and sale process among the 

 four principal Department of the Interior agencies: BLM, FWS, NPS, and 

 USGS. It formalizes the planning and operating functions of the OCS 

 Minerals Program by enabling BLM and USGS to obtain expert advice from 

 each other and from the FWS and NPS with respect to environmental 

 research and monitoring and operational activities associated with the 

 OCS minerals program [28]. 



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