(iv) the relationship between local short-term uses of man's 

 environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long- 

 term productivity, and 



(v) any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources 

 which would be involved in the proposed action should it 

 be implemented. 



Under NEPA, the permitting agency is usually the "lead" agency that 

 prepares draft and final statements. This agency must consult with and 

 obtain comments from any other Federal agency with jurisdiction or 

 special expertise with respect to any environmental impacts involved [18]. 



NEPA has taken on great importance as a result of court decisions 

 interpreting what a "significant" action is, and enforcing high content 

 standards in the agency responsible for the statement [19]. An environ- 

 mental impact statement provides information, and if the information is 

 inadequate to meet the statutory standards (interpreted by various agency 

 regulations) there may be delays while the statement is completed. The 

 delays in the "Sale 40" OCS leasing procedures off the Northeastern 

 coast have been the result of litigation challenging the adequacy of the 

 EIS for this sale[20]. It also provides an important opportunity to 

 fully implement and enforce related Federal and state environmental law 

 and regulations[21]. Some legal authorities also argue that NEPA may 

 change decision-making authority more in favor of environmental consid- 

 erations [22]. 



The agency undertaking a program or permit decision must evaluate 

 the proposed action to determine whether an EIS will be required. A 

 decision not to prepare an EIS is called a "negative declaration." 

 Decisions to prepare an EIS are announced publicly in the Federal 

 Register [23]. 



Typically the draft EIS is available for comment for 90 days and 

 other state and Federal agencies and the public may contribute comments 

 from their areas of expertise. In some cases a public hearing is held. 

 Often the basic statute authorizing the action requiring an EIS also 

 requires a public hearing [24]. 



The courts require that comments be seriously considered by the 

 lead or decisionmaking agency. Comments are incorporated in the final 

 EIS which becomes a primary reference document in the final decision 

 process. This process varies widely from agency to agency and program 

 to program [25]. 



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