(i) Preliminary definition-and-inventory stage. In 

 accordance with the requirements of the CEQ 

 NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1501.2, 1501.7, and 

 1507.2(e)), a preliminary definition-and-inventory 

 stage should be undertaken in early planning. The 

 objective of this stage is to identify EQ resources, 

 develop an evaluation framework, and collect readi- 

 ly available information. This stage emphasizes the 

 activities of the Define Resources Phase to provide 

 an early focus for evaluation and to reveal informa- 

 tion needs. Where information gaps are found, allo- 

 cation and initiation of data collection and forecast- 

 ing programs should be undertaken in accordance 

 with the CEQ NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1501.6 

 and 1501.7(a) (4)-(6)). 



(ij) Preliminary assessment-and-appraisal stage. A 

 preliminary assessment-and-appraisal stage should 

 be undertaken following the preliminary formulation 

 of alternative plans. The objective of this stage is to 

 identify resources likely to be directly, indirectly, or 

 cumulatively affected by one or more plans. This 

 stage emphasizes the activities of the Assess Ef- 

 fects Phase, further focusing information needs on 

 those resources that would be affected by alterna- 

 tive plans. The assessment and appraisal of effects 

 at this stage will help planners understand the en- 

 hancement and degradation potentials of alterna- 

 tive plans, thereby providing bases for further refor- 

 mulations in Steps 3 through 5 of the planning 

 process. Since a substantial amount of time in most 

 planning studies is spent in exploring a wide range 

 of alternative plans, this EQ evaluation stage will 

 probably be repeated several times in a given 

 study. While a complete, detailed inventory is usual- 

 ly not essential at this stage, effects should be 

 identified in adequate detail so they can be com- 

 pared with economic and technical analyses as re- 

 quired by the CEQ NEPA regulations (40 CFR 

 1501.2(b)). 



(iii) Detailed definition-and-inventory stage. In ac- 

 cordance with the requirements of the CEQ NEPA 

 regulations (40 CFR 1502.14(b) and 1507.2(e)), a 

 detailed definition-and-inventory stage should be 

 undertaken during the formulation of specific alter- 

 native plans. The objective of this stage is to devel- 

 op an adequate information base for a detailed as- 

 sessment and appraisal of effects. This stage em- 

 phasizes the activities of the Inventory Resources 

 Phase, including completion of information collec- 

 tion and forecasting programs. This stage may 

 often be conducted concurrently with, or during 

 later repetitions of, the preliminary assessment-and- 

 appraisal stage. 



(iv) Detailed assessment-and-appraisal stage. In 

 accordance with the requirements of the CEQ 

 NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1502.14(b)), a detailed 

 assessment-and-appraisal stage should be under- 

 taken following final formulation of specific alterna- 



tive plans. The objective of this stage is to identify, 

 describe, and appraise individual effects, and ap- 

 praise the net EQ effect of each alternative plan. 

 This stage emphasizes the activities of the Assess 

 Effects and Appraise Effects Phases to provide the 

 agency decisionmaker with reasonable bases for 

 judging net EQ effects. The results of this appraisal 

 will form the EQ basis for plan selection in planning 

 process Step 6 (selection). 



(2) Repeating phases and activities in stages of 

 increasing levels of detail will aid in focusing on re- 

 sources and effects that will play a role in decision- 

 making, rather than on resources unrelated to or 

 not affected by alternative plans. 



(d) Managing evaluation demands. During the 

 course of EQ evaluation, the number of variables 

 (such as the number of resources, indicators, fore- 

 cast dates, etc.) identified at a given point in the 

 process will vary. Most activities in these proce- 

 dures are designed to limit the number of variables 

 being considered. It is important that the number of 

 variables be adequate to fully account for all signifi- 

 cant effects. However, increases in the number of 

 variables will increase demands on study time, 

 funds, and expertise. Therefore, a proper balance 

 between adequate analysis and study resources 

 should be achieved. 



3.4.2 Define resources phase. 



This phase is performed to identify the EQ re- 

 sources and attributes that will be evaluated, and to 

 specify how they will be measured or othenwise de- 

 scribed in EQ evaluation. In the first activity, EQ re- 

 sources and attributes to be evaluated are identi- 

 fied on the basis of their significance and their like- 

 lihood of being affected by an alternative plan. In 

 the second activity, an evaluation framework is de- 

 veloped for measunng or otherwise describing the 

 conditions of identified EQ resources and attnbutes 

 in terms of indicators, units, guidelines, and tech- 

 niques. 



3.4.3 Identify resources activity. 



(a) This activity is performed to identify EQ re- 

 sources and attributes that will be analyzed in later 

 EQ evaluation activities. This is accomplished by 

 reviewing the planning process Step 2 information 

 base to identify EQ resources and attributes that 

 are— 



(1) Significant, based on institutional, public, or 

 technical recognition; and 



(2) Likely to be affected by one or more of the 

 alternative plans. 



110 



