07-98
CHAPTER 7
PREPARE A FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI) AND NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY
(NOA) FOR PUBLICATION
I. REQUIREMENT: A document prepared according to Council on Environmental
Quality (CEQ) Regulation's (40 CFR, 1501.4(e)). Prepare a Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) if the Agency determines, on the basis of an
Environmental Assessment (EA), that the proposed action will not have a
significant effect on the human environment and an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) will not therefore be prepared.
II. PREPARATION:
A. The FONSI is a separate public environmental document described in (40
CFR 1508.13).
B. The FONSI should summarize and incorporate the EA by reference.
Because of frequent fluctuation of descriptive quantities, such as floor
area, or bed numbers, these numbers should be rounded to the nearest
approximation that still provides a realistic description of the project
scope
C. VA must give public notice of the availability of the FONSI (40 CFR,
1506.6).
D. The FONSI will remain on file at the VA facility.
III. ACTION:
A. Review the EA developed for the action; prepare the separate FONSI and
its NOA. See examples.
B. The NOA will be placed as a legal notice in at least one wide coverage
daily or weekly newspaper by the VA facility. The Notice will also be
posted at the facility in a conspicuous public area for 30 days.
IV. FOLLOW-UP:
A. If the subject of the FONSI is known to affect a person or agency
directly, the entire package of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
documents (EA, FONSI, and NOA) will be sent to that person or agency by
the preparing office.
B. A FONSI normally should be available for public review for 30 days
before a final determination on whether to prepare an EIS. (40 CFR
1501.4(e)(2).
V. GENERAL NOTES/REFERENCES:
Further specific guidance is provided in the memorandum concerning questions
and answers - CEQ NEPA Regulations. This memo may be found in the Federal
Register at 46 FR 18026, March 23, 1981 and as a document in this manual.
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