07-98
enable potential commentors to locate or request copies of the appendix
promptly.
CHAPTER 11
Material that is not directly related to preparation of the EIS should be
incorporated by reference. This would include other EISs, research papers in
the general literature, technical background papers or other material that
someone with technical training could use to evaluate the analysis of the
proposal. These must be made available, either by citing the literature,
furnishing copies to central locations, or sending copies directly to
commentors upon request.
Care must be taken in all cases to ensure that material incorporated by
reference, and the occasional appendix that does not accompany the EIS, are in
fact available for the full minimum public comment period.
26a. Q. How detailed must an EIS index be?
A. The EIS index should have a level of detail sufficient to focus on areas of
the EIS of reasonable interest to any reader. It cannot be restricted to the
most important topics. On the other hand, it need not identify every
conceivable term or phrase in the EIS. If an agency believes that the reader
is reasonably likely to be interested in a topic, it should be included.
26b. Q. Is a keyword index required?
A. No. A keyword index is a relatively short list of descriptive terms that
identifies the key concepts or subject areas in a document. For example it
could consist of 20 terms which describe the most significant aspects of an
EIS that a future researcher would need: type of proposal, type of impacts,
type of environment, geographical area, sampling or modeling methodologies
used. This technique permits the compilation of EIS data banks, by
facilitating quick and inexpensive access to stored materials. While a keyword
index is not required by the regulations, it could be a useful addition for
several reasons. First, it can be useful as a quick index for reviewers of the
EIS, helping to focus on areas of interest. Second, if an agency keeps a
listing of the keyword indexes of the EISs it produces, the EIS preparers
themselves will have quick access to similar research data and methodologies
to aid their future EIS work. Third, a keyword index will be needed to make an
EIS available to future researchers using EIS data banks that are being
developed. Preparation of such an index now when the document is produced will
save a later effort when the data banks become operational.
27a. Q. If a consultant is used in preparing an EIS, must the list of prepares
identify members of the consulting firm as well as the agency NEPA staff who
were primarily responsible?
A. Section 1502.17 requires identification of the names and qualifications of
persons who were primarily responsible for preparing the EIS or significant
background papers, including basic components of the statement. This means
that members of a consulting firm preparing material that is to become part of
the EIS must be identified. The EIS should identify these individuals even
though the consultant's contribution may have been modified by the agency.
27b. Q. Should agency staff involved in reviewing and editing the EIS also be
included in the list of prepares?
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