Forest Service Handbook pike and san isabel national forests cimarron and comanche national grasslands (region 2) pueblo, CO

fsH 1909.15 – environmental policy and procedures handbook

zero code

Supplement No.: 1909.15-2001-1

Effective Date: April 15, 2001

Duration: Effective until superseded or removed

Approved: /s/ William A. Wood (for) ABIGAIL R. KIMBELL Forest Supervisor

Date Approved: 04/06/2001

Posting Instructions: Supplements are numbered consecutively by Handbook number and calendar year. Post by document name. Remove entire document and replace with this supplement. Retain this transmittal as the first page of this document.

New Document(s):	1909.15 Zero Code	4 Pages
Superseded Document(s): (Last supplement was No. 2 to chapter 30.)	None

Digest:

06	Establishes process for preparation and review of Environmental Assessments and Decision Memos.

06 - OVERVIEW OF PROCESS

The following procedures pertain to situations where the Forest Supervisor is the responsible official, with Ranger Districts preparing associated environmental and decision documents.

1. Identification of Project and Support Resources. District Rangers prepare and forward to the Forest Supervisor for approval, a Project Initiation Letter proposing the environmental analysis necessary. This letter represents an agreement between the District Ranger and Forest Supervisor on responsibility for completing specific tasks in conducting environmental analysis and preparing necessary NEPA and other required documentation. Include the following in the letter:

a. Description of the proposed activity, its location and extent.

b. Anticipated type of NEPA document.

c. Identification of known issues.

d. Statement of management objectives and associated targets.

e. Team composition, that is, identification of the principal Staff Officer, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, and any specialists requested for analysis and aid in preparing NEPA and other required documentation.

f. Description of the project’s public involvement strategy.

g. Identification of known alternatives to the proposal.

h. Time frame for completing the analysis and necessary NEPA documents.

The Forest Supervisor may negotiate changes where modifications are necessary.

The District Ranger should involve relevant Primary Staff and specialists at key points during the planning process to ensure they are familiar with the project’s pivotal issues and their handling prior to document review.

Review of documents prior to publication occurs one or more times during the process depending on the type of NEPA document involved. Required reviews are shown below:

Point in Process	CE	EA	EIS
Notice of Proposed action		Yes
Draft EIS			Yes
Decision Memo	Yes
Decision Notice/FONSI		Yes
Final EIS/Record of Decision			Yes

Forward one hardcopy of the relevant documentation to the Supervisor's Office and make an electronic version available. The package must include a transmittal letter, with a dual file designation of the functional area involved and 1950, certifying that the documents are ready for review and signature or distribution. Submit the package in a timely manner relevant to applicable project accomplishment deadlines, review timelines, and other required timelines per NEPA, appeal regulations, and other applicable direction.

2. Supervisor’s Office Review.

a. Planning Staff Officer must maintain a tracking system for review in Supervisor’s Office, this includes initially logging the package in, forwarding the package to the principal Staff Officer for review, and ensuring that NEPA’s procedural requirements are met.

b. Principal Staff Officer identifies reviewers and ensures that non-NEPA procedural requirements are met. Staff officer coordinates with the District Ranger regarding modifications and certifies that the package is ready for publication and/or signature. District Ranger is then notified that the package has been approved and the next step can be taken.

The Principal Staff Officer provides a recommendation to the Forest Supervisor within the following time frames:

Point in Process	CE	EA	EIS
Notice of Proposed action		15
Draft EIS			15
Decision Memo	10
Decision Notice/FONSI		10
Final EIS/Record of Decision			15

Review times are working days. Districts may request faster review in an emergency. When lengthy/complex EA's or EIS’s are submitted, additional review time may be necessary.

c. Reviewers provide technical review for compliance with laws, regulations, and Forest Service policy relevant to their resource area and certify that their resource area has been adequately addressed, including an assessment of risks for complex issues.

d. The District Ranger enters the project into work-planning system, submits Project Initiation Letter, and ensures Supervisor’s Office is familiar with the project and its issues. Conduct this process in accordance with procedural requirements of NEPA and other applicable laws (Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and so forth.). District Ranger must also prepare documents for the Forest Supervisor’s approval, publish legal notices, and distribute final documents to interested parties.

3. Approval and Notification. After the Forest Supervisor signs and dates the Decision Memo, Decision Notice/FONSI, or Record of Decision, the Principal Staff Officer notifies the District of approval and returns package for publication and mailing.

4. Publication and Mailing. After approval, the District Ranger must publish relevant public notices in the appropriate Newspaper of Record (and others if desired) and mail documents to interested parties.