Identifying Tiered NEPA Documents in ePlanning Project Websites

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Wyoming State Office
P.O. Box 1828
Cheyenne, WY  82003-1828
www.blm.gov/wy

In Reply Refer To:
1610 (930) P

                            June 26, 2019                            
    
EMS TRANSMISSION:   6/26/2019
Information Bulletin No.WY-2019-008
 
To:        District Managers

From:        Deputy State Director, Resource Policy and Management

Subject:    Identifying Tiered NEPA Documents in ePlanning Project Websites            DD:  7/31/2019

To increase the transparency of our environmental review and decision-making processes, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming State Office recommends identifying (if applicable) in project-specific ePlanning websites whether a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document is tiered to an overarching analysis. 

For Summary Web Pages: Summary Web Pages are most commonly used for Determinations of NEPA Adequacy (DNA), Categorical Exclusions (CX), and Environmental Assessments (EA). The suggested way to make the connection between tiered documents readily apparent to the public is to identify the overarching NEPA document within the Project Description located on a project Summary Web Page (Figure 1). The Project Description field in Front Office is populated by filling in the “Project Purpose” within the D2 ePlanning Project Editor (Figure 2). At a minimum, the Project Description should specifically state which NEPA document(s) the project tiers to.

For example: This EA tiers to and incorporates by reference the Continental Divide-Creston Natural Gas Development Project Environmental Impact Statement.

A shortened URL to the EIS’s ePlanning web page could also be added to this description to increase the public’s ease of access. Note that hyperlinks will not transfer from D2; however, the public can easily copy and paste this link to their web browser.

For Project Web Sites: Project Web Sites are typically used for projects that require a greater degree of public involvement, such as Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), land use plan revisions and amendments, and some EAs.  
The “Links” tab located in the left-hand column of full Project Web Sites can be used to host links to tiered, referenced, and other related documents (Figure 3). Additionally, Project Web Sites provide the functionality of free-form text boxes and afford the ability to insert in-text hyperlinks that could be utilized as well. Both tools can and should be used, as appropriate, in communicating relevant information to the public.

Contact: For questions related to this memorandum, contact Jennifer Fleuret, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, at (307) 775-6082 or Lori Armstrong, Deputy State Director for Resource Policy and Management, at (307) 775-6123.  

Signed by:                                                   Authenticated by:
Lori Armstrong                                           Jessica Camargo
Deputy State Director for Resource            State Director’s Office
Policy and Management

Attachments:
1 – Figures (1p)

Distribution:
Asst. Director (200) Room 5644, 1849 C Street NW     1(w/atchs.)
Field Managers                                                                1(w/atchs.) 
Regional Solicitor (Phil Lowe)                                       1(w/atchs.) 
CF                                                                                    1(w/atchs.)